PIP: The point i want to appeal is the familiar journey

mandag1982

Hi,
I got my report from pip. I got 13 points on care.
Im 2 points away from high mobility. The point i want to appeal is the familiar journey, i need someone to come with me everywhere even the local shop or school. Can my best friend ring and speak to the case manager before they make a decision? 

poppy123456

Hi,

There's no harm in getting your point accross and give extra information before a decision's been made. However, speaking to a decision maker may not be that easy because when you ring DWP you are ringing a call centre, not DWP theirself. You will also need to go through security before they will speak to anyone else.

Please also remember that the report isn't the decision, it's a recommendation with the assessors opinion based on everything you sent and what you said during the assessment. Before making the decision they will look at everything you sent as well as the report.

Whether you'll be entitled to 12 points here will totally depend on the reasons why you need someone with you on a familiar journey.

mandag1982

Thankyou. 

I dont go out alone at all not even to appointments. If noone can come with me, i wont go. I suffer with severe anxiety, emotional unstable personality disorder. Autism, depression, ocd aling eith other things. 

I believe its already been awarded as my friend rang and it said on automated that a payment would be made on such and such. But ive yet to recieve award paper, and judging by the amount its high care standard mobility.

Could my friend ring the case manager as when she asked for the report they said it was with someone x

poppy123456

If the decision's already been made then it will be to late to speak to the decision maker. You will now need to request the Mandatory Reconsideration.(MR) Usually money is received into your bank before the letter.

You should put the MR request in writing stating where you think you should have scored those points and then give a couple of real world examples of what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies to you. Include information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

Out of curiosity which descriptor was recommended for mobility was it D or E? If it was E may i ask are you unable to undertake a single journey on the majority of the days? The majority of days being more than 50% of the time.

mandag1982

Hi

Ok ill get that started, well my friend will help, i can write but she does the calling up of things. 

I got E 
But i believe it should be F. I never go anywhere alone ever not even to the shop on the end of my road or school as i dont do school run  haven't in 3 years or more. I dont go to doctors appointments, food shopping the list goes on. Even during pregnancy i had to be accompanied to appointments. If im told i have to go to appointments alone or anywhere alone i just wont go. I will re arrange until someone can come with me. Took me over 2 weeks to get my new glasses. Which have to be repaired but i dont know when someone can come with me yet. X

poppy123456

A claimant who satisfies 1E cannot also satisfy 1F. If you cannot undertake a single journey on the majority of days due to overwhelming psychological distress, then 1E will be the applicable descriptor, even if there are occasions when they could follow a familiar route, if accompanied.

Before requesting the MR i would get some expert advice from an agency near you because there's no point in going any further if you don't qualify for descriptor 1F. Start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

mandag1982

Ah thankyou. I have now realised what that question meant i think.

Am i correct in thinking- 

If i didnt get overwhelmed and stressed leaving the house and i need someone to be with me because i couldn't do it for another reason ie (partily brain damaged) then i would qualify for F from the start?

But because i do get overwhelmed and stressed, regardless of being with my friend i can still do it with her by my side? X

poppy123456

No, that's not correct. Someone who suffers from overwhelming psychological distress can score points for 1F.

However, if that person can't undertake any journey on the majority of days then 1E will apply and they can't score points for 1F. Even if there are "occasions" where they can go out with another person.

mandag1982

Hi,

I dont understand im sorry. I need someone with me even on familiar journeys. I dont understand why the points woukd be higher for a familiar journey but not for
Any journey. 

I will put an MR in, with what evidence i have because i dont understand the reasoning. 

Thankyou x

poppy123456

You scored points for 1E Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.

Are you unable to go out the majority of the time? You haven't answered that question.

mandag1982

Hi,

I dont go out at all unless i am with someone. I may go out once a week sometimes it could be 2 weeks. It all depends on my mood and if i feel comfortable to go out. 

 I can plan to go out a week in advance, but i already know i wont be going because i then have to build myself up to go. Even going to say tesco with my friend i have to know which one and is it a quick shop or can we look around. X

poppy123456

Thank you for answering that. Based on what you've said here 1E would be correct because you're unable to go out the majority of the time. Once or twice a week to go out is not the majority of the time.

mandag1982

Ah thankyou i understand now. 

So if i went out everyday and needed someone that would be a majority of the time?.

But because i dont, therefore i dont need my friend everyday? X

poppy123456

It doesn't need to be everyday, 4 days a week would be enough to be the majority of the time. Because you don't go out most of the time then 1F can't be awarded. To score the points, you need to fit the descriptor, which you don't.

It is very confusing. I just didn't want you going through all that stress of the MR and Tribunal if you can't score points for Enhanced mobility.

mandag1982

Aw fab thankyou, it makes sense to me now. 

No i dont go out 4 days of the week, i couldn't do it. The thought doesnt bare thinking about. Be lucky if i take the kids into the garden when they visit me (split custody with help from the mother, she takes them outside)

Im glad you were able to help, and explain things 

Again thankyou x

poppy123456

You're welcome, happy to help

Alex_Alumni

Hi @mandag1982 just to let you know I've moved your discussion over into our PIP category, and edited the title so that it's easier for future members to find if they have similar queries.

I'm really glad our members could help out, and if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask

Alex