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Mobility - public transport
- Jim123
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3 years 1 month ago #266747 by Jim123
Mobility - public transport was created by Jim123
Hello,
I have anxiety, psychosis and high functioning autistic spectrum disorder.
I take regular medication and have regular contact with a mental health nurse.
I receive pip for daily living but was turned down for the mobility component.
I can drive my fathers car on regular routes to known destination - but sometimes require prompting etc. before setting off.
I can drive unfamiliar journeys, but only when accompanied.
I am unable to use public transport at all - anxiety / intrusive thought the main problem - being captive, who will i sit with, will there be a seat, will someone talk to me , what if the transport breaks down etc.
My question to you relates only to public transport - is my well documented inability to use public transport due to overwhelming psychiatric difficulties enough by itself to meet any of the mobility descriptors under planning and following journeys. Or would it fail on the basis we accept you can't use public transport but you can drive a car.
Best wishes - Jim
I have anxiety, psychosis and high functioning autistic spectrum disorder.
I take regular medication and have regular contact with a mental health nurse.
I receive pip for daily living but was turned down for the mobility component.
I can drive my fathers car on regular routes to known destination - but sometimes require prompting etc. before setting off.
I can drive unfamiliar journeys, but only when accompanied.
I am unable to use public transport at all - anxiety / intrusive thought the main problem - being captive, who will i sit with, will there be a seat, will someone talk to me , what if the transport breaks down etc.
My question to you relates only to public transport - is my well documented inability to use public transport due to overwhelming psychiatric difficulties enough by itself to meet any of the mobility descriptors under planning and following journeys. Or would it fail on the basis we accept you can't use public transport but you can drive a car.
Best wishes - Jim
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- Gary
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3 years 1 month ago #266827 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic Mobility - public transport
Hi Jim123
You pose a very interesting question.
There are two distinct issues with a claimant driving, one that is reasonable and one that is less so.
First, the DWP will argue that someone who drives has good cognitive ability as the process of driving requires the driver to be aware of what is going on around them, to be able to pre-empt situations that they are approaching and to be able to manage the operation of the vehicle.
They will also argue that it show good navigation skills and an ability to plan a route, however, claimants might be able to argue that if only one journey is undertaken and the claimant had to be shown that route, that they are in fact not able to plan or navigate a route, but I think there is little flexibility in this argument.
Secondly, the DWP view driving as a physical activity, for example holding the wheel requires a level of dexterity, strength and endurance in their hands, arms and shoulders, They also believe that the operation of the pedals is akin to walking and so someone who can drive can also walk. I (for what it is worth as I don't do assessments) think that this argument is very weak, however, most people drive a car to go somewhere and having arrived at that place they may then need to then walk to complete their journey, for example; none of the car parks in my area have lifts that are less than 20m from disabled parking spaces and the Motability shop where I can hire a scooter is the best part of 100m.
Any physical problems you have are covered by the Moving Around activity they will not be considered for Going Out.
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 to 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 - This activity about the problems you would have navigating a route. So are there any problems; cognitive, sensory or mental health issues 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 not score points for following one and vice versa.
Gary
You pose a very interesting question.
There are two distinct issues with a claimant driving, one that is reasonable and one that is less so.
First, the DWP will argue that someone who drives has good cognitive ability as the process of driving requires the driver to be aware of what is going on around them, to be able to pre-empt situations that they are approaching and to be able to manage the operation of the vehicle.
They will also argue that it show good navigation skills and an ability to plan a route, however, claimants might be able to argue that if only one journey is undertaken and the claimant had to be shown that route, that they are in fact not able to plan or navigate a route, but I think there is little flexibility in this argument.
Secondly, the DWP view driving as a physical activity, for example holding the wheel requires a level of dexterity, strength and endurance in their hands, arms and shoulders, They also believe that the operation of the pedals is akin to walking and so someone who can drive can also walk. I (for what it is worth as I don't do assessments) think that this argument is very weak, however, most people drive a car to go somewhere and having arrived at that place they may then need to then walk to complete their journey, for example; none of the car parks in my area have lifts that are less than 20m from disabled parking spaces and the Motability shop where I can hire a scooter is the best part of 100m.
Any physical problems you have are covered by the Moving Around activity they will not be considered for Going Out.
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 to 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 - This activity about the problems you would have navigating a route. So are there any problems; cognitive, sensory or mental health issues 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 not score points for following one and vice versa.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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