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Question About PIP Dressing and Undressing

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3 years 10 months ago #260028 by Waxwing
Question About PIP Dressing and Undressing was created by Waxwing
Hello :)

Following my brothers failed Tribunal and after looking at the first claim we realised that we where approaching this in the wrong way. We were foucusing to much on his disability and not how his disability was effecting his daily activity against the descriptors for pip. So whilst we are waiting for the SOR from the Tribunal we are working slowly on compiling a new claim so I will be posting questions on here about the Activities and descriptors if we get a little stuck. We are using your guides also :)

So the Question about Dressing and Undressing......

My brother cannot wear trousers because it puts pressure on his hips and causes him great pain because he has osteoperosis and has a spinal deformaty. He can only wear loose jogging trousers with a slack elasticated waiste band. This seriously limits his options for choosing clothes and going out as he cannot wear trousers to a formal event or a formal situation like going to restaurants or other social events/occasions. Also it limits what he can where according to the weather conditions. In winter jogging trousers are not the best thing to wear as they are not the warmest in rain etc. Can you please advise me what is the best descriptor that would cover this situation. I was looking at possible descriptor 6c Needs either - (i) prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed; or (ii) prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing. Would this be the descriptor that would match that?

Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Waxwing

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3 years 10 months ago #260035 by Catherine
Replied by Catherine on topic Question About PIP Dressing and Undressing
Hello Waxwing,

It is sometimes hard to keep focus on the activity and not the condition! Particularly when it is a condition which should clearly point to a particular score!

Again, in your question, I fear that you are getting side tracked. The activity is about putting clothes on and taking them off again. It is not about wearing them. So the fact that your brother is unable to wear more formal trousers does not, at least in the PIP world count for anything. However, if your brother’s osteoperosis effected his hands such that were he able to wear trousers he would not be able to put them on without assistance he should be given points for that, even though he may not own such an item. Being able to choose appropriate clothing is about things like recognising that it is cold and rainy and therefore you need to wear something warm and waterproof. Again regardless of whether or not you can wear such items. Many people with mental health issues will fail to dress appropriately for the weather or the occasion and need help with choosing something suitable, from what you have said this does not apply to your brother.

If I was assisting your brother with filling in this form I would be asking questions like can you put trousers (of any type) on, unaided. Do you need help to bend down. Can you put on shoes and socks unaided. If you wear loose fitting clothes is this to make them easier to take on and off? Do you have the mobility to put tops on unaided. What about buttons? Basically, if you were wearing the type of clothing you wore before you became less able, and you had nobody there to help you, what would happen.

You really do need to take a fairly literal interpretation of the descriptors. Clearly for your brother not being able to wear trousers is sub optimal, but that is not what this question is addressing.

Please do keep coming back to us as you go through the form,
Catherine
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Waxwing

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3 years 10 months ago #260036 by Waxwing
Replied by Waxwing on topic Question About PIP Dressing and Undressing
Thank you for your assistance Catherine

If you wear loose fitting clothes is this to make them easier to take on and off? Do you have the mobility to put tops on unaided.


I have put your information you gave me to my brother and he says that before he became worse he was able to put on jumpers but now he has to wear loose fitting T-shirts that are one size bigger so that he is able to put his arm into them (he has a shoulder deformity also linked to quite a pronounced scoliosis) he also said he only wears fleece hoodie type jackets as they are easier to put on. Because of the deformity in his shoulder it makes it difficult to lift his arm. He also finds it difficult to bend forward to tie his show laces as this causes him pain in his back. So I have advised him to make things easier for himself he needs to look at how a possible aid can help to aleviate that pain when doing that activity.

Would the above I described satisfy a descriptor? I feel we are edging towards the choice of clothing again but this time it is for a physical function/activity. I understand that the use of an aid or aids would satisfy 6b but does the choice of loose clothing because the inability to dress with anything other than loose clothing satisfy a descriptor?

Thanks you in advance
Waxwing

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3 years 10 months ago #260048 by anees292
Replied by anees292 on topic Question About PIP Dressing and Undressing
Thanks Catherine
One of very sensible, simple and intelligent answer.

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3 years 10 months ago #260087 by Gary
Replied by Gary on topic Question About PIP Dressing and Undressing
Hi Waxwing

You will not get points on loose clothing but if you require help or assistance in getting dressed or undressed then you would be eligible for points. Have a look at our guides for a better understanding of the criteria you will need to meet.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip

Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Waxwing

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3 years 10 months ago #260124 by Waxwing
Replied by Waxwing on topic Question About PIP Dressing and Undressing
Thank you Catherine for your information. It starts to become much more understandable the more I read about this. Your assistance is most appreciated and Thank you Gary for your help clearing up the loose clothing question. :)

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