Shower or bath scoring query

trickyjacket

Hello

I'm new. I've received my decision and have scored lower on the washing section than I expected. I can manage the shower twice a week but I cannot get into the bath ever. So, because I can manage to shower twice a week does that mean bathing is ignored?

I've scored 2 but expected to score more for this section.

Thank you

poppy123456

Washing and bathing, considers someones ability to wash and get into a bath and/or shower. Is the shower over the bath? 

Did you have award? Would that extra 1 point make any difference? How many points did you score in total for the daily living part?

trickyjacket

Shower is separate, not over the bath. I scored 6 points overall for daily living.

I'm preparing my case for MR but would appreciate clarification on the bath/shower query. Thanks

poppy123456

For washing and bathing, it's bath or shower. Whether it's possible to score points here for needing assistance will depend on what the reason is for not being able to use an aid.

Unadapted baths and showers include a shower over a bath, a shower cubicle (i.e. a partitioned area with a threshold/ledge to step over) and shower attachments to bath taps. Those who cannot access either one of an unadapted bath or shower without assistance from another will qualify for descriptor 4E. A wet room shower, if its use is reasonably required, is evidence that the claimant cannot get into an unadapted shower.

This guide will help you to have more understanding the descriptors and what they mean.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#daily-living-activities

trickyjacket

Thank you. The decision matrix on that page is very useful and implies I would qualify for 4e, which is as I thought. I will reference that in my MR. Thank you again.

I read so much when applying but the descriptions on that page are particularly helpful.

apple85

I was told by someone relatively reliable that you can’t get many points on this one if you are able to bath/shower unsupervised if that makes sense

poppy123456

apple85 said:

I was told by someone relatively reliable that you can’t get many points on this one if you are able to bath/shower unsupervised if that makes sense

That makes no sense. Even with supervision (4C) you would only score 2 points. E, F and G all score more points than that.

trickyjacket

An update, I submitted my claim for mandatory review citing the matrix on the DWP website and where I think I should have scored more points for washing and bathing and it's been ignored. There's no reference to it in the very brief report I've received. I also provided details of where I think I should have scored points under 'managing my medication' but that has also been ignored.Therefore their decision has remained the same so I do not qualify for the daily living part of pip.

I'm now considering appealing. I had hoped by providingb clear details andb examples and by referencing their own pip information it would be an easy way to challenge their decision. Clearly not.

I need to do some research on appeals to make sure I understand how it works and whether it's likely to make any difference.

One positive is that I heard within 6 weeks of submitting the MR which was about a month earlier than expected.

poppy123456

It’s not unusual for the MR decision to remain the same because only about 23% of them change in the claimants favour. 

At Tribunal stage providing you either appear in person or have a telephone/video hearing there’s about a 70% chance of a decision in your favour. Paper based hearings have a considerable less success rate at about 5-8%. 

trickyjacket

Thank you poppy. The statistics don't demonstrate the nature of the outcome though. I had thought, maybe naively, that providing specific details as above would allow them to reassess their decision, not simply ignore the details supplied as part of my MR

poppy123456

It’s not unusual for the MR decision to be a copy and paste of the original decision. 

trickyjacket

Thank you. That is exactly what has happened to me. I will appeal and have 3 weeks to do so (as the letter is dated 7 July despite only receiving it today).

The thought of an appeal scares me but I think I need to do it.

Thanks again

poppy123456

You have 13 months to request the Tribunal. If you’re outside of the 1 month then you need to give a reason why you’re late. It’s very unlikely that it will be refused.