Claiming PIP as well as being a carer

Hi all
I've a friend that has several severe health issues and had been on top level mobility for DLA although she never pursued and care portion. On recent reassessment she got ZERO points!
She also has 2 sons in their 20's, the youngest has autism whilst the other suffers from PTSD since them all having to leave the family home in a rush a few years back.
She gets carers allowance for lookin after her son.
Going through mandatory reconsideration at present but the person that helped her with the response has not mentioned her caring responsibilities. We discussed it afterwards and wondered whether this was because this might show her as more spcapabke? Or would it also help explain the stresses etc she lives with.
Anyone had any similar experience? Thanks!

Hi Chris,

The assessor is not interested in the stresses that someone experiences, other than those relating directly to the PIP descriptors.

Once an assessor knows that a claimant is in receipt of CA, assumptions (that could be far from the mark) will be made about their capabilities. I think it was probably best to refrain from mentioning the caring responsibilities unless the subject was directly relevant.

PIP was deliberately made harder to get than DLA, in order to reduce the benefits bill. IN addition, the criteria are very different. This is where some claimants have come to grief, by not fully understanding the PIP descriptors.

Your friend now has several options - they can take this further by requesting and MR, or they can reapply. Both courses of action are explained in the PIP guide.

Thanks, this was during prep for a MR. An agency is helping her. I fully understand they don't care what causes it but do believe it also is about the fact that she can almost never rest completely etc. This HP was a nurse and apparently tried to tell her that her stress etc couldn't be that bad as she wasn't in a very high dose of meds!
Thanks anyway. Just holding her breath until she hears,

Chris wrote: This HP was a nurse and apparently tried to tell her that her stress etc couldn't be that bad as she wasn't in a very high dose of meds!

Yes, we hear that quite a lot!