PIP Mandatory Reconsideration for Ds query

[Clockworkbanana]

Hi 👋 Re Mandatory Reconsideration for PIP application. I did post this in Child / SEN but just seeing if I can get some more advice on here…I’ve just copied what I wrote:

Hi everyone, I know this is for Children/DLA, but I just wanted to see if anyone knew much about the MR process for PIP? My daughter turned 16, so we had to apply for PIP…we had the letter and she has been awarded HRC and SRM. She was awarded 10 points on mobility, because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress, but the criteria for 12 is “Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog, or an orientation aid” and the fact is that she can’t, she can’t go anywhere on her own whether she’s familiar with it or not, she hasn’t left the house for over a year and even if she did, there’s not a chance she could do it on her own.
I can provide a further letter from her occupational therapist and psychiatrist, but they made it fairly clear (I thought) in the letter I sent the first time, where it states her challenges impact every aspect of her life and prevent her from carrying out essential daily living tasks OR leaving the
home independently.
Do you think I should ask for a MR under these circumstances?
Thanks for reading

"she hasn’t left the house for over a year"

Unfortunately, that puts her squarely into the descriptor 1e "Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress".

Hello, I was a PIP Case Manager for 6 years until recently. You’ve just described textbook 11E, overwhelming psychological distress. It sounds like they’ve made the correct decision.

How is that so if she can’t go anywhere?

The recent case law (1) AH (2) AK v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP): [2026] UKUT 50 (AAC) might help you understand how the planning and following a journey activity is considered.

That’s exactly the point.

Descriptor E (10 points): Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.

Descriptor F (12 points): Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid.

“and the fact is that she can’t, she can’t go anywhere on her own whether she’s familiar with it or not, she hasn’t left the house for over a year and even if she did, there’s not a chance she could do it on her own.”

On the majority of days she can’t leave the house. Descriptor E applies.

Direct from the PIP Assessment Guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers/pip-assessment-guide-part-2-the-assessment-criteria#mobility-activities):

“A claimant who satisfies 1E cannot also satisfy 1F. If they cannot undertake a single journey on the majority of days due to overwhelming psychological distress, then 1E will be the applicable descriptor.”

I am still not quite getting it but you obviously know your stuff. So is not worth the OP appealing?

Basically her daughter could score higher and qualify for a larger award if they could leave the house on the majority of days but could only follow the route of a familiar journey with another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid.

It might seem strange that she is entitled to less because she cannot go out at all, but that is the legislation we are working with.

In terms of the merit of asking for a reconsideration, I don’t know if the rest of the award is right but if the daily living element is correct or at maximum then I wouldn’t bother.

It doesn't sound like their child would meet the criteria as they haven't left the house for a year

I personally wouldn't appeal. There's also the risk of losing the whole award

Ok thanks, I’ve got it now.

There are three considerations:

a) Can the claimant undertake journeys?

If they can

b) Can they plan and follow familiar journeys without

c) Can they plan and follow unfamiliar journeys without another person/aid/ assistance dog?

If a), b) and c) are all yes, the get descriptor 1a) " Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided" - 0 points. They don't get mobility.
If a) is yes, b) is yes, but c) is no, they get 1d) "Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid." they get 10 points - standard mobility
If a) is no, they get 1e) "Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant". They get 10 points - standard mobility
If a) is yes but b) and c) are no, they get 1f) "Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid." they get 12 points - enhanced mobility.

There are also two criteria for not being able to plan a journey or needs prompting to follow a route, but neither qualify for mobility.

Ah thanks so much for your replies, that’s really helpful and totally explains it clearly, I understand now.
She is working with an occupational therapist and the goal is for her to leave the house, but it’s unlikely she’ll get the point where she can do so independently for a long time, if at all. Once she gets to that point, would I just apply for a change of circumstances?

You certainly could. I’d advise getting some good advice before you ask for them to review her claim again.

Thank you so much, it really doesn’t make sense now, I’ve spoken to so many people and no one explained it that clearly! She was awarded high rate care and low rate mobility, which is what she was on DLA, but circumstances were different then and she did leave the house when she was first awarded DLA. I will definitely get advice prior if we ever do a change of circs but I’ll not be sending in an MR now.

Sorry that should say DOES make sense now!

I can see the logic - someone completely unable to leave the house needs less mobility support than someone who can.

I feel daft that I questioned it now 🤣 But I 100% understand the logic now it’s been explained. My line of thinking was along the lines of if she did leave the house, then she wouldn’t be able to alone. But she doesn’t at the moment, so that makes total sense. So glad I asked on here! X

What matters is what happens the majority of the time. So as soon as she can leave the house on 4 days per week (or several times in one day), then you can put in a change of circumstances.