PIP- safely

Hi Sarah_a82,
Regulation 4(2A) PIP Regs 2013 provides that all PIP descriptor activities have to be completed
• safely
• repeatedly
• to an acceptable standard
• within a reasonable time
This is the so called 'reliability' criteria - all 4 must apply- if you fail to meet even just one of the four this indicates you can't do that descriptor and may need help, an aid or actually can not do the task.
Safely - is there a substantial risk that harm might occur. So, if you have epilepsy, and a fit could occur causing danger then this indicates eg supervision for bathing- it doesn't matter whether the likelihood of the fit is infrequent; clearly a fit in the bath could have very serious consequences. Safety issues could comprise dropping knives, or hot pans/food whilst cooking or eating, but could also include leaving the cooker on, and running the risk of fire etc. Falls indicate safety issues, not hearing traffic coming could indicate the need for supervision if out walking.

Acceptable standard is not defined but kind of means the level of completion expected by others. Leaving large messes whilst cooking, or constantly spilling food off the plate or food probably isn't acceptable. Only being able to hear half the words being said is unlikely to be acceptable. Putting on clothes upside down or back to front with buttons not aligned with the button holes is unlikely to be acceptable.
In addition, significant amounts of pain will also be 'unacceptable".

Reasonable time- this is defined as no more than twice that of non disabled person. If you take too long again this shows a need for an aid or physical help.
Some of these criteria overlap- if you are too slow then this probably isn't acceptable. Leaving slip hazards in kitchen could be both unsafe and unacceptable.
Finally consider repetition, tasks need to be done as many times a day as reasonable. The repetition rate will vary across the descriptors.You might wish to cook 3 times a day. Toilet needs with incontinence might need to be managed 10 or more times per day. With journeys and walking this could be 6 or 7 times per day. Bearing in mind the journey could be by car or public transport, but inevitably will involve at least a few short steps to the car and into the nearby building. It would not be unreasonable for someone to take kids to school, go to supermarket, need to go and get new shoes, walk back to car via card shop. Go home.Write card and go to post box. Pick up the kids. Visit mother in evening. None of these journeys or small amounts of walking would be unreasonable, and perhaps one of two more might be required. Communication could however be required 24/7.
You need to be able to do all the required repeats acceptably safely and within the appropriate time for each descriptor. If you fail to repeat except for a trivial time eg 5 mins of the day you can't communicate you can achieve points in accordance with the level of disability under the relevant descriptor.

A descriptor will be met if you can't achieve any/all of the 4 criteria fir the majority of days. This means that if you have a better day every so often, that won't preclude points.

Fatigue could comprise non acceptable standard. It is easy to consider each descriptor task in isolation. Think about the descriptors holistically. If I was to ask you can you cook? - if you told me yes, but only when I don't go walking, and its not the day I have a bath. This would suggest you can't repeat all the activities across the day. Likewise if fatigue, pain breathlessness increase in blood pressure, etc makes activities too slow, this might indicate a problem with repetition as well as being unacceptable standard, and perhaps not safe.

Filling out PIP forms requires a bit of lateral thinking. Consider what makes the activity difficult or impossible. If you had help, why would you need it, and what help would be required. Is it always at the same time, or does it depend on energy/pain levels etc.Try and quantify the help you get, or realistically should have. Disabled people who live alone or have little help often have a stark choice- try and do something, - it may take a while, be only half done, it may risk safety etc, but the alternative is to sit in the chair and do nothing.
However, just because you try and perform the PIP activity somewhat poorly, does not preclude the need for help, so be realistic as to your limitations!

I hope this helps.
LL26

Hi Sarah_a82

You need to read LL26 post, (which is very well written) above carefully, it states; "This is the so called 'reliability' criteria - all 4 must apply- if you fail to meet even just one of the four this indicates you can't do that descriptor and may need help, an aid or actually can not do the task."

If you cannot do a task then explain WHY you cannot do the task, the WHY is the important part that you need to explain, which has to fit the PIP criteria which you can find in our guide, click on the above link.

Gary