PIP Mobility Component Activities 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How is a claimant assessed if their mobility varies significantly from day to day?
- The best-day performance is used
- The worst-day performance is used
- The descriptor that applies for more than 50% of days is used (Correct answer)
- An average of all days is calculated
Correct answer: The descriptor that applies for more than 50% of days is used
PIP uses the 'majority of days' test — the descriptor that applies on more than 50% of days is the one scored.
Question 2: A claimant uses a powered wheelchair to travel distances exceeding 200 metres. How does this affect their Moving Around score?
- They score 0 points because they can travel over 200 metres
- They score 12 points because they cannot walk unaided (Correct answer)
- They score 8 points for using an assistive device
- Wheelchair use is not considered in Moving Around descriptors
Correct answer: They score 12 points because they cannot walk unaided
Moving Around assesses the ability to walk; if a claimant cannot stand and walk at all, they score 12 points regardless of wheelchair use.
Question 3: Which condition is most likely to score points under 'Planning and Following Journeys' due to psychological distress?
- Osteoarthritis causing knee pain
- Severe agoraphobia preventing outdoor journeys (Correct answer)
- Deafness requiring sign language interpretation
- Diabetes requiring regular insulin injections
Correct answer: Severe agoraphobia preventing outdoor journeys
Severe agoraphobia or similar anxiety disorders that prevent journeys due to overwhelming psychological distress can score up to 10 points.
Question 4: What is the role of an 'orientation aid' in the context of the Planning and Following Journeys activity?
- A GPS device used by any traveller
- A device or tool that helps someone with a sensory impairment navigate routes (Correct answer)
- A support worker who drives the claimant
- A written map provided by the DWP
Correct answer: A device or tool that helps someone with a sensory impairment navigate routes
An orientation aid is a specialist tool, such as a long cane or sensory navigation device, used by people with visual or sensory impairments to navigate journeys.
Question 5: A claimant can reliably plan familiar routes but experiences severe anxiety when facing unfamiliar destinations. Which descriptor most likely applies?
- 0 points — can plan journeys unaided
- 4 points — cannot follow unfamiliar routes without help (Correct answer)
- 8 points — cannot plan the route of any journey
- 10 points — cannot undertake any journey due to distress
Correct answer: 4 points — cannot follow unfamiliar routes without help
Needing another person, assistance dog, or orientation aid for unfamiliar journeys scores 4 points under Planning and Following Journeys.
Question 6: PIP Mobility descriptors require that activities be completed 'safely.' What does 'safely' mean in this context?
- Without any risk of discomfort
- In a manner unlikely to cause significant harm to the claimant or another person (Correct answer)
- Only using DWP-approved equipment
- Without claiming any welfare benefit simultaneously
Correct answer: In a manner unlikely to cause significant harm to the claimant or another person
Safely means in a manner unlikely to cause significant harm to the claimant or anyone else, accounting for the manner and manner in which the activity is performed.
Question 7: Which of the following is NOT one of the four criteria used to judge whether a claimant can complete a Mobility activity for PIP purposes?
- Safely
- Repeatedly
- In a timely manner
- Independently without financial cost (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Independently without financial cost
The four criteria are: safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time period — financial cost is not a criterion.
PIP Mobility Component Activities 4
How is a claimant assessed if their mobility varies significantly from day to day?