Need help with Mobility descriptor for my PIP MR please

Kurt_Vic

Hi everyone,

I am have recently been awarded pip at standard for both rates. I am now doing an MR as they have down played many of the daily living parts including the question about mixing with other people where I was scored 2 points but firmly believe that should be 8 points as I am unable to socialise with other people due to severe anxiety.

What I need though is some help with the mobility question Planning and following a journey. I want to see some other points of view. I am currently scored 10 points ( can not undertake a journey due to overwhelming distress) Here is my issue. That is correct 50-60% of the time. the rest of the time the 12 point descriptor (Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person) applies. 

If I think about my average week around half to a little over of the time I can not go out at all and fit desc. E the rest of the week I can go out with another person for support and fit desc. F.

I am doing my MR and I am considering this. I know that by leaning to (F) it becomes 12 points and enhanced which is great but half the time I can't go out.

Or I can keep it as (E) despite 40% of the time I can go out with a support person. 

It costs the government less to keep it as (E) but feels a little wrong as sometimes it doesn't apply and (F) does.

Can I get some input or advice on this.

Thank you

Kurt 

poppy123456

Kurt_Vic said:

What I need though is some help with the mobility question Planning and following a journey. I want to see some other points of view. I am currently scored 10 points ( can not undertake a journey due to overwhelming distress) Here is my issue. That is correct 50-60% of the time. the rest of the time the 12 point descriptor (Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person) applies. 

If I think about my average week around half to a little over of the time I can not go out at all and fit desc. E the rest of the week I can go out with another person for support and fit desc. F.

I am doing my MR and I am considering this. I know that by leaning to (F) it becomes 12 points and enhanced which is great but half the time I can't go out.

Or I can keep it as (E) despite 40% of the time I can go out with a support person. 

Then in my opinion descriptor 1E is correct. A claimant who satisfies 1E cannot also satisfy 1F. If they 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.

Remember PIP is about how you're affected at least 50% of the time over a 12 month period. Unfortunatetly, even being able to go out 40% of the time, this still means that the majority of the time you're unable to undertake any journey because of OPD.

calcotti

I agree with poppy. On the basis of what you have posted descriptor e is correct.

Kurt_Vic

Thank you all. I was 90% sure that my current descriptor E was correct I just wanted someone else to take a look. I think I am a little afraid of not being absolutely air tight in the right boxes as I don't want to take or be accused of taking something that I am not entitled to.

On this specific question while waiting for replies I found some guidance from 2016 which may be out of date but probably still relevant confirming what you have said and it goes a little further and makes clear that the Accompanying person must be there for navigation for the descriptor F to apply and if they are there for any other purpose like social support etc then the descriptor will not apply 

Thank you all

poppy123456

Kurt_Vic said:

On this specific question while waiting for replies I found some guidance from 2016 which may be out of date but probably still relevant confirming what you have said and it goes a little further and makes clear that the Accompanying person must be there for navigation for the descriptor F to apply and if they are there for any other purpose like social support etc then the descriptor will not apply 

Social support doesn't really apply to mobility following and planning a journey anyway. Social support applies to Activity 9 engaging with others face to face.

schoolmum

Hi @Kurt_Vic

It is always disappointing when receiving an award that we feel is lower than expected.

Sorry it is probably not what you would like to hear but on the basis of what you have posted about your conditions I totally agree with both Poppy and Calcotti and also the assessor and decision maker.

The activity descriptors and points for
9. Engaging with other
people face to face are:

a. Can engage with other people unaided. 0

b. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other
people. 2

c. Needs social support to be able to engage with
other people. 4

d. Cannot engage with other people due to such
engagement causing either –
(i) overwhelming psychological distress to the
claimant; or
(ii) the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would
result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or
another person. 8 

For Mobility section:
10. Planning and following journeys:

a. Can plan and follow the route of a journey
unaided. 0

b. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any
journey to avoid overwhelming psychological
distress to the claimant. 4

c. Cannot plan the route of a journey. 8

d. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey
without another person, assistance dog or
orientation aid. 10

e. Cannot undertake any journey because it would
cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. 10

f. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey
without another person, an assistance dog or an
orientation aid. 12

You logic and reasoning seems totally the opposite of what should be the correct award for what you have said is your conditions and contradicting your reasoning.

Social support needed for daily living is totally different to what is required for mobility needs.

I realise you and alot of people find these sections unfair, confusing and difficult to understand but it is worded in that way for a reason and covers rules and regulations.

I by no means want to offend you but marrying the 2 elements up is for want of a better phrase...'you can't have the best of both worlds'. 
Sorry if that sounds harsh 

I do wish you well if you decide to take the decision further.

Schoolmum

Kurt_Vic

@schoolmum I think there has been some confusion here. I also agree fully with what the others and PIP have said about the mobility question. The descriptor fits fine as I literally do not leave the house and undertake any journey due to overwhelming psychological distress. I only asked advice to see if the other descriptor needed to be taken into account.

The social support thing is a little off topic, maybe I didn't put it across very well when trying to understand what "another person" was defined as for descriptor F but as that descriptor doesn't apply to me its irrelevant.

The part about Q9 I used it, maybe a poor choice, as an example of a question I feel is mismatched to me for the MR as i have been marked as B when C or D would be a better fit and could do with another look at.

I'm not disappointed by the award at all, there is just a few bits that aren't quite right and I'd rather do an MR and get it right

schoolmum

Hi @Kurt_Vic
Arr yes I saw you had replied that you had now understood and realised after I posted....I'm too slow typing and correcting my mistakes haha
I just wanted to give you another point of view as sometimes it's easier viewing another person's take on a situation and give more room for thought.

Yes if you feel there are errors or things overlooked in your report you should definitely take it further. Its only fair we get the correct assessments.

Wishing you well and Hope you get a good outcome.

Take care and stay safe and as well as possible.

Schoolmum.