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PIP - medication sole cause of disability
Hi everyone,
Simple question, can a person claim PIP if the only reason that they can not perform various PIP activities is solely due to medication? If anyone has any ideas or knows of caselaw this would be very helpful.
The scenario is this - the client has severe bowel misfunction - she is unable to go to the toilet unless she uses laxatives. The effect of the laxatives is crippling pain and diarrhoea which can last for up to 12 hours. The client had been told by the specialist she needs to take the laxatives at the same time each day. The client manages to work 2 days per week by not taking the laxatives. (Doctor is aware.) There still can be diarrhoea etc on the work days, as the effect of the laxatives can carry over. Client used to work 4 days a week, but this was too much and too many days off with diarrhoea/incontinence. Client once did not take the laxatives for 3 weeks, she never once opened her bowels! (She decided at 3 weeks it was probably too risky to continue the ‘experiment’.) She may well need a stoma bag in due course.
There is no doubt that the client can not reliably/safely prepare food due to being doubled over in pain, or on the toilet for the majority of time she might need to cook. Equally she doesn’t eat much due to diarrhoea so maybe needs prompting. She also needs help to wash herself as she is prone to soiling and can not effectively do this when in serious pain. She was awarded 2 points for toilet needs (using pads) but realistically requires help with her bowel catheter every day. She only goes out to work and can walk there, because it is a non-laxative day. Other days she can’t go anywhere - so maybe mobility points. She has anxiety but this seems to be connected with her bowel problems.
No other health conditions. Can she claim PIP and how do I argue this?
Thanks for your help.
Lid26