PIP Medical

steven wrote: Thanks Gordon

What about a taxi being public transport ? I ask because the assessor said I can plan the route of a journey via using a taxi.

Thanks
Steven

Steven

Sorry!

Planning a route is different from following one! You do not need to be able to follow a route that you have planned.

The dictionary definition of Public Transport says

"Buses, trains, and other forms of transport that are available to the public, charge set fares, and run on fixed routes."

This would seem to exclude taxis as they do not run on fixed routes, but if it is advantageous to you argue that they are Public Transport then do so. However, do not rely on the use of Public Transport to score points, whilst the DWP guidance makes reference to it, the Descriptor do not and we have seen points deducted / not awarded due to this.

Gordon

Steven

You need to decide what Descriptor you are trying to meet and then work from there

The Going Out activity looks at three things.

Planning a route - this is primarily a cognitive or sensory (e.g. blindness) activity. You are being asked about the problems you would have with working out how to get from one place to another, you do not need to be able to follow the route that you are planning..

Undertaking a Journey - this is do with mental health issues such as agoraphobia and social anxiety and is concerned with you leaving the house to go somewhere, they will be interested in the things that stop you doing this. You need to show that you would suffer "overwhelming psychological distress" to meet the criteria.

Following a route - the DWP regard this as a cognitive or sensory activity to do with navigating the route, SO are there problems that would prevent you from doing this? This is different from undertaking a journey, in fact if you cannot undertake a journey then you will struggle to score points for following one. The reasons that you are unable to follow or navigate the route must not be due to psychological distress.

I can't see how the use of a taxi is relevant to your following a route as you are not doing any navigation, so the issue is whether using a taxi would allow you to go out when you would not be able to otherwise. One thing to thing to think about is few people take a taxi without going somewhere, how would you be able to handle yourself when you reach you destination.

Gordon

Steven

You will struggle to score for undertaking a journey if the underlying problems is a physical one , the requirement is that you must be limited due to "overwhelming psychological distress".

Gordon