PIP decision on "Preparing Food"

Summerx

Hi. Would like some advice. Just received my PIP award and scored 4 points for preparing food as they have stated I need supervision or assistance. I can't prepare or cook food and have a care package in place and my carer comes in 3 times a day to prepare all food. I called PIP and asked how they made the decision and was told that as I have no cognitive problems and I can tell someone what to cook this is classed as me needing assistance, even though physically I have no input in preparing any meals. Is this correct????

CockneyRebel

Hello Summerx and welcome

What was your overall award ?

CR

Summerx

Hi CR. I scored 12 points on mobility and 11 on daily living. So enhanced mobility and standard daily living.

Summerx

charlene

Hi Summer, just would like to say hi , also to say nothing surprises me any more regarding PIp.  

In. My case twice I had to call out the fire brigade, forgetting I left food on cooker, and went out.  Also, have weak hands and wrists so can't cut up veg etc.  I did get points but for prompting.

Summerx

Hi Charlene. I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm starting to think they close their eyes and hit a box and see what they get as it seems not many are getting fair scores.

Summerx

CockneyRebel

Hi summerx

Are there any other areas that you might score more points for ?

Have you asked for a copy of the assessment report ?

An MR and or appeal can look at your whole award and can take points away.

Was this a review or a transfer from DLA ?

CR

Summerx

Hi CR

No I don;t think I would get more points.

Haven't asked for assessment report yet and I'm hesitating about the MR as I know they can take points off.

It was a transfer from DLA where I had high mobility and high care.

Summerx

charlene

So sorry Cocknyrebel, didn't mean to butt in. No one was responding to Summerx post, when I started to reply.

Summerx, Cocknyrebel is the expert here:)

wilko

Not wishing to put a downer on your award but moving from DLA to  PIP and getting the award you got I should be grateful and accept what you got remember the two benefits are scored using criteria the DLA focus on your disability and PIP your abilities so with a score like yours leave well alone but the choice is yours. Good luck.

Summerx

Hi Wilko

It's not putting a downer on it, it's being honest so thank you. I'm more likely to leave well alone than to ask for a MR and have points taken off.

Summerx

CockneyRebel

Hi summerx

You should ask for the assessment report straight away
Without wishing to pry, can you tell me what your other points were ?

Also have a look at the B&W self test to get an idea of the points, descriptors and criteria

http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php

CR

whistles

I probably would leave that award alone. How long is it for?

Summerx

CR I'll put the points up tomorrow and will have a look at that link. Thank you

Whistles I got 4 years

Summerx

CockneyRebel

No problem, glad to help

CR

Matilda

@Summerx

I would say you should have got more points for food preparation because you cannot physically prepare food at all.  My recollection is that that is what the descriptor says, not can't do it themselves but can instruct others.  Suggest you  check what the descriptors actually say - lists are on lots of sites including the Disability Rights UK site.

It's worth asking for an MR if you think your current award is safe, i.e, DWP would have no justification in reducing your current award (though that wouldn't necessarily stop them!).  However 80% of MRs don't change the award.

I got 11 points daily living, 10 mobility, MR made no change, Tribunal awarded me 13 and 12.

Misscleo

You have a good score on both
Why would you risk them taking points off you???
You need to be greatful for what you have.
There are many on here  who got very low points and they are really struggling.

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pee14

Be thankfull for this award PLEASE you don't seem to be thankful enough

Springtime18

I'm concerned that some people basically say be grateful for what Summerx gets. I would encourage Summerx to ask for a MR. I am waiting on one myself, I got 14 for daily living and 10 for mobility. I looked at citizens advice how to complete the form, in regards to the preparing foods, I became aware from CAB that if you need a seat e.g. that is considered an aid. My own award said that I could plan a journey because I had no cognitive problems, I have asked them for a MC as it was clear because I could string a sentence together I was being penalised as I could  in theory plan a journey but physically and mentally this is not possible and need someone to hold on to. Il let you know if I get the 2 extra points waiting for 5 weeks now, I thought that even after appeal at least I tried and could then get closure and accept, and ultimately move on and not let the dreaded PIP it take over.

Nystagmite

To be fair, some of us did originally get nothing.

It is true - the OP should be grateful that they did at least get something.

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Matilda

People should not be grateful to have got at least some PIP and then be quiet.  That's what the DWP want!  We know that many assessment reports are factually inaccurate.  Therefore people who think their awards are unfair are entitled to ask for MRs and then appeal if necessary.

whistles

In regards to the cognitive side, you will have to prove that this is the case if you are arguing that.

If you can tell someone what you want them to cook for you that's assistance in their eyes. 
It doesn't seem to matter what help you  have in place, it's whether you can prove that the help you currently get is even necessary. I live in warden supported, didn't get standard care. I am probably living somewhere to enable me, not disable.

I'm not concerned springtime18, because the pip is about what you can do. It's about being honest about your ability not disability. I don't fit the criteria, that's the whole point in the sick change, to dump a load of us. 

wildlife

@Everyone Nowhere throughout this discussion has the OP said she wasn't grateful for the award she was given. She even says she will probably stick with what she has and not even do an MR which everyone has a right to do. Every claim and every person is different so to start "having a go" instead of offering kind, thoughtful advice is not what should be happening on this forum. @summerx is feeling a sense of injustice caused by her assessor's twisting of the criteria to suit the points she/he wants to give. It looks like one point below has been given  intentionally to keep the award in the standard range. This feeling is justified as it is caused by lack of fairness in a system which is not working how it should. You do not know this lady and the harm which may be caused by the written word. If it was me you were writing about (which it may well be after this post) I would be extremely upset and have to leave the forum to protect myself. I agree with @Matilda, reducing points at MR is possible but not what normally happens. 80% is high for claims kept the same at MR so, providing the OP has strong evidence to show she is unable to prepare food herself then an MR will be the way to go. The care system is stretched to the limit and Social services would not be going in to prepare food if the claimant could in any way do it herself. 
      If everyone who has an award below what they're entitled to decided they should be grateful and said nothing or didn't question an incorrect decision nothing would ever change and the assessment companies and DWP could be as corrupt as they wished and there would be a lot of very sick people not getting the help they need.. 

pee14

The DWP do not force you into making a PIP claim it's your choice , yes people need an income when they carnt work , now with those scores it shows she got a truthful assessor , it could of easily been the zero points with dishonest assessor ..her post clearly had some dissapointment there , and yes her decision. If it had been me I would truly be happy with those scores and I would not even think about challenging.

wildlife

Have just checked the preparing food descriptors and the last one just says cannot prepare and cook food. It doesn't say "Cannot prepare and cook food due to a cognitive impairment". There are many physical reasons why a claimant cannot prepare a meal. So are we saying that someone who is paralyzed from the neck downwards but has no cognitive awareness can prepare and cook a meal? I hope this has given you "food" for thought as it's an example of an illogical decision made in order to reduce the amount of points awarded. 

susan48

I think if anyone feels there award is incorrect it’s there choice to take the matter further, regardless if they got some award.
not making do with the decision of someone who asks some questions and depending how you answer depends your points.
the system does not work.
its hard enough going through this process without people making you feel even worse 
i thought this site was for help, information and SUPPORT 

wildlife

@susan48 The problems occur when what you answer is changed to suit the points the assessor wants to recommend to DWP. @Summerx have you supplied a copy of your care plan to DWP to support your PIP award? If so the assessor has clearly ignored the evidence that you require all your meals to be prepared for you and I'm sure it will say why. If you decide to do an MR have a think about what other evidence you could get or have already sent to refer to as to why preparing food yourself is not an option. Good luck and please ignore the comments on here. All you are doing is asking for clarification on one of the PIP descriptors. You didn't ask if you should settle for what you've got and be grateful. By the way any post can be reported to the moderators by clicking the flag below if it is not within the rules of the forum. The Scope team will then delete and contact the poster. I'm not saying any of these is that bad but the option is there. 

susan48

Very true wildlife, shocking but true 

CockneyRebel

None of us know summerx's situation so judgement is not appropriate.
We are here to help and support each other.
I hope that summerx has not been put of by some of the comments

Some of the descriptors can have consequences on others, especially when the reliability factors, that are often overlooked, are applied.

CR

susan48

Well said CockneyRebel, as I also said, we should be helping and supporting not judging each other. We all get enough of that outside of here
Susa