ADP & PIP

Hi jennieprowse

It is not so much as the addiction but how the addiction affects the person.

I frequently come across alcoholics who have cirrhosis of the liver due to their drinking habit, they have been prescribed various medications to help treat their condition, if they have then mention the medication and any side effects.

I would mention it in various sections on the form that affect the claimant, such as how do they react around other people? Are they fully aware or retain what is being said to them?

I had been dealing with a client for many years who was an alcoholic, it was not until the begining of this year, when we were at a tribunal (PIP on line tribunal) that she mentioned she suffered from incontinence, she informed me she was too embarrassed to talk about it and purchased over the counter medication.

Gary

Gary

Hi jennieprowse

I cannot give you a definitive answer as it varies from assessor to assessor.

Some assessors says that it is self inflicted others say it's a mental health issue.

All you can do is set out how the claimant is affected by the condition and what help is available for the individual. I spoke to an addict just before Christmas, you would not have know he was an addict, he worked in hospitality and drinking was a way of life, unfortunately his condition was terminal and he died at the beginning of the year.

Gary