How did you evidence your mobility for PIP

ralphlea14

What did you use to evidence your mobility? Or any advice on who to ask/where to ask.

Some background: 

I have ME, and was seen by a specialist however they wont offer a report (i only have a brief letter of my assessment with them) and official diagnosis until I’ve seen a rheumatologist specialist for suspected arthritis, which isn’t until july 2024. I cant be seen again my the ME specialist until i’m diagnosed by my rheumatologist. 

Ive been awarded standard mobility, under descriptor d. Able to stand a move 20-50 meters aided or unaided, despite explaining my mobility is under descriptor e. Can stand and move more than 1 meter but no more than 20. 

I explained this clearly and was very detailed in my assessment with the assessor writing this on my report, yet still awarded me the wrong descriptor… 

I sent off an MR but it came back with the same decision so i’m having to appeal and I want a stronger case before sending it off as attending court will massively decline my health and is causing intense anxiety. 

Services I’ve tried to receive help from: 

• I use a powerchair, which was self funded. My NHS wheelchair service provide support for manual users, i cant use a manual due to my disabilities, and also only for power chair users if you use one full time. as I self funded my power chair they don’t offer support on how to make my chair better suited for my needs, despite me asking. 

• My occupational therapist support worker can only provide documentation of adaptations made to my home and no written statement on my limited walking to evidence the right descriptor. 
• My main carer (mum) also wrote a statement explaining my mobility. 
• I asked my GP for a statement on using a wheelchair however they could only write “patient states she uses a wheelchair” and i know these aren’t usually seen as ‘valid’ and don’t really help. 

I feel at a loss on where to evidence this, especially as it was written in the report yet the assessor and decision making then chose the wrong descriptor. any advice is greatly appreciated thanks! 

66Mustang

Probably not the answer you were hoping to hear but I think having solid evidence is probably one of the most important bits. At least when I successfully and unsuccessfully got PIP there was a difference in the quality and amount of evidence I was able to provide

I got mobility PIP for psychological reasons rather than physical, so it might not be relatable though... However I had multiple, probably 6-7, letters from a specialist over the course of the last two years, explicitly stating that I cannot (as opposed to just "do not") go out unless I have someone who is able to support me

Being cynical and pedantic, maybe it could be argued that your doctor only said you "use a wheelchair", which doesn't rule out the possibility that you just choose to (not saying you do)

Not the same but my Dad used to work in a job which required gathering evidence to aid criminal prosecutions ... he told me that when it comes to evidence, a lot of it involves repetition just to really hammer your point home. I found this to be relevant in PIP as well as I don't know if I'd have got my PIP if I just sent off one of those letters