Orientation aid in PIP.

justaquestion

Hi folks,

In the mobility part of pip one of the descriptors that gets 10 points is,

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

I wonder would a small monocular prescribed by a Low vision Clinic (to be able to see numbers on buses and read travel information on the monitors) be classed as a Orientation aid?

For the record I did get 10 points and get standard mobility last year, but was one point short of getting the standard daily care, so in the future I may apply again, but a little worried that I might loose the standard mobility and end up with nothing, hence the question.

Thanks for any information if the monocular would be classed as an aid.

calcotti

“orientation aid” means a specialist aid designed to assist disabled people to follow a route safely;

What you describe seems to fit that description but I am not aware of any tribunal decisions that would confirm this.

poppy12345

justaquestion wrote: »

For the record I did get 10 points and get standard mobility last year, but was one point short of getting the standard daily care, so in the future I may apply again,

You won't be able to re-apply because you already have an existing award. Instead you'll need to request a change of circumstances for a worsening of condition.

Csmk

There are a couple of cases in relation to a sat nav not being an orientation aid, I'll need to check later if the judges mention anything more on the definition (or someone else can get there before me!).

The PIP assessment guide part 2 gives the example of a long cane, which orients a person when following a route.

Just be aware that if you ask for a supersession (tell them of a change in circumstances), there is a risk that your benefit will increase, decrease, stay the same or you could lose entitlement altogether.

If you've had PIP for a while then this may be unlikely they'll change it negatively but you might want to get advice before doing so. The DWP will get a new decision maker to look at your evidence and the whole claim will be looked at again, not just the changes you tell them about.

calcotti

Csmk wrote: »

There are a couple of cases in relation to a sat nav not being an orientation aid, I'll need to check later if the judges mention anything more on the definition (or someone else can get there before me!).

I think the key one here is probably [2017] UKUT 480 (AAC)
https://www.gov.uk/administrative-appeals-tribunal-decisions/secretary-of-state-for-work-and-pensions-v-nf-pip-2017-ukut-480-aac

It was said:
"In order to qualify as an ‘orientation aid’ as defined an item must be an aid which is specialised in the sense that it has been designed for the specific purpose of assisting disabled people to follow a route safely. Where the item is not designed for that purpose the fact that it is used for that purpose by a disabled person does not convert it into an orientation aid."

I read this as a device which is in general use cannot become an orientation aid simply because it is used by a person with an impairment of some kind. So a normal sat nav isn't an orientation aid in the same way that an ordinary pair of spectacles wouldn't be an orientation aid. A small monocular seems to be a more specialist piece of equipment and it may therefore be possible to argue that it does qualify - but I don't think that is certain. The contrary argument would be that the monocular is not specifically to do with following a route but, presumably, has a more general use.

justaquestion

poppy12345 wrote: »

You won't be able to re-apply because you already have an existing award. Instead you'll need to request a change of circumstances for a worsening of condition.

Thanks for replies everybody, so is the change of circumstances form, the same form that I originally filled in for the Dla to PIp migration?

I take it I would probably have to go to a face to face again.

As regards change of circumstances just wondering why it is not possible say a year or so down the road from the original decision, if a claimant is only a point or so short of an award to apply for that again, rather to put it in as a change of circumstance.

Thanks for any further information.

poppy12345

justaquestion wrote: »

Thanks for replies everybody, so is the change of circumstances form, the same form that I originally filled in for the Dla to PIp migration?

I take it I would probably have to go to a face to face again.

As regards change of circumstances just wondering why it is not possible say a year or so down the road from the original decision, if a claimant is only a point or so short of an award to apply for that again, rather to put it in as a change of circumstance.

Thanks for any further information.

Yes, the PIP2.


Yes, most likely.


You can't re-apply if you already have an existing award, as previously advised.

Csmk

The form will be slightly different in that it may ask has anything changed with each activity, it's a review form. You'll need to put information on each question as just writing no change will be insufficient - remind them what difficulties you have, as a new decision maker will be looking over your claim again and may see evidence differently. You'll likely have to attend another face to face assessment also.

As poppy says, the DWP already have your details, so you don't need to make a new claim, just adjust the existing one, unless you're coming to an end of a fixed period award.

However, as calcotti has found on that case, the definition of an orientation aid is pretty strict compared to the meaning of aids generally.

I'd be very reluctant to ask for a supersession just on the basis of the monocular. If you feel there's good grounds to get extra points on other activities then that might be safer, but again I reiterate, go to an advice provider locally (or call one) and they can give you a better idea before having to go through all the process just to risk your whole award.

poppy12345

Putting in a change of circumstances for a worsening of condition means that you'll definitely receive the PIP2 form, not a review form.



I do agree with Csmk about getting further advice from an agency near you before you do anything else.

Csmk

Yep sorry, the review forms (think they're AR1 forms?) are if the DWP want to review your claim! It will be the PIP2. Thanks Poppy. Again though, fill out the whole form if you do decide to request a supersession.