Hi Everyone
i wonder if anyone can help
totally stumped about 20 meter walking rule
do they base it inside or outside the home
i can walk just about that range with my frame but with help from furniture door frames etc
i heard that once you state you can walk that distance you dont qualify for the enchance pip
thanks
Paddy
Not true. Mine stated 50m. I took it to mean in the open, without support (other than a stick). However, I improvised the answer somewhat, by saying I may be able to do 100m the first time, before resting, then 80m etc. until after a very short time I am sitting much longer and barely able to string together more than a couple of steps. They understood and accepted. My comment in interview was that the question was not well structured as distance was always reducing in real world situations and the real challenge was in planning.
Hi
thanks for the reply
but the rule states that if you can walk with or without a aid more than 20 meters
then you are not entitled to the higher rate of pip for mobility
thanks
Paddy
Hi Paddy, That’s my understanding to, my ms nurse also said this and their very keen on it, however don’t give up, I had 1 face to face in the beginning, that was at my home, the 2nd time after my first period of being awarded it, was by telephone. Good luck, don’t give up, I don’t think their quite as bad as they were, as I think they’ve been given a bad press, get someone that knows what their doing to help with the forms, my nurse put me in touch with someone, maybe yours could too.
Jean
There’s more to mobility than distance. In fact, there’s more to everything on PIP than a simple answer to each question. In all cases you have to be able to do it “repeatedly, safely and in a reasonable time”. So if the distance you can walk between rests decreases each time, you’re not doing it repeatedly. If your walking speed is slow, you’re not doing it in a reasonable time. If you need a walking aid and need to lean on the wall/furniture, you’re not doing it safely.
For advice on PIP I recommend the Benefits and Work website. You have to pay a subscription for full access to their information but it’s well worth it.
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Hi Paddy
Don’t know what to say then. I got mine with the answer given above. My approach is as per CheerfulDragon’s: There’s more to everything on PIP than a simple answer.
Just to reiterate, PIP awards are based on a scoring system and it’s the overall score which governs the outcome. I answered Q14b as “It varies”, not “under 20m” then under Tell us Why, wrote “I suffer from cumulative numbness. First walk could be nearly 100m but after a rest of several minutes, the next walk could be only 50m until after a few phases, I can barely walk more than a few steps between rests.”
Under Q14c, I cited numerous examples such as using a supermarket trolley as a baby walker and holding myself up, but after getting back to the car I am sometimes so exhausted I cannot stand unaided. You need to flesh out your form with real-world anecdotes.
At the interview, I explained it again. They must have accepted it.
Graeme
Good reply from Cheerful Dragon. Buzz words are safely, repeatedly and in a reasonable time. You may be able to move 20m but does it take an unreasonably long time? Can you then come back to where you started? How safe are you on a rough uneven or sloping surface? Do you need someone to lean on? Someone to help you up if you fall? If you can do it in the morning, can you do it again in the afternoon? If you did it yesterday, can you do it today after standing to do some household task like washing up? The point is, there is more to that question than a yes/no answer and they understand that. Tell it how it really is, in as much detail as you can, write extra than the small box on the form if you need to, use the Benefits and Work website on how to answer the questions and get your medical team, neuro, MS Nurse and others to write a short report for you as evidence.
Good luck!
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Thanks to everyone for their replies
it is appreciated
the whole process is very confusing
cheers
Paddy