Hi, my name is Morgan1810! I am helping my friend with his son's PIP claim

Morgan1810

Hi there . I am helping my friend with his sons PIP claim. The young man  (I’ll call Tom) aged 22) has an appointee (his dad) and was reassessed for PIP from DLA  by means of a telephone interview. The result came back as not entitled. This is probably because Tom told the assessor that he could do everything ! 

I advised that they ask for a mandatory reconsideration and include his official diagnosis paper work of Autism, Dyspraxia, OCD , Severe anxiety and history of Self Harm. Along with his current Educational Health and Welfare plan. He attends a specialist college which the EHWP funds until 25. 

My question is this. 

The award they have now made is for standard rate care. Nothing for mobility . His mother is being driven into the ground with the 44 mile round trip to the college as Tom is not able to travel alone. The care plan states that he should be provided with transport - this is another battle with the council . But his mobility needs (ability to move around from A to B ) are obviously not restricted to going to college. 

Tom cannot go out without an adult  supervision. 

Tom’s needs are also all day long. He is a bad sleeper . Up in the early hours. Tends to pick this time for self harming . Could not live alone cannot prepare food, handle money, do washing etc. All spelt out in the care plan yet still only got his award by 1 point ! 

His MR was made over a month ago. How do we challenge this ? As it says appeal must be within 1 month.  . 

poppy123456

HI,

You now request the Tribunal which can be done online here. https://www.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision/submit-appeal Although they tell you that you must request this within 1 month of the date of the MR decision, you actually get 13 months with good reason. The Tribunal will not refuse you the appeal because it's outside the 1 month.

PIP doesn't consider night time care like DLA did, so being up in the night doesn't help a PIP claim.

If they haven't already given a couple of real world exemples of what happened the last time he attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to him you should do this. Adding information such as where he was, who (if anyone) seen it, what exactly happened and what the consequences were.

For example, can he dress himself? is he able to choose the appropriate clothing for that particular day? My daughter has ASD and she loves to wear the same clothes every single day and i have to practically pull the clothes off her to be able to wash them. she doesn't even notice that they are dirty and has no awareness of that.  I also have to help her choose what clothes to wear that day, depending on the weather because it has been kown so many times for her to go out with a jumper on in the middle of summer.

Following and planning a journey is part of the mobility award, which should definitely apply to him. My daughter is also not able to go out alone and infact in 20 years she's never been able to do that. Give detailed examples of why he's unable to go out alone, what would happen if he was left by himself outside? Would he know how to get home? is he safe on the roads or does he need support to cross a road for his safety? Has he ever experienced any accidents while outside?

I hope this helps a little.

They could also get some expert advice from an agency near them and if they can get representation, even better. For this, start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

Ross_Alumni

Hello @Morgan1810

Welcome to the community, it's lovely to see you join and thank you for telling us about your friend's son, it's good that you are helping them with this.

You mentioned that Tom has the care plan, but I just wanted to ask how that level of support is working for him? And whether he receives any support from other services or individuals? Of course, it's concerning to read that he harms himself regularly, but I hope that he has the right level of support in place to manage his mental health and other conditions.

Morgan1810

Hi Ross. Thank you for your reply. Tim has started to get some support. Unfortunately his parents have been victims to an inadequate GP who spent his entire childhood telling them that Tom was just ‘a little different ‘ - yet anyone who met him , even with the most basic understanding could have diagnosed autism from a very early age. The reality was that they didn’t get his diagnosis until he was about 15 .. his schools were equally hopeless until a meeting SENCO at school was horrified at his lack of support . 

So - as of today (letter to Tom’s parents received today) .. council have agreed to supply a taxi  ! Small victories that will make a huge difference to his mum who is exhausted trying to work and get him to college . He has been to some outreach ‘clubs’ organised through college. But has very little life outside home and college . 

Do you know how we appeal the PIP if more than one month after reconsidered ? 

poppy123456

Morgan1810 said:

Do you know how we appeal the PIP if more than one month after reconsidered ? 

That question was answered here.

poppy123456 said:

HI,

You now request the Tribunal which can be done online here. https://www.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision/submit-appeal Although they tell you that you must request this within 1 month of the date of the MR decision, you actually get 13 months with good reason. The Tribunal will not refuse you the appeal because it's outside the 1 month.

Morgan1810

Yes sorry I saw that and posted my reply in the wrong place !many thanks. I’m on it  x 

Ross_Alumni

Hi @Morgan1810

Thanks for your reply, I'm glad to hear that he does have all the support he needs, but please ensure that he (or his family) speaks with his GP or other health professionals or care providers if he ever needs further support. Furthermore, he is always welcome to contact us if he wants to discuss anything, he can do that via community@scope.org.uk or give our helpline a call using these details.