Cooking for pip

The test under descriptor 1 requires you to be able to cook a simple meal for one prepared from fresh ingredients. The microwave test specifically states that you can prepare the meal, but can not use a conventional cooker but can use a microwave. This does NOT mean ready meals of any description!

I'm not totally sure who, in practice, would only be able to use a microwave and not a normal hob or oven. However you have to be able to peel and chop vegetables and or meat, then put it in the microwave turn the dial and wait for the ping! Food still needs to be cooked to an acceptable standard. If eg you use the microwave to ensure things are really cooked, but your meat comes out as dry as an old boot, then I doubt this comprises being 'acceptable' which means you would then need to consider some form of supervision.

DWP often consider they can award points 'because you use a microwave' when ready meals bought from Tesco are just heated up. This is wrong, as I have explained above, the food needs to be prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients.

You will need to analyse what preparation skills you actually have. Peeling, chopping, understanding packet instructions, knowing when food is cooked, knowing that raw food, especially chicken is dangerous. Stirring food, handling a small saucepan, draining food.

Think about all these tasks. Can you do them? Is it painful, do you have accidents cut or burn yourself, drop items. Burn food, eat lukewarm food, or incinerate it because you are distracted?

How long does it take, do you feel exhausted, or maybe you can't be bothered, you don't feel hungry and seldom go to the kitchen?

If any or all of these events happen, particularly if they happen for the majority of days, then it is likely you might need an aid or appliance. (Think about what help you might need to be more proficient eg a stool by the cooker to sit if you can't stand to stir food? Some sort of automatic peeler, if such thing exists etc?)

If you had the gadget, could you then prep the food and cook it safely, to an acceptable standard, in a reasonable time, repeatedly? If no, then you require physical help. Maybe you just have difficulties with grip, so some help with that is all you need. Or you're OK with the peeling, but need help assessing if food is cooked. Then (1e) is your choice. If you need prompting, ie motivation then (1d).

If you can't really do anything in the kitchen, or do it so badly that help is always required then 1f is correct. If you can do a few tiny jobs but an onlooker would describe your helper as the chef and you as a very minor assistant (1f) would also apply.

There is more information about all of the descriptors in our members guides. Please have a read if you haven't already done so.
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip#claims

I hope this helps.

Gary

Hi diceman24

It would depend on what you mean by making breakfast, are you talking about a gourmet breakfast or a bowl of cereals.

You need to explain why you cannot make a dinner or supper, have a look at my previous post.

Gary