O points for Nutrition

Hi Gordon and all

I hope it okay to share the information I wrote in the CQ together with the assessment responses. I would have thought preparing food and taking nutrition would all out go hand in hand but apparently not. I was awarded 2 points for preparing food but 0 points for nutrition. Any guidance on how to best argue my case please.
PREPARING FOOD –(Claimant Questionnaire)
Q3a Yes
Q3b Yes
Q3c ; because of my Crohn’s disease polycythaemia vera and leg pains, I require the use of a stool to rest because of fatigue and leg pains and cramps on my feet. I rely on my partner to encourage me and to remind me to prepare meals because the mentioned health conditions which cause me to have a low desire to prepare meals myself. My migraines also cause barriers to preparing a meal in addition to my other health conditions as I end up needing to lie down in bed in a blacked out room.

Supporting evidence from my partner;
“he does not need much, lives on pot noodles, toast and Weetabix and I have to cook him a meal so that he can have some cooked food and even then, I still have to encourage him to eat half a plate. He has certainly lost weight for example at our daughter’s wedding, we went to buy him a suit and he had dropped from a chest size 42 to chest size 40. He now wears belts with his trousers whereas before he didn’t.”
“Every day I have to remind and encourage him to change clothes, to eat……..”

Assessment Report summary;
Reports that he is able to make toast and pot noodles as he doesn’t feel like eating and lacks the energy to stand for a long time in the kitchen. His wife reports that he will forget that he has left things on in the past and she doesn’t like in cooking due to His memory or having to go to the toilet.

Assessment Report Professional opinion;
Description- b. FH reports that he able to make toast and pot noodles as he doesn’t like feel eating and lacks the energy to stand for a long time in the kitchen. His wife reports that he will forget that he has left things on in the past that she doesn’t like cooking due to his memory or having to go to the toilet. He has low iron due to his bowel resection. He’s unable to take iron supplements he indicates he has cramps and he is taking medication.

2 points.

TAKING NUTRITION – (Claimant Qustionaire)
Q4a No
Q4b No
Q4d;

Because of my Crohn’s disease I have a poor motivation to eat a plate of food. I always receive encouragement from by partner to finish the plate of food. It is very difficult for her, she can go through a lot of effort and I end up not eating what she prepares. I don’t feel as hungry throughout the day or feel motivated to eat I am more likely to eat food which is prepared and put in front of me due to the lack of desire in preparing my own. When I have my migraines the last thing on my mind is eating. My migraines can last a whole day, and often my partner will then bring food to the bedroom and encouragement to eat there.

Supporting evidence from my partner;
“he does not eat much, lives on pot noodles, toast and Weetabix and I have to cook him a meal so that he can have some cooked food and even then, I still have to encourage him to eat half a plate. He has certainly lost weight for example at our daughter’s wedding, we went to buy him a suit and he had dropped from a chest size 42 to chest size 40. He now wears belts with his trousers whereas before he didn’t.”
“Every day I have to remind and encourage him to change clothes, to eat……..”

Assessment Report summary;
He eats regularly, can grip normal cutlery, cut their food and feed themselves without difficulty. He will eat snack food through the day as he has a poor appetite.

Assessment Report Professional opinion;
Description- a. CQ indicates a restriction in motivation due to his Crohn’s. FH eats regularly, can grip normal cutlery, cut their food and feed themselves without difficulty. He will eat snack food through the day as he has a poor appetite. Although HOC indicates conditions likely to cause a functional restriction he isn’t receiving dietician input. CMT indicates no dietary supplements. IO indicates he was up of average build.Therefore, it is likely that he can take nutrition are needed, safely, repeatedly, in a timely manner, too unacceptable standard, for the majority of days.

Points 0.

Okay thanks Gordon. I have given me 2 points for preparing food as they have accepted that due to my health conditions I would require a stool/aid.

For nutrition, you gave some guidance on what the assessors should look for when qualifying for Nutrition descriptors particularly in relation to two key words "reminding" and "portion' size.You will see from the assessors opinion that "HOC indicates conditions likely to cause a functional restriction" but I am not receiving specialist input from a dietician.

I came across this statement from the mentalhealthmoneyadvice.org website
"You do not have to get treatment or support to meet the criteria for PIP. If you don’t get all the support you need, think about how your life could be improved if someone could encourage, help or prompt you with the activity."

So my question is if the health conditions seem to qualify for meeting the descriptors, can DWP still refuse point son the basis that I am not receiving bespoke input i.e dietician but to also bear in mind that I am receiving Consultant level input. e.g. I am under the gastroenterologist for Crohns and haematologist for PV and GP for migraines.

In relation to the weight loss I am awaiting on the gastro team to have a look at the history of the weight recordings and to provide me written feedback. And I wonder if

Prompting regarding portion size should be directly linked to a diagnosed condition such as Prder syndrome or Anorexia do you know if Crohn's disease is a valid enough condition too? or how can I find out?