pip point. Is a shoe horn classed as an aid?

michael1959

hiya , i have been recieving pip for the last 30 months , i have asked them to look at my claim again as i now have hearing aid in both ears and a frame to help me on and off the toilet , i also use a shoe horn now to help me get my shoes on , is a shoe horn classed as an aid ? thanks michael

michael1959

hiya , standard rate for the daily living component , but as my condition changed i notified the dwp that i now have hearing aids and toilet frame , i told the dwp and they advised i fill out a change of circumstances form and also a shoe horn as my arthritis from the hips down got worse

janer1967

You should always get expert advice before reporting a change as this starts the whole process off again eg forms and assessment and any new decision will override your current award 

A shoe horn I don't think would class as an aid as it can be used by anyone and not supplied through social services or NHS 

Cher_Alumni

@michael1959
Hmm, I'm not sure about a shoe horn being an aid and would second getting specialist advice to explore this some more and go through your change of circumstances. For your information, Pip.info state that under: 

Regulation 2 of the main PIP regulations [...an] -
“aid or appliance”- (a) means any device which improves, provides or replaces [the claimant's] impaired physical or mental function; and (b) includes a prosthesis;

You can visit the Advice Local website to find independent, expert support close to where you live.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

nasturtium

Hello michael1959

In my opinion if the Shoe Horn is used to replace a lost function because of a disability like for example it is a long handled shoe horn and you use it to avoid bending down because doing that would cause you pain or injury when putting on your shoes then it can be classed as an aid for PIP because you are using it to replace a bodily movement to allow you to do a activity to an acceptable standard so you should score 2 points.

An aid can be anything that help you to do a PIP Activity "relaibly" (Safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard, and in a timely manor) So you could use a towel rail as a grab rail when you are moving around the bathroom or you can use the edge of the sink to steady yourself or the edge of the bath. If it helps you to do the activity or it replaces the function that is lost because of a disability and it helps you to complete the activity "relaibly" then it should be classed as an aid and points should be scored.

leeCal

I think a shoehorn is an aid, what else can it be. However it may be viewed as trivial by the powers that be, in my opinion.

Cartini

From various documents / articles that I have read, I would say that a shoe horn is not classed as an aid.  This is akin to a bed not being classed as an aid to get dressed; sitting on a bed to assist pulling trousers / tights / underwear up can be used by anyone, disabled or not. I can`t remember where I read this bit, if I find it again, I`ll update this.

leeCal

I get your point @Cartini but a bed is made for sleeping in, that’s its main use, a shoehorn is specifically made as an aid however. 

Cartini

leeCal said:

I get your point @Cartini but a bed is made for sleeping in, that’s its main use, a shoehorn is specifically made as an aid however. 

It is @leeCal, but it doesn`t come down to its main use. I used that example because it was mentioned in one of many articles I`ve read for claiming PIP.

A dining chair is made specifically for sitting on and eating food at the table, but I have to use one quite frequently to prepare food.  What I`m trying to say is that, at the end of the day, I would imagine it will come down to "do you choose to use it" against "do you need to use it".  

Not to mention if the assessor cuts / copies and pastes correctly

nasturtium

@leeCal @michael1959 @Cartini

According to PIP Case Law CPIP/3369/2015 2016] AACR 44 (CW v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP) [2016] UKUT 197 (AAC)) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/58862281e5274a7a68000014/_2016__AACR_44ws.pdf

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Quote:-

Finally, the judge’s approach avoids the difficulty of classifying an item that may have been designed both for everyday use and to assist in overcoming a disability, such as a shoe horn. Although it is not legally relevant, I note that the PIP Assessment Guide issued by the Department for Work and Pensions on 28 July 2015 says:
“3.2.19 ... Aids and appliances may also include mainstream items used by people without an impairment, where because of their impairment the claimant is completely reliant on them to complete the activity.”

26. All of the daily living activities involve a number of functions. It is likely that an aid will assist with some of those functions but not all of them. A hearing aid, for example, helps with hearing but not with speaking (activity 7). It is possible that an aid may be entirely beneficial. A claimant who has difficulty bending may find it helpful to use a long handled shoe horn. This is entirely beneficial in that it avoids the need to bend and involves no detriment. On the other hand, an aid may not be entirely beneficial. A hearing aid may pick up and amplify background noise. The aid is beneficial, but it is not without its problems.

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So in my opinion a long handled shoe horn is classed as an aid if it is used to replace or aid a lost function because of injury or disability. Although it might be classed as an aid it is very important for the claimant to say on there claim form (PIP2) in detail why that aid is important to them and what would happen if they did not have the aid and what would the consiquences be doing the activity without the aid.