Hi, my name is juliebullard666!

juliebullard666
juliebullard666 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

Hi everyone.

Ive just won MY PIP tribunal and now at almost 60, have an official Mental Health Disability.

On my award letter, it states:

Planning and following journeys.

d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid.

Mydog, English Springer Spaniel, is almost 12 years old. Hes a retired working dog, highly intelligent and is a huge part of my daily life, in nany ways.

Hes never been assessed as an assistance dog but is vital to assisting me with my mental health disability.

Just wondered if anybody else is in this situation too.

Comments

  • Bluebell21
    Bluebell21 Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 11,990 Championing

    Hi @juliebullard666 Welcome to the Community.

    Great news that you won your PIP tribunal.

    If he is not an assistance dog that is fine. Pets do help with our mental health and are a huge part of our lives.

    Take care.

  • Rosie_Scope
    Rosie_Scope Posts: 5,939 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @juliebullard666, welcome from me too! Congratulations on winning your tribunal, that must be a weight off your mind!

    That descriptor covers the use of assistance dogs but doesn't exclusively mean that you can only score points if you have one.

    It also applies to anyone who has difficulty following a route of an unfamiliar journey alone for other reasons. For example, if you become too distressed, are likely to get lost or hurt yourself in some way, then you may also score points for it.

    Hope that helps clear things up a little ☺️