Advice for PIP claim

sleepy14

Hi a friend of ours is currently going through PIP and has just missed enhanced rate by 2 points. The assessor has said that his eating aids (cutlery)are not prescribed by OT so are not considered an aid. Is this usual?

[Deleted User]

sleepy14 wrote: »

Hi a friend of ours is currently going through PIP and has just missed enhanced rate by 2 points. The assessor has said that his eating aids (cutlery)are not prescribed by OT so are not considered an aid. Is this usual?

Yes, I've seen people using self bought wheelchairs rather than NHS provided and assessed denied enhanced rate.

pmlindyloo

There is absolutely nothing in the PIP assessment guide which says that aids have to be prescribed by an OT or hospital.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria

What they may question is whether the claimant actually needs to use an aid or whether it is just a preference.

Alice_Holt

As _shel says this isn't uncommon.

However, what the assessor should have considered is:
"It is reasonable to expect a claimant to use an aid or appliance in the following circumstances:
• If it is medically reasonable for them to use an aid or appliance.
In some cases they may have already been given specific medical advice to use the aid or appliance. In others they will not, but would likely be advised to if they sought advice from a professional such as a GP or occupational therapist."

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/725533/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-assessment-criteria.pdf

The issue to consider is how your friend would cope without these eating aids. If they use them for convenience, and can reliably use normal cutlery then the assessment is correct.
If they could not reliably use standard cutlery then the assessor is not correct, and 2 additional points should have been awarded.

The issue of reliability is covered on pages 73-81 in the link posted above.

EDIT: Cross posted with pmlindyloo.

Dixi

In my area, if an item costs less than £20 Social Services will not fund it and they consider cutlery to be 3 items. So they will only recommend small items and not prescribe.

[Deleted User]

Dixi wrote: »

In my area, if an item costs less than £20 Social Services will not fund it and they consider cutlery to be 3 items. So they will only recommend small items and not prescribe.

But in that case you will have the OT assessment and recommendations that you need it to send with your pip application