PIP Home Assesment

ourjohnnyboy

Hi all, a I'm a newbie on this site and  i'm due to have  a Home PIP Assessment in about 10-days time (the home visit was their decision). I'm a double leg (below knee) amputee and have been in receipt of DLA (High Rate Mobility and Mid Rate Care) since 1992. I have had a lease  contract car for the duration of that period and would be devastated if this was now taken from me. I would really be grateful if someone out there has got some actual information and experience in this area? 
Many thanks. 👍

Robbie64

According to the fact sheet at the Limbless Association if you have bilateral lower limb loss you qualify for the enhanced mobility component.

http://www.limbless-association.org/index.php/information/benefits/personal-independence-payment

see factsheet 1 (PDF) for an overview on PIP and factsheet 2 for a meaning of terms

I've confirmed this is correct by checking the DWP's own PIP Assessment Guide. You would qualify for 12 points under Activity 12 - Moving Around.

12 (f) "> Cannot, either aided or unaided – i. stand; or ii. move more than 1 metre. 12 points

‘Standing’ means to stand upright with at least one biological foot on the ground or without suitable aids and appliances (note – a prosthesis is considered an appliance, so a claimant with a unilateral prosthetic leg may be able to stand, whereas a bilateral lower limb amputee would be unable to stand under this definition).

Hopefully other posters can help you regarding the care component part of PIP.

Robbie64

^

apologies for the slightly messy formatting. I'm finding it difficult to format posts on this new board.

calcotti

You may find this information helpful https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/your-assessment/

I agree with Robbie that you clearly qualify for an Enhanced Rate of the Mobility component. The assessment is to inform the decision on what rate of Daily Living component you may qualify for.

ourjohnnyboy

Many thanks to Robbie64 and Calcotti for your prompt responses to my query, really appreciate this info - most helpful.
Cheers! 👍

born_again

My wife had a home visit 2 weeks ago.
The person was through with the questions on what can she do or not do. No trick questions to catch her out. Did do a couple of tests with her hands as this is one of her issues. Had a quick look at bathroom for adaptations, at my request so she could see exactly what we had.
Do not worry about that side of things. 
Many scare stories of people having things taken away after assessments. But I take them with a dose of salt. Remember you do have 2 chances to contest the decision.

theducky

Wow you should definitely not be getting assessed. I think you've slipped through the net so to say. Ring them up and ask them to do a paper based report. 

Spoonie_Turtle

theducky said:

Wow you should definitely not be getting assessed. I think you've slipped through the net so to say. Ring them up and ask them to do a paper based report. 

As calcotti has already said, the assessment will be in order to determine what descriptors are appropriate for the daily living component. Of course the mobility component is a no-brainer but the other part is important too.

ourjohnnyboy

Hi, thank you again for all your kind supportive advise regards the Home PIP Assessments.
Update: I had my PIP (Home) Assessment earlier today, the assessor was very friendly, empathetic and to the letter.
After the hour long discussion and lots of frantic form filling (on laptop) at the end I  was asked if I had any further questions? 
I took this opportunity to ask the assessor (as i'm a below knee  double amputee)  for clarification  of the desciphor where it asks the patient if they can stand upright on one leg with at least one biological foot on the ground - Which I'm lead to believe awards the applicant 12-pts? 
The assessor avoided getting drawn into an answer to that particular query, so I'm non the wiser and will have to wait the stated nail biting 4-6 weeks for their decision.....  Watch this space!
Cheers all.... 👍

poppy12345

Wait a week and then ring DWP to request a copy of the assessment report. This will give you some idea what the decision is likely to be because they mostly go with the report.

As for Timescales, there isn't any. Some wait 2 weeks, others wait 8 weeks and more.

calcotti

ourjohnnyboy said:

I took this opportunity to ask the assessor (as i'm a below knee  double amputee)  for clarification  of the desciphor where it asks the patient if they can stand upright on one leg with at least one biological foot on the ground - Which I'm lead to believe awards the applicant 12-pts? 

I can’t see that there is any ambiguity about this.
Stand means Stand upright with at least one biological foot on the ground.

As a double leg amputee you do not have any biological feet, You cannot therefore cannot meet this definition of stand and therefore score 12 points and are entitled to the enhanced rate of the mobility component.