Confused about PIP Activity 11 and familiar journeys

ConfusedConor
ConfusedConor Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
edited June 16 in PIP, DLA, ADP & AA

Hi,

I'm preparing for a PIP tribunal, and I'm confused about Activity 11.

I rarely go out alone. Most of my journeys are with my mum or another trusted person. I might do a short local journey alone around 2-3 times a month, but usually only because I feel I have to.

The DWP seemed to focus on the fact that I can occasionally go out alone, rely on Google Maps and sometimes complete journeys. This has left me confused about where the line is between being able to do something occasionally and being able to do it reliably for PIP purposes.

What confuses me is familiar journeys.

If I know a route, but something changes unexpectedly, like:

  • a road diversion,
  • a bus terminating early,
  • a train cancellation,
  • or plans changing,

Is that still considered a familiar journey?

Once a month, I might go into town with my mum because I know it well. We then split up because she has her own appointment and I have mine. The route to my appointment is familiar, and I have done it before, but I still become very anxious once I am alone.

I worry about getting lost, not being able to find my way, not knowing what to do if something changes, or having to ask strangers for help. On one occasion, I became so upset and overwhelmed that I cried. I eventually got to my appointment, but the person there didn't really understand why someone could be so upset just from walking to an appointment on their own, which made me feel even worse and more misunderstood.

I tried to put on a brave face, but I was upset throughout the appointment. Afterwards, mum came and picked me up, and I felt relieved because I was no longer alone and unsupported.

Would this still generally be considered a difficulty with a familiar journey, even though I managed to get there? And would this be an example that could be used in a tribunal if asked about a journey I took alone?

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Comments

  • westpest
    westpest Community Member Posts: 45 Connected

    I understand where you are coming from as I am terrified of going anywhere I don’t know. I panic about getting lost and in turn I get angry and frustrated. My husband and I went away for a short break last year. I was driving as my husbands not allowed to anymore. I arrived at our destination but couldn’t find the hotel. I completely lost it, I was shaking and felt sick and was in a total panic and ended up shouting at my husband. It honestly terrifies me. It also frightens me having our dog in the back of the car. If she wines or barks then again I get panicked. I worry because I’m not sure what she wants and it puts me off driving totally. So I totally understand how it affects you. Maybe you need to state how it makes you feel ie sick, shaky or panicked and how long this lasts for etc.

  • luvpink
    luvpink Community Member Posts: 4,958 Championing

    @ConfusedConor

    Hi you would have to prove it causes you "overwhelming psychological distress"

    I had written evidence confirming thats what I have so it couldn't be disputed.

    The threshold is extremely high and difficult for claimants to prove.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,133 Championing

    This descriptor is a difficult one to create a line between occasionally and reliably.

    Other descriptors are much easier to determine. For example, almost everyone has to eat every day, so we can easily count the number of days that we could prepare food.

    But with going out, some people choose not to go out often as a lifestyle choice. In a case like this, perhaps it is easier to consider the number of times that you do go out, and then see how many of those you need another person for.

    I note you say you go out 2 to 3 times a month on your own. But only go to town with your Mum once a month. That would mean that you are completing more familiar journeys alone than with another person. I'm sure your situation is more complicated in real life, I'm just using that as an example from what you've written.

    I must admit I'm not entirely sure why they ask about diversions. When I had a face to face many year ago, the assessor went on and on about diversions. I told them I couldn't manage a diversion from a regular route and would just have to turn around go home if that happened. And they still recommended 0 points for that descriptor.

  • ConfusedConor
    ConfusedConor Community Member Posts: 2 Listener
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1131781#Comment_1131781

    I didn't explain well.. the town with my mum was an example of an attempt of independence going wrong, all other times I have someone.

    I guess as I am now at tribunal stage, I don't know how to explain a journey. I am probably just overthinking things because DWP terrified me in the assessment and used past ability 10 years ago to prove current ability or he "drove until his license was revoked" to prove current ability.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Community Member Posts: 6,133 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1132055#Comment_1132055

    Did you score any points at all for this question at the assessment?

    I can break down the points descriptors a bit further if that helps.

    First question is whether you can go out on the majority of days (4 or more days each week) with another person. If you cannot manage that due to OPD then that overrides all other descriptors and awards you 10 points for 1E. No need to look any further.

    We can also rule out 1C (8 points) because you can plan a journey using Google Maps.

    So that leaves us with either 1D (10 points) unfamiliar journeys, or 1F (12 points) familiar journeys.

    Rather than trying to pick a journey that went wrong, do the majority of your short local journeys go right? From your post, it sounds like they do. I know you say you feel you have to do them, but that also proves that you are able to do them, which is actually what matters here.

    From what you've written so far, it sounds like you should be awarded 10 points. Either for being unable to go out at all on the majority of days. Or for needing a person with you for unfamiliar journeys. If you want to push for familiar journeys then you'll most likely need to provide some more evidence. (Not to us, the tribunal).

    The basic meaning of OPD is that you physically cannot continue with the task at hand. Not about whether you get a bit anxious and upset, but still complete the task. Sorry, I know that sounds harsh, but PIP are interested in functional ability, not just emotions.

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