The path to benefits

I was having a conversation the other day about potentially needing benefits in the future. I had a quick look into the UK Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefits. There are two elements to this benefit, and I have looked at each element, and thought about how my HSP progression will change in the context of scoring points for this benefit.

Right now I score zero points, so I am quite a way off these benefits. I have looked at this wearing three different perspectives

• a 'near future' perspective (by which I mean the next 5-10 years), 
• a 'far future - positive' perspective where I assume that I'm going to be able to manage my HSP pretty independently, and 
• a 'far future - negative' perspective where I assume that I'm going to need assistance of one kind or another to do things. 

People are eligible for standard rate benefits when they get to 8 points, and there is an enhanced/ increased rate when people get to 12 points.

For the daily activity aspect:

Activity	Comments	Near future
Washing & Bathing	Aids for showering - feet	2
Toilet needs	Self catheter in future	2
Dressing/undressing	Aids for socks/shoes	2
Verbal communication	Hearing aid expected	0
Preparing food	Possible aid/appliance in future	0
Managing therapy	Possible aid use in future	0
Taking nutrition	Aids not expected	0
Reading & understanding	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Engaging with others	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Budget decisions	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Total		6

This shows that I do not expect to be eligible for this benefit in the near future. Should I need a hearing aid or adaptions in the kitchen to prepare meals, then that would make me eligible for this benefit.

For the mobility element:

Activity	Comments	Near future
Moving around	Distance > 200m	0
Planning/following	Cognitive effects not expected	0

I dont expect this to trigger in the near future as I will be able to use mobility aids to move more than 200m.

When looking at the far future, with a positive perspective I think:

Activity	Comments	Far future - positive
Washing & Bathing	Wet room	3
Toilet needs	Supervision	2
Dressing/undressing	Assistance lower body	2
Verbal communication	Hearing aid	2
Preparing food	Kitchen adaptions	2
Managing therapy	Physio etc.	1
Taking nutrition	Aids not expected	0
Reading & understanding	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Engaging with others	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Budget decisions	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Total		12

Activity	Comments	Far future - positive
Moving around	Move more than 50m	4
Planning/following	Cognitive effects not expected	0

In this perspective, I easily meet the standard rate benefit for daily living, and am on the threshold for the enhanced rate. There are still low points in the mobility element as wheelchairs/mobility scooters are not counted. I assume that I am still able to walk between 50 and 200m using sticks and/or a walking frame.

When looking at the far future, with a negative perspective I think:

Activity	Comments	Far future - negative
Washing & Bathing	Assistance	4
Toilet needs	Assistance both bladder & bowel	8
Dressing/undressing	Assistance upper body	4
Verbal communication	Hearing aid	2
Preparing food	Kitchen adaptions	2
Managing therapy	Physio etc.	1
Taking nutrition	Aids not expected	0
Reading & understanding	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Engaging with others	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Budget decisions	Cognitive effects not expected	0
Total		21

Activity	Comments	Far future - negative
Moving around	Unable to stand	12
Planning/following	Cognitive effects not expected	0

This shows that I would easily be entitled to the enhanced rate for daily activities, and an inability to stand would make me eligible for the enhanced rate for mobility.

Conclusion - quite some time to go before I think about this benefit - and I'm hoping that changes happen slowly.

Readers should note that I've not really done any research into what counts and doesnt count (aside from noting that wheelchairs dont count as a mobility aid) so this is very much an instinctive view rather than a researched view.