Pip first claim baking a cake

Hi Isabela

Welcome to the forum.

You might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is; www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/faq/forum

The test under descriptor 1 requires you to be able to cook a simple meal for one prepared from 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.
benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/pip

Gary

Hi Isabela

Only you can decide what examples you want to use - but personally, I wouldn't use it because I think it is open to being misinterpreted.

For example:

1. The claimant forgot to put sugar in a cake recipe - it could happen to anyone.
2. The claimant was baking a cake - she has the energy and motivation to cook
3. The claimant says she has brain fog but can still remember a cake recipe - perhaps she just got distracted.

Never underestimate an assessor's ability to twist what you've written. This one example won't 'prove ' to an assessor that you have problems with 'brain fog'. They are far more likely to focus on the fact you are cooking and there's nothing wrong in that, but you need to check out our guides and make sure that you are giving a clear picture of the difficulties you have.

If you say you struggle to get the motivation and are too tired to cook three days a week - they will assume that on the other four days (the majority of the week), you are fine.

Be aware of the language you use. Use exhausted rather than tired. Everyone feels tired, but the exhaustion you experience is quite different. So even when you are in the kitchen, how safe are you? Do you need your husband to supervise? (If you have said he puts the plates out - there's a risk you make him just sound like a loving husband).

As Gary said, make sure you have read through the guide and understand what they're looking for as best as you can. Applying for PIP is a minefield. The first person to read your form will be a non-medical person, so don't assume they will have any understanding of what you are going through.

BIS

BIS