PIP Review and Moving Around

Hi Magdalena

I am not sure of the answers here but perhaps can just think out loud for you.

First yes you do assist your husband so I think that would be the right word. Perhaps you could make it very clear how you assist him. For example, do you stand in front of him and kind of let him use you as a walking frame. And while I mention that, does he use a walking frame, if so, that is an aid. The wheelchair is also an aid when used as a walking frame and I know my partner uses her wheelchair in that way quite regularly.

I think when DWP are talking about walking they mean walking safely without undue risk to the person or others around them. If your husband is constantly stumbling then he could injure himself or you and others around him at the time.

A question for you. When your husband does walk in the living room, does he use a frame. If not, does he use the furniture on the way to steady himself? On his bad days does he have to pause even crossing the living room to rest?

As a general remark it is really vital to think of every aid he uses and document them all no matter how small they are. From fat handled cutlery through to seats in the shower, perching stools strategically located, even personal hygiene aids can and should be mentioned.

The other general remark is that you must consider his worst days when answering and that is often difficult as it sometimes can be embarrassing to admit one”s level of disability.

I hope this helps somewhat and I would welcome input from others in the forum.

Regards
Pete

Hi Magdelna

Do go back to the guide and read the advice on moving about. Having looked back at your post, it does not sound as if your husband can walk reliably or safely- and you need to emphasise this. From what you describe - it doesn't sound as if he can do as much as 20 metres as he has to hold onto furniture and is in danger of falling.

BIS

Hi magdalena,
To add to the excellent previous advice, I also very much doubt whether your husband can 'legally' go more than 20 m. As stated in previous posts, all PIP activity has to be done safely, repeatedly across the whole day as reasonably required, within a reasonable time and to an acceptable standard. Falls/stumbles etc would indicate not being safe. Reasonable time is no more than twice that of able bodied person, and will include stops. If the stops are too long then you will have a series of very short walks, rather than one long one. Pain, breathlessness etc will comprise non-acceptable standard. Think of speed, gait as well, all of these are relevant. I hadn't heard of Festination before, so this may be something to clearly explain to DWP - perhaps you could include a copy of a relevant leaflet from a recognised charity?
Mobility descriptor deals with moving about. This appears to relate solely to physically walking, therefore use of a wheelchair is precluded. On this basis, you would need to analyse the walking distance that your husband can do complying with all 4 of the criteria listed above, safely, repeatedly etc. All of the 4 needs to be satisfied. If there is severe discomfort, which could be pain, breathlessness, fatigue etc this is discounted.
I use the duracell analogy. The tv adverts have a battery toy that goes on forever until the battery runs out. (Obviously much later than its rival battery!) It is easy to make the mistake that PIP walking ability is like the duracell battery. Wrong. Your PIP ability is the point where you become unsafe, can't repeat, get severe discomfort etc. If you have severe discomfort all the time and/or this becomes extreme discomfort as you rise and begin to walk then your PIP ability may be 0 metres, even though you may still be able to grind through the pain and actually walk several hundred metres! (It is of course much more difficult to persuade DWP you have severe discomfort when you appear to have made significant progress on foot, but several people do do this, and have to grind through the pain to have any sense of living.) Severe discomfort is not extreme discomfort or agony - it is hard to quantify exactly but perhaps is 7 or 8/10 where 10 is absolute agony/worse pain ever?
Think about at what point husband needs the wheelchair, explain that he can go only X metres (having done an analysis of the 4 criteria above) and explain why, and then say for X+ distance he has to use the chair - and say you need to push it. It is quite difficult to workout the exact PIP walking distance. It is at best an imprecise science! Let's face it you move about because you need to get from A to B - however short that distance is. Unless you are actually 100% preoccupied with filling out your PIP form no one ever thinks 'hmmm I've walked 10.63 metres, which I have measured, and I can't go any further because my pain level is now 8 out of 10, which is severe discomfort!' I suggest trying to average out - think about what stops your husband taking no more than a few steps across the room, and what would happen if he went further - this might help clarify his walking ability. What happens for the majority of the days? If husband can perhaps (truly) manage 20 m on only 2 days, and can't get out of the chair/bed for the other 5 then again his ability for PIP will be 0m, because that is the majority pattern.
Remember too that 'walking' includes standing up and then moving. How does husband stand - does he need help, does he fall, can he lift himself from the chair. If your husband cannot stand safely, repeatedly etc as per above then he may be eligible for 12 points under 2f.
I hope this helps.
LL26