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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder why PIP assessment asks about pets?

25 replies

ElTortilla · 19/08/2024 13:27

Genuinely curious for their reasons. Are they going to think I can't cope and take the only reason I keep going everyday?

OP posts:
Nonononoway · 19/08/2024 13:29

If you can care for pets you have the ability to make care choices for yourself ???

ComtesseDeSpair · 19/08/2024 13:29

They may assume that you walk the dog, or note the anomaly if you say you can’t prepare a simple meal for yourself but can apparently feed pets. If there are elements of pet care you can’t do or require assistance with, you need to explain that.

pinkyredrose · 19/08/2024 13:30

Nonononoway · 19/08/2024 13:29

If you can care for pets you have the ability to make care choices for yourself ???

Lol.

They're asking about your background to see what support you have. In my case my cat was my best friend and the reason I kept going.

Wwyd2025 · 19/08/2024 13:31

If you can remember to walk a pet or feed a pet, they expect you can remember to feed yourself and do things.

LettuceLiz · 19/08/2024 13:31

Because in the eyes of the DWP if you can take care of, walk and feed pets you don't

Have issues with mobility
Need reminders to take medicine
Need help to prep food

Need help with tasks requiring dexterity such as washing and bathing
Need help with managing money or reading if you can purchase food and book vets appts

Etc.

rosa17 · 19/08/2024 13:31

because they say if you can care for a pet you can work - it's a subtle way of telling you you're not disabled and it's disgusting!

Sethera · 19/08/2024 13:31

ComtesseDeSpair · 19/08/2024 13:29

They may assume that you walk the dog, or note the anomaly if you say you can’t prepare a simple meal for yourself but can apparently feed pets. If there are elements of pet care you can’t do or require assistance with, you need to explain that.

Edited

Yes, you need to make it clear if, for example, someone else walks the dog or feeds the cat.

Hoppinggreen · 19/08/2024 13:32

I would imagine the assumption is that if you can open a can of cat food you can open a can of soup.
However, it can be easier to care for someone/something else but not yourself for MH reasons

jmh740 · 19/08/2024 13:33

I had a video interview she heard the dog barking and asked who walked and fed the dog I said my teenagers but they put in the report that I could walk well enough to walk the dog!

Viviennemary · 19/08/2024 13:35

I would imagine its because if you need help with day to day care of yourself, will you need help to care for a pet.

LadyKenya · 19/08/2024 13:35

I have wondered about this too. Maybe because pets require a lot of care, such as dogs need walking, feeding ect.

whataboutnow · 19/08/2024 13:36

My PIP assessment report said as I had a pet I was capable of caring for myself. I have a goldfish. It also said as I went to hospital in an ambulance following a serious accident I couldn't be agoraphobic and could leave my house at any time. No surprise I was declined despite a large pile of medical evidence .

reesewithoutaspoon · 19/08/2024 13:42

Because if you have a pet they assume you can :

  1. walk - as you need to walk your pet
  2. plan, shop and execute meals for your pet and therefore yourself
  3. Bend over (to put dog food in bowls and lift bowls, clear up poo)
  4. use your hands to brush, put on collars, hold a dog on a lead.
Original poster
ElTortilla · 19/08/2024 13:43

Thank you for your replies.

I have very poor mental health and the care I give to my pets is far superior than I would give to myself. I know they're deserving of it and maybe I feel I don't deserve the same care.

Someone please reassure me they don't think I'm a bad person to my pets and will take them away? They're very loved and they're very much cared for and have the best of everything. I do everything for them even when I'm in pain and anguish, even if it's the only thing I do all day, I'll make sure they're looked after and have a nice life.

OP posts:
lazyarse123 · 19/08/2024 13:44

They ask questions purely designed to get out of paying. As pp say it's so they can confirm that if you can look after a pet you can look after yourself.
My son had a pip assessment over the phone and they refused it as he spoke normally. What they didn't see was the quivering mess before and after the phone call and the fact he nearly broke my fingers as he was hanging on for dear life. Fucking bastards.

CherryRipe1 · 19/08/2024 13:48

They asked me this. It's to trip you up because if you can care for a pet you can care for yourself. I told them categorically no! I would not be so irresponsible as to have a pet that I could not feed, walk, take to vet etc etc.

Original poster
ElTortilla · 19/08/2024 13:48

lazyarse123 · 19/08/2024 13:44

They ask questions purely designed to get out of paying. As pp say it's so they can confirm that if you can look after a pet you can look after yourself.
My son had a pip assessment over the phone and they refused it as he spoke normally. What they didn't see was the quivering mess before and after the phone call and the fact he nearly broke my fingers as he was hanging on for dear life. Fucking bastards.

The tone of the call I had was so difficult. Anything I said that went even slightly off topic, I was veered back by the assessor. It was really daunting. Sorry to hear the experience your son had.

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 19/08/2024 13:50

I didn't know they did. None of mine ever did.
I volunteered the fact I cuddled my cat when having a depressive episode. But they didn't ask any more about it.
I guess if you can care for a pet they might take it that they can give you less points?

reesewithoutaspoon · 19/08/2024 13:54

They arent after taking your pets away, they are looking for excuses to deny you PIP. They will use the fact you can care for a pet to imply you have the ability to care for yourself.

lazyarse123 · 19/08/2024 13:57

ElTortilla · 19/08/2024 13:48

The tone of the call I had was so difficult. Anything I said that went even slightly off topic, I was veered back by the assessor. It was really daunting. Sorry to hear the experience your son had.

Show quote history

I'm sorry for you too. It's appalling the way they carry on. My son has a dog but his sister pays for all her needs and takes her on long walks.
He baths and feeds the dog but not himself.
My DD hoped that caring for the dog would help him to care for himself but it doesn't but at least she is a comfort for him and she doesn't judge.

JimJonesLivesInMyHead · 19/08/2024 13:58

Oh OP, I can hear how much you love your pets, it shines through your words.

The PIP lot won't take your beloved animals away... But they WILL look for any excuse to trip you up and deny your claim. They are heartless bastards.

May I suggest you join Benefits and Work https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/. They provide some excellent guides on claiming benefits, and also have a forum where you can ask anything. I used them when I was supporting family members and they were absolutely brilliant.

Wishing you and your lovely pets all the best. They are lucky to have someone who cares so much about them x

PIP claim help, plus ESA, DLA & Universal Credit

Get the benefits you're entitled to: help with personal independence payment (PIP), universal credit (UC), employment and support allowance (ESA),disability living allowance (DLA). Claims, assessments, reviews, appeals.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

housethatbuiltme · 19/08/2024 14:05

You get carer animals.

My mams friend had a dog that saved her life and got and award when it alerted authorities and lead them to her after her wheelchair flipped into a roadside ditch. Obviously guide dogs are a thing as are dogs that can alert to diabetes and epilepsy etc...

We have pets, its nothing to do with MY disabilities as my DS and DH care for them as if I was living alone I wouldn't be able too.

Original poster
ElTortilla · 19/08/2024 14:14

JimJonesLivesInMyHead · 19/08/2024 13:58

Oh OP, I can hear how much you love your pets, it shines through your words.

The PIP lot won't take your beloved animals away... But they WILL look for any excuse to trip you up and deny your claim. They are heartless bastards.

May I suggest you join Benefits and Work https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/. They provide some excellent guides on claiming benefits, and also have a forum where you can ask anything. I used them when I was supporting family members and they were absolutely brilliant.

Wishing you and your lovely pets all the best. They are lucky to have someone who cares so much about them x

Aww thank you. They're my entire world. They're my first thought when I wake up. I get excited to go and give them breakfast and start the day with them.

Thank you for the link. It's really helpful 😊

OP posts:
Elleherd · 19/08/2024 14:17

Because if you have a pet you potentially have a range of competencies.

They aren't interested in if your pets are properly cared for or not. They are interested in how they show what you might be able to do or not. That's all.

I'm in a wheelchair with more than one physical issue, and was investigated as owning a giant dog that would need an awful lot of active care, after I posted lots of photo's of my mates gorgeous dog in my workshop and joked about his potential as a sledge hound, on an account I was promoting my skills on.

Some idiot actually reported me as working, which is exactly what I get my PIP to enable, and sent them a link over that. No issues with me working, but owning him would have clearly been incompatible with my level of disability so they looked into it.

There was no interest at all in the dogs welfare during the investigation even when they thought he was mine. Please don't worry about that side of things.

CoastalCalm · 19/08/2024 14:40

You have a dog bet he loves a walk
well yes but I can’t take him now

you live by the coast , bet you take the dog for some lovely walks
well no I don’t as I have limited mobility

is that your dog barking ? i bet he needs a lot of exercise ..

What kind of dog have you got , oh that breed need a lot of exercise .

just trying to catch you out - cunts

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