PIP claim - but I am also a representative for a PIP claimant

TheProtagonist

My wife was recently awarded PIP at a tribunal hearing. She suffers from fibromyalgia and anxiety, as well as a few other things. Due to her struggles I nominated myself as her representative and I did all her forms for her, and was present on the call with the tribunal. The whole process was so (unnecessarily) stressful and exhausting but we are just relieved that she got the award eventually.

In the meantime I had my own PIP application in progress. This was rejected with zero points, as was was the mandatory reconsideration. I appealed against that and now I have received a date for a tribunal hearing.

I suffer from autism and ADHD. In my application I wrote that my wife helps me with stuff that I struggle with, i.e. preparing a meal. But also in her application I wrote that I help her with preparing a meal. This likely sounds contradictory, but it's true. We help each other out as and when we can and that's the only way we get through our individual struggles.

However, I don't want this to backfire on me. How likely is it that they will link our two applications and question me on how I can be a representative for my wife on her claim, whilst making my own claim (for the same thing that I help her with)? I understand why they might want to know that but I fear that they will try and use it against me and potentially mark both of our claims as fraudulent.

OR is it likely that they won't link our applications and will not ask me about my role as my wife's representative?

atlantis187

They 100% will look at both applications. it happened to us.

Especially now with this new fraud and error bill that had been introduced

marcia_

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6688610/pip-claim-but-i-am-also-a-representative-for-a-pip-claimant

you can't claim you help someone with tasks and they help you with the very same tasks. Will definitely be compared and might be seen as fraudulent

Spoonie_Turtle

You'll have to explain very very clearly exactly what aspects your wife helps you with and which different aspects you help your wife with. I can very easily see how helping each other can work because each activity comprises of lots of different physical and mental steps, but on the face of it it sounds contradictory and you will have to explicitly spell out how it's not (and be prepared for a potential fight).

Muttleythefrog

Yes on the face of it it will appear contradictory. When you describe your difficulties and the help you need to prepare a meal…. explain that in good detail walking the reader (or listener if at tribunal) through step by step…and I strongly advise to get on front foot by explaining how in that process of making a meal you assist your wife… it'll need to make sense. I would do similarly for any other tasks where mutual assistance applies and you are claiming disablement. Agree with Spoonie above… it could be a fight… and I also can imagine how the claims both can sit legitimately with disablement and support playing out for a task done by a couple. I do think you should have addressed the issue in your claim for PIP at outset. Be wary of the majority of the time consideration. If for example a couple of times a week you need her assistance to make a meal… but for the majority of the time you're assisting her overcome disablement in relation to preparing a meal then her claim of disablement stands while you're should fall. My concern here which may be completely baseless in reality… is that the difficulties you both face may be too similar or requiring of similar support… I could easily be wrong.

Altior

'I nominated myself as her representative and I did all her forms for her, and was present on the call with the tribunal'.

Seems pretty difficult to me to reconcile this with leaning on MH issues as key conditions for a PIP claim. With or without what the wife's claim leans on.

However, without seeing the details, it's not really possible to be dogmatic in my view.