Going out

Jojo wrote: If a claimant cannot travel independently at all on any public transport but could in theory drive unaccompanied with planning and support (and a car) should this (the driving ability) be mentioned?

Neither ESA nor PIP assesses a claimants ability to drive a car, so there is no specific requirement to mention this. However, you may be asked about this at an assessment and your ability to Undertake a Journey and to Follow a Route albeit in a car will be considered.

Gordon

Jojo wrote: How might it be considered?
Driving a car is only a theory for my claimant unless they got the higher rate mobility allowance, ie if they don’t have a car they can’t take an independent journey, if they don’t have mobility allowance they can’t afford a car. Or, is a claimant’s financial position not considered?

Two immediate comments, PIP does not deal with hypothetical situations nor does it take any account of the claimants financial position.

The Going Out activity looks at whether the claimant can Undertake a Journey and if they can, whether they can Follow a Route, if the person could do so in a car then this would still count.

Gordon

Jojo

You are concentrating on the wrong issues

PIP looks at whether a claimant can undertake a journey, it does not matter what the journey is only whether the person can reliably leave the house on the majority of days.

In the same way, the second test is whether they can Follow a Route, it is the following of a route that is being tested so doing so in a car would not be an unreasonable variation.


Gordon