Mobility element of PIP conundrum

Cash

Your first action should be to request a Mandatory Reconsideration from the DWP, although you are outside of the normal one month to do this, there should be no problem with you making a late request I would certainly mention in your letter that you have only just received the phone call from the Decision Maker.

Whilst activities must be done reliably and it can certainly be argued that that the availability of an aid such as a taxi or your husband to drive you at the times that you need them to be available is a factor, it will be only one of a number of a number that the Decision Maker will look at. The two Descriptors available (that are not specifically worded for mental health issues), require you to show that you cannot follow a route to either an unfamiliar or familiar place, I think it reasonable to assume that this consists of two elements; the ability to physically follow the route, which you and others who have posted would have problems with and the ability to navigate the route, which from your post you would not have a problem with. Unless you can bridge this gap, I think you will struggle to score points for the Going Out Descriptor.

From your post, Reliably is certainly applicable to how far you can walk, if you are in pain despite your pain killers whenever you walk then this should have been a factor in deciding how far you should be considered as being able to walk, you should concentrate on showing that the assessors and DM's view is incorrect, wherever possible by referencing your medical evidence.

PIP assessors are required to undertake and pass DWP approved training before they are allowed to assess claimants and even then are subject to scrutiny by their employer and the DWP as to the accuracy of their reports.

Gordon