On Crutches - How Can I Be Expected To Cook A Meal?

[Arrods]

Currently at odds with DWP. The requirement is that you must be able independently to prepare/cook a simple meal for one using fresh ingredients (and safely). OH has been on two crutches for over a year. We have argued that she has needed my assistance to fulfil such tasks. How else is one expected to move things around the kitchen (safely) with no hands free?

Have any ABers experienced life on two crutches and managed independently to cook meals? DWP argue that they don't have to allow for carrying items around the kitchen or carrying the cooked meal to where it is to be eaten, so tough luck.

If any ABers can come up with practical and safe ideas as to cooking meals under these conditions, then we'll reluctantly concede the point, but I would welcome your views. Many thanks.

[RATTER15]

Maggiebee. I do cook as well, but Carakeel likes to do the cooking.

Harrods, another thing to consider is the type of crutches being used, some are easier to use than others. Under arm crutches for instance. mean you can stand using both crutches and still have both hands free.

[Arrods]

Thanks Ratter15. The new PIP rules are quite specific. I think I as an able-bodied person would find it difficult to complete all the tasks necessary to place a cooked meal in front if me without any assistance. Our issue is going to be with the DWP assertion that preparing a cooked meal doesn't include carrying items around the kitchen. To us, it seems illogical.

[Buenchico]

I've just tried googling 'cooking on crutches'. The search results might not solve your OH's problems but perhaps they might offer a starting point?

http://greatist.com/happiness/guide-to-survive-life-on-crutches
(If that opens with an invitation to enter an email address blocking your view of the page, simply click on 'Thanks but no thanks').

http://blog.goodbyecrutches.com/GoodbyeCrutches-blog/bid/139133/5-Tips-to-Cooking-on-Crutches

http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/123998/file-368793062-pdf/eBook_Offers/MotivatedMomsManual.pdf.PdfCompressor-939543.pdf

[trt]

Arrods,

Only just seen your post plus some of the replies, and when I broke my hip and leg at the same time not long ago, I was given all sorts of equipment to help, in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom etc.

I had a carer 7 days a week, twice a day for the first 6 months, then once a day for another 18 months, which stopped just before Xmas.

I also had the highest carers allowance until it went down to the lowest of approx £220 per Month, which I am still on.

I live on my own, on pension credit and state pension, and don't know if you are at home or work, but let me know as I may be able to tell you more.

[Arrods]

Thanks as ever Buenchico and trt. Trt, to answer your question, we are both retired.

I think the argument is finely balanced. No doubt the Tribunal (which will include a disability expert) will say that there are various ways that items can be moved around the kitchen (which really is the sole basis of our case) without assistance from someone else. Unfortunately, as the PIP regulations are relatively new, there are no precedents and so we are like guinea pigs.

As we look into this further, however, we are beginning to think there's no point in carrying on with the Appeal.

[Retrochic]

Arrods I've struggled to understand your logic here. Your OH is on crutches -you are able bodied at home as you are retired -am I correct? Your wife could prepare the food at the kitchen table and you could transfer the stuff to the cooker and back to the table-teamwork? This is how the Tribunal will see it. If you were at work all day that would be a different story but as I see it you do not need an 'allowance' to help your wife make food as you are not at work nor do you have to put yourself out to go help (I am also assuming here you live together). Preparing food is the responsibility of both adults in the house she's not your servant.

[Svejk]

You're question should be 'How can SHE be expected to cook a meal?'
To which I'd have to say to you 'Why should she be expected to cook a meal?'
You do live together, don't you? Or are you saying you have to go around to her house to cook for her?

[B00]

Agree with retro and svejk.

You state she's been on crutches for over a year? How has she and you managed so far?

If you're living together as a couple, im struggling to understand why you cannot prepare and cook the meals?

[bednobs]

the PIP guidelines don't take into account the fact that she has a husband who could do those things. The fact is that arrods wife can't do them is what they are looking at. If Arrods was (for example) away for a few days, his wife would need to pay someone to cook for her if she couldn't do it herself.

I realise arrods that you probably don't actually want to find ways of her cooking safely - you would prefer for these purposes that she couldn't, and want to prove she couldn't. I don't know what your kitchen set up is, but as other people say, use of perching stools, sliding pots and pans along the work top to the oven, filling them from a jug, use of baskets in pans then eating in the kitchen where you've cooked etc can all help

[furrypusscat]

From my understanding a person claiming PIP needs to score 8 points to receive the standard rate care or 12 for the enhanced rate. Are you saying she scored zero for cooking a meal for one. Does she use any aids in the kitchen, electric can opener, jar opener, perching stool etc. as some aids assist with the scoring system and may well get her the points she needs. If she is one crutches, can she not gain points in other areas of care, ie washing, bathing, toilet needs to help get the minimum points needed to qualify.

[furrypusscat]

Wups Should read "on" not one.

[Retrochic]

If you were given extra money by the government in the form of carers allowanace how would this help your wife in her daily life?

[Svejk]

I think that having a partner should be taken into account.
And I wouldn't, for example, 'go away for a few days' if I were looking after my partner.
Of course, If I had to leave unavoidably, then, maybe I'd expect some extra help from the state.

[Retrochic]

This is why the benefit system is ridiculous. There are children out there feeding washing and medicating their disabled and sick parents before they go to school and get no help fro the government, then money is shoved at others that could easily manage for themselves.

[ladybirder]

I can't see where it says Arrods is retired? Am I going blind?

[Svejk]

Arrods /// Thanks as ever Buenchico and trt. Trt, to answer your question, we are both retired ///

[Retrochic]

ladybirder -OP 8.27am

[ladybirder]

Thanks Retro I obviously am going blind.

[Peter Pedant]

erm why dont you say she cant cook and you care for her ?

It sounds honestly that you will have to go to appeal and argue the same point with the tribunal

I am in exactly the same position ( as a man ) and no one argues with my need for a carer. It sounds also as you need a "percher" which you can get on the NHS ( I have three ) which serves the same function as Jourdain bar stool