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chazie
chazie Community member Posts: 6 Listener
in PIP, DLA, and AA
I have been getting high rate mobility for over 12 yrs, after me PIP review i was awarded nothing for mobility although my condition has got a lot worse.  I have sent away papers for tribunal appeal and have received a letter back from PIP saying thy have now awarded me the standard rate of mobility.  I cannot use public transport the bus stop is over 1/2 mile from where i live (in the middle of nowhere) and could not walk that far and also have trouble getting on and off buses etc.  Can anybody let me know whether i should still go to appeal or am i wasting my time as I have read about a lot of people loosing their mobility cars since changing to pip.  I am worried sick and this is effecting my breathing problems i have.
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  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
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    @chazie

    I suggest that you re-post in 'Ask a benefits advisor'.
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  • Nystagmite
    Nystagmite Community member Posts: 596 Pioneering
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    They don't take into account how far you live from a bus stop or whether you can get off a bus or not.
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  • wildlife
    wildlife Community member Posts: 1,293 Pioneering
    edited June 2017
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    @chazie From what you have said it sounds like you have not understood the way they choose which descriptors are appropriate to you for mobility. There are only 2 questions. Firstly there is the distance you can walk from a physical point of view. You would need to hardly walk at all to get the 12 points  i.e. 1 meter but no more than 20 meters. That would probably mean you having to turn up at the Tribunal in a wheelchair. Secondly there is the planning a journey question which does not account at all for your physical ability to walk. You have to be mentally unable to do this, so the distance to your nearest bus stop or whether you can get on or off a bus is totally irrelevant. So to get enhanced if you got 10 points for your walking ability and that was correct you would need to score some points on the journey question. Hope that helps clarify things for you..
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  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
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    @chazie

    Your question is quite complex so, as posted above, I recommend that you re-post in 'Ask benefits advisor'.  You have to decide whether to stay with the 10 points mobility you have received or go to tribunal and ask for 12 points.  A benefits advisor's advice could help you decide.

    A claimant does not need to be in a wheelchair to get 12 points mobility.  The DWP rule is that you can walk 20 metres, rest for about a minute because of pain, stiffness or fatigue, walk another 20 metres, rest for another minute, and so on.  I don't think DWP set any limit to number of times you can repeat this pattern!

    Both Disability Rights and Scope websites have good guides to PIP - look under 'Support and information'.
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  • wildlife
    wildlife Community member Posts: 1,293 Pioneering
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    @chazie Sorry @Matilda knows more about the walking descriptor than I do.  I got 10 points for only being able to walk 20 metres but no more than 50 metres with a stick which might give you more idea how bad you have to be to get 12 points. This was based solely on the way I walked into the assessment.
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  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
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    @chazie

    A tribunal would quiz you about your walking ability.   But having been in receipt of higher rate DLA mobility for 12 years would be strong evidence that you have serious mobility difficulties.
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  • Liam_Alumni
    Liam_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 1,101 Pioneering
    edited June 2017
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    Hi @chazie,

    I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you have been having with PIP. I've moved this discussion to our Ask a Benefits Advisor category, where @BenefitsTrainingCo may be able to help.

    If you have any other questions, please do get in touch.
    Liam
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  • BenefitsTrainingCo
    BenefitsTrainingCo Community member Posts: 2,621 Pioneering
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    Hi Chazie

    The test for PIP mobility is about your ability to walk and complete journeys generally rather than a particular journey, say from your own house.

    Ultimately, your decision whether or not to appeal should be based on an opinion of your likely entitlement. As a starting point i suggest you look closely at the Disability Rights UK factsheet on PIP which you can find here. Generally, for physical difficulties you usually have to show that your walking ability is limited to no more than 20 metres in order to qualify for the enhanced rate (see page 35). When assessing your own ability it is really important to consider the reliably criteria which is set out on page 6. For example if someone can walk a few hundred metres but is in significant pain and/or cannot then walk after that for a number of hours then arguably they cannot do it reliably and may still qualify for an enhanced rate award.

    Beyond checking this yourself you could look for a specialist opinion and help with a possible appeal locally and the Scope helpline can probably help with finding a service near to you. 

    David
    The Benefits Training Co:

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