PIP claim - Q12 making decisions about money.

My wife is in her late 60s. She has been invited to apply for PIP to replace DLA.

My wife has had MS for nearly all her life. It gives all the usual problems, but she is now suffering very badly from memory and cognitive issues. I am going to have to prepare the claim.

Making decisions about money relates to simple and complex ones. A good deal of the guidance in dealing with these issues seem to work on the basis of the claimant actually having to work to a tight budget. However, whilst in our case my wife's state pension and DLA would hardly allow her to survive, in practice it does not matter too much. We are quite frugal, and I have a fairly good occupational pension. We have never had separate bank accounts. If we were being clinical about it, I am heavily subsidising my wife in relation to her needs and budgeting both in relation to day-to-day and longer terms expenditure. That is what couples do isn't ? My wife is careful and I keep an eye on things, especially where much cost is involved. But generally my wife doesn't need to allocate money for particular things and wonder where the next meal is coming from.

It seems to me that to be consistent, these questions should be based on how well the claimant might cope if he/she had to face problems.

Much of the PIP information make it clear that it is the claimant who is being assessed. For example, my wife can't cook now for a number of reasons. But even if I were a star chef, that would make no difference to her claim.

Am I missing something? Comments and advice would be most welcome.

Thanks for that Gordon. What you say is what I thought the case should be, but it seems, at least to me, that this part is poorly worded. For example, it is surely not just a matter of working out what to pay for everyday goods, and 'bigger' items periodically, but ensuring that you are getting a best buy at the best price? Is not that what budgeting is about? Is it not also material that the claimant should be able to invest money on a best return basis to save for bigger items?

I've looked at several guides and none really seem to address the ins and outs of this, bearing in mind what I think is poor wording.

Any further views, please?