PIP Mobility component refused

[BikingBeatrix]

Son, 19 yo, has HFA/asperger‘s. He had a PIP review in December and we got decision this week. He‘s been awarded enhanced care but no mobility component. To me that suggests he needs personal care fairly regularly (he does) but is so independent in his travel that he could be anywhere (alone) when he needs that care. Isn‘t that a weird decision.

He does now travel to college alone. A parent (usually DH as l‘m usually awake late trying to settle Son) wakes him, cajoles him to get up, reminds him about getting ready, having breakfast, sees him out the door to catch bus. Bus stop at front door. Uncomplicated journey as only one bus route.

Coming back is quite hit and miss. He can get distracted and ‚forget‘ till the library or book shop shuts. Already in 3 months we‘ve a visit from polis (mother of a 5 yo on bus complained he’d been asking overfriendly questions of her son, 2 days running). Most weeks there‘s at least one day when we don‘t know where he is, he doesn‘t come off the expected bus - this week it was 3 consecutive buses he missed. DH was on the point of reporting him missing. We live in rural town 20 miles from college so 3 buses is 3 hours more or less. He often switches off his phone - not a typical teen! Or doesn‘t answer it.

Apart from 2 and from college he doesn‘t go anywhere alone. He is accompanied to dentist, medical appointments at GP and at hospital. PIP form talks of ‚familiar‘ and ‚unfamiliar‘ journeys. Going to college is now routine, even if coming home isnt. All other journeys are not ones he can take alone. I went to PIP assessment with him - 2 buses and a city he’s rarely been in. l‘d argue he should get more points in mobility. He scored 4. Today l scored him 8 in an online test, and this was before l realised 8 or more is the desirable score. What it means is he might lose his bus pass. That makes it more complicated and expensive as we‘d both be paying for non-familiar journeys, visits to hospital, etc.

Does that make sense? I know it‘s long. I need to request a mandatory reassessment, don‘t l.

Pleased to report l’ve checked eligibility for bus pass, and (in Scotland where l am at any rate) you need to receive any component of PIP, whether personal care or mobility, so boy can keep his bus pass. Huge relief but l‘m now unsure what to do about mandatory reassessment.

Hi!

I am surprised he was not entitled to 10 or 12 points under moblity section 1 of Planning and Following journeys. 10 points for not being able to follow an unfamiliar journey without another person or 12 for not being able to follow a familiar journey without another person.

This is a particilarly complex area of PIP surrounded by a lot of recent court rulings. But if say a disruption such as a bus not turning up would destroy his ability to follow a familiar journey then he could qualify.