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PIP - Preparing Food and Paid Help
- Sunshine569
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3 months 1 week ago #294733 by Sunshine569
PIP - Preparing Food and Paid Help was created by Sunshine569
Hi, Everyone.
Due to my arthritis I have to have someone come in once every 10 days to prepare and batch cook meals using fresh ingredients and do the cleaning. (I pay them cash in hand.) As I also suffer from social anxiety I schedule a session with my therapist after the visit to recover from someone being in my safe space.
1. Prep Meal Question - Should I mention the help I get or just answer with how I would cope on my own ie microwave ready meals? (I am worried that mentioning paid help implies I'm coping.)
2. If I don't mention the visits I lose the chance to demonstrate my difficulties mixing with others.
Hope you can help.
Due to my arthritis I have to have someone come in once every 10 days to prepare and batch cook meals using fresh ingredients and do the cleaning. (I pay them cash in hand.) As I also suffer from social anxiety I schedule a session with my therapist after the visit to recover from someone being in my safe space.
1. Prep Meal Question - Should I mention the help I get or just answer with how I would cope on my own ie microwave ready meals? (I am worried that mentioning paid help implies I'm coping.)
2. If I don't mention the visits I lose the chance to demonstrate my difficulties mixing with others.
Hope you can help.
- BIS
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3 months 1 week ago #294803 by BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by BIS on topic PIP - Preparing Food and Paid Help
Hi Sunshine589
All benefit claimants are told to tell the truth on their forms, and we can't advise you to do anything else.
I don't think having someone to cook your meals implies you are coping. You score more highly for needing assistance (4 points), or being unable to cook at all (8 points). Your need for assistance is due to your arthritis. Focus on what you can't do. Paying someone to assist you by doing your cooking is no different to someone living with a partner or relative doing their cooking.
You say that these visits are the only examples of you being able to demonstrate your difficulties mixing with others. It is a good example, but if you don't want to use it, are you sure you don't have any other examples? If you're not going out at all because of social anxiety, or if you have panic attacks as soon as you leave the house - then you would have other examples of how you are socially isolated because of your condition.
BIS
All benefit claimants are told to tell the truth on their forms, and we can't advise you to do anything else.
I don't think having someone to cook your meals implies you are coping. You score more highly for needing assistance (4 points), or being unable to cook at all (8 points). Your need for assistance is due to your arthritis. Focus on what you can't do. Paying someone to assist you by doing your cooking is no different to someone living with a partner or relative doing their cooking.
You say that these visits are the only examples of you being able to demonstrate your difficulties mixing with others. It is a good example, but if you don't want to use it, are you sure you don't have any other examples? If you're not going out at all because of social anxiety, or if you have panic attacks as soon as you leave the house - then you would have other examples of how you are socially isolated because of your condition.
BIS
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
- Sunshine569
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3 months 1 week ago #294824 by Sunshine569
Replied by Sunshine569 on topic PIP - Preparing Food and Paid Help
A big thank you for your prompt reply. Coming out of Covid and form filling are not a good mix. So calm advice is uplifting.
Sunshine569
Sunshine569
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