PIP for Dyspraxia and SPD but no evidence since childhood. Any advice?

vitaminz

Hi guys,

As a child I was diagnosed with Dyspraxia and Sensory Processing Disorder, and struggled greatly with these disabilities. I was in receipt of DLA as a child but when I applied for PIP in about 2017 I was denied any award. The condition still affects me in a lot of ways including not being able to use cutlery, not being safe enough to cook, and often wearing clothes incorrectly. 

I’ve decided to try again in claiming PIP, not just for my dyspraxia/SPD but also due to some severe mental health issues I have had over the last year. I have been awarded the Standard mobility rate for my mental health issues, but the issues from my Dyspraxia and SPD have been completely ignored, so I have no award for the Daily Living component. I asked for a mandatory reconsideration which I received yesterday (with no change as expected). I have now started an appeal.

I think the main issue I have is I have a lot of supporting evidence but it’s all from when I was a child (20 years or so ago). I did send them this as evidence but obviously it doesn’t show that I’m still affected.  I have not seen any specialists since I was a child (after long periods of occupational therapy, seeing dieticians etc) but this is primarily because there wasn’t any additional therapies that could help me, not because it just went away - both are lifelong conditions.

I am going to ask my GP for a letter but it’s still going to be me telling them how I’m affected and then repeating it and maybe backing up that my conditions are life long, but is there anything else I can do to help my chances?

Thanks!

Spoonie_Turtle

vitaminz said:

I think the main issue I have is I have a lot of supporting evidence but it’s all from when I was a child (20 years or so ago). I did send them this as evidence but obviously it doesn’t show that I’m still affected.  I have not seen any specialists since I was a child (after long periods of occupational therapy, seeing dieticians etc) but this is primarily because there wasn’t any additional therapies that could help me, not because it just went away - both are lifelong conditions.

Explaining this is important.  The tribunal should readily understand.

Do you know which daily living descriptors you think you should meet, and how the activities are assessed?  If not, this is the official guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria
Although it sounds as though you already know which are the most relevant activities under PIP, which is good.

That said, you may also meet some daily living descriptors because of your mental health issues, depending on how exactly you are affected.  So don't forget to consider that as well.

peteuk

Your diagnosis does not determine your PIP outcome. 

As you’ve said you cant hold a knife and fork or cook.  Think about how you eat, do you have adapted knifes/forks or plates?  How long does it take you to eat a normal meal?  Are you doing this the majority of the time?

Cooking - again do you have anything to help grip eg peeler, grip board.  Please note for the act of cooking it is a simple meal for one, using a hob.  Microwave can be considered for certain conditions. 

Take a look at the descriptors and the act and work out the effects your conditions have on you. 

Good luck. 

poppy12345

vitaminz said:

I am going to ask my GP for a letter but it’s still going to be me telling them how I’m affected and then repeating it and maybe backing up that my conditions are life long, but is there anything else I can do to help my chances?

Your GP may charge for this and in my opinion these sort of letters aren't helpful. Your GP doesn't spend anytime with you to know how you manage those 10 daily living activities. The only person that will know this is yourself.

Give a couple of real world examples of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each descriptor that applies to you. Adding detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were.

Alice_Holt

This is a good guide to the appeal process:
https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal

Also:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/

And:
https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/welfare-benefits/pip-mental-health-guide/

If your local advice charity haven't the capacity to help you with the appeal, this site has some excellent resources:
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-appeals
(but membership is about £20pa)

jojaca

My 18 year old son recently had successful pip claim for dyspraxia, I think he gets the lower end of daily living component. Went all the way to tribunal and felt lucky to get anything. We are just grateful to get anything because it basically pays for his driving lessons. He's been learning to drive for a year and still no sign of test because of dyspraxia even driving in automatic, it's costing a small fortune and he still may not be successful.