PIP rules

Amber

Just to confirm that you scored 10 points for the Moving Around Descriptor and no points for the Going Out one.

You mention problems with your vision, do you have a Certificate of Visual Impairment?

I've spent some time searching the Regulations and the DWP guidance for PIP and I cannot find any definition of the level of problem that a claimant would need to have in regard to Descriptor 13D to apply, the rules for ESA are as follows, however, I cannot state their relevance to PIP, but would expect the requirement to be similar.

People with acuity below 3/60 on the Snellen chart would be considered as severely sight impaired. People with acuity of 3/60 but less than 6/60 with significant visual field restriction may also be registered as severely sight impaired. For sight impairment there is no formal definition, however those with acuity of 3/60 to 6/60 with a full visual field may be registered as sight impaired. Those who have a gross contraction of the visual field and vision of 6/18 or even better may also be registered as sight impaired. Further details of sight/severe sight impairment registration can be found at:

www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_d...lasset/dh_078294.pdf

You can certainly quote the PIP Descriptors back to the DWP but you really need to concentrate on showing why you meet the criteria, as I indicated above, if you are relying on problems with your sight then you will need to provide appropriate certification of your problems.

If you are intending to ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration then you should have a look at OUR PIP MR & Appeal guide.

Gordon

Amber

It's difficult to offer advice without a better understanding of your problems and how you described them in relation to the Descriptors.

As a general rule you need to talk about what you cannot do rather than what you do not do, the change in emphasis may seem small but is important. You need to explain why you cannot do it and what would happen if you did.

If you condition is variable then you need to explain how it is variable, but you must also think about it context, as an example, the relevant period for getting dressed might reasonably be considered to be the immediate period after you get up, however, if you were talking about the time you can go out shopping then the period would likely be considered to be a lot longer. However, that does not mean that you should not include factors that would limit that time, for example you live in a village and the shop is only open 8am-6pm, or perhaps due to sight problems you cannot go out after dusk because even with street lighting there is not sufficient light for you to see.

If you have a friend or relative, it may be worth asking them to read through the relevant sections on the form and attached pages to see whether they come to the same conclusion as to your abilities as you intended, sometimes we are to close to our problems to explain them in a way that another would understand and relate to.

Gordon