Do you mention everything or are some things not worth including?

itspersonal · February 22

I took advice from here to try and do the form in small bits. It is taking a time so I think I can’t keep help from welfare rights as it will be unreasonable to expect help for so long.

I have a question I hope here could answer. Do you include everything on the form even if you think it won’t score you points? How do you know what is relevant or important?

For instance I still can’t smell anything so can’t taste either. Is there any need to mention it? I don’t see it could improve or get an award so do I take time explaining it?

Things that have an impact don’t seem to always be on the form or relevant even though they impact me very much

janer1967 · February 22

Hi there

Ad you say things like being able to smell or taste dont really come under the descriptors

Just mention how you are affected against what is covered under each section and descriptor

woodbine · February 22

This might help:

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/pip-test

itspersonal · February 22

Awww thank you both that’s helpful. I think I’m on the wrong track entirely and not really understood the process or descriptors like I thought.

Looking at that test my husband and I would put that I need supervision when cooking but I don’t think my needs fit the descriptor.

I used to love cooking every meal from scratch but now I’m just too exhausted most days, I cook maybe once or twice a month. On the times I do cook my husband has to stay with me because twice I’ve set off the fire alarm and not realised. I probably should invest in a light-based one but I used to be able to smell something was burning or close to being ready and now I can’t and it takes getting used to. I miss the smell of food cooking

He has to check all the meat before I cook too as I can’t tell when it’s off and he won’t let me make him tea any more after a few times of sour milk, lol. Don’t get me started on seasoning!! He swears I’m trying to poison him 😅

Because everything tastes the same I often don’t feel like eating and like there’s no point and can only manage small amounts as it makes me feel sick which is why I’ve lost so much weight. Covid has so much to answer for it’s totally changed my life 😔

janer1967 · February 22

These are exactly the examples you should be putting down

mikehughescq · February 22

Context is everything. You don’t mention “everything” but you do mention everything which helps avoid any inference of inconsistency. An example.

Few sight-impaired claimants will score for toileting. However, explaining that, for example, you might miss the toilet when urinating; might struggle to find toilets when away from home; might struggle to distinguish between male and female toilets and may struggle to find friends and family after having been shown were the toilets were all helps paint a picture which is totally consistent with needing help on familiar routes and kills any suggestion that just cos you can toilet okay you can dress yourself okay. You may not score 2 points for toileting but filling in that section can cement points in three or more other points scoring activities.

Do you mention everything or are some things not worth including?

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