Pip confusion over the 'reliability' criteria

Hi Alz1995,
'Reliably' is a shorthand version often used by advisers of the 4 criteria in regulation 4(2A) PIP regulations 2013.
All 4 criteria have to apply
Safety
Repeatedly
Acceptable standard
Reasonable time.

Acceptable standard isn't defined, but it would a reasonable standard. I guess it would be the sort of thing where someone might say, 'you seem to be making a terrible mess' eg about eating or maybe cooking where things are spilt, food is burnt. Food needs to be properly cooked ( could be safety issues as well if not) but eg for dressing, where clothes are put on back to front or the buttons are mismatched. Maybe trouser fly or shoe laces are undone because you can't bend - that would be unacceptable. Not wiping yourself properly after going to the toilet- also unacceptable. Basically if you can't get the task done to a level that most people would find ok, this indicates a need for help/ or a gadget to assist- hence points.
Safety - is there a risk if substantial harm if things go wrong? Think epileptic person who may not have fits very often, but could hurt himself very badly if cooking, bathing, walking and a fit occurred The potential harm first need to actually happen, but if course can do, as long as the risk of harm is substantial. Safety can be day to day, eg not being able to read cooking instructions, or medicine packs. Holding a knife with poor grip. Falling when walking or bathing etc. Running out in front of traffic etc etc
Reasonable time is no more than twice that if non disabled person.
Reoeatedly - ie as many times as reasonably required across the whole day. Dressing or cooking might be say up to four times. Bathing is likely to be once, but eg you have incontinence perhaps more. Same with toilet needs. Communication is likely to be 24/7. Reading perhaps throughout the actual day. Mobility (both elements as journeys can be done part on foot or in
car) could be 4 or 5 times, if you do the school run, go to the bank, post a letter, need to go to the village shop and then maybe visit a friend. None of those journeys etc woukd be unreasonable in one day, and perhaps there could be others too. If your physical or mental health precludes you repeating the task, or if you have OCD you take so long doing one task, you can't complete or repeat other PIP tasks then you would fail to meet both repetition and time criteria.
It is entirely possible that you fail to meet any of the criteria.Namely, you are risking harm, taking too long, can't repeat and don't do acceptably all for the same task!
However, if you can't meet just 1/4 of the criteria, you should score points according to your level of disability.
Remember also that pain may give rise to non acceptable standard, especially if this is reasonably severe beforehand and it increases on doing a pip task.
With OCD this may well take you over the reasonable time. Ask your friends ir relatives how long it takes them to eg wash or cook etc. How does your time match? Also think about the cumulative effect of time for all tasks and whether that leaves sufficient time to do the rest. Eg if it takes 2 hours to get washed, that is 2 hours less to cook, eat, make journeys etc. There are only so many hours in the day!
If you don't meet one of the criteria (hence should score points) what would make you do the task better? Have think. It could be a person helping or prompting, it could be some sort of gadget (aid/appliance), - these tend to be more for physical disabilities, but timers or alarms might be relevant ' it might be some one actually has to do the whole task.
This is a theoretical exercise to help assess what points level you need. PIP is about the help you need rather actual help you have of could have.
Think what sort of help you need for the majority of days - this will indicate the appropriate points on each descriptor.
I hope this helps.
LL26

Hi Alz1995

You are not alone, we all find PIP thing confusing, quite often we come across claimants who we think will be straight forward, no problems in claiming PIP only to be turned down and then having to go through MR which usually will be turned down then on to appeal.

It will be interesting to see what they do different in Scotland and what the out comes are.

Gary