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.

[furrypusscat]

Excellent result. It gives others in similar positions to carry on. Well done.

[Svejk]

Great. That'll help you cook the meals.

[Arrods]

Pardon?

[RATTER15]

Thats not nice Retro!!

[RATTER15]

and if they are far worse off they will also be getting benefit! They dont give benefits to people unless their is a need, generally speaking!

[B00]

To be honest, im still confused why the OP here can't cook for her too- what does the extra money enable you to do?

[furrypusscat]

It doesn't matter how the money is spent. If you are entitled to it which Arrods and OH are through winning an appeal on legitimate technicalities then that is their business. I wonder how much of the criticism on here is actually sour grapes!!

[Arrods]

I wouldn't say someone with a broken leg and suffering from cancer is 'relatively' healthy, would you?

[Mamyalynne]

A large amount of appeals are successful , glad to hear the outcome.

[237SJ]

That`s the trouble with sites such as this - people come on with a genuine question and instead of an answer they get judgement. No wonder people are leaving.

[Arrods]

Thanks, as ever, furrypusscat. The fact that OH has won on the aspect of moving things around the kitchen will almost certainly help those who are worse off. The DWP (see my original post) guidance in our view conflicts with the law which has probably meant other legitimate claimants have been denied benefits. Hopefully, that will change. We have been praised by Citizens' Advice for that reason.

To those who have an issue with all this (a) the benefit has now ended because of improvement in OH's condition and her sheer determination to get better and (b) the purchase of additional aids and a wheelchair plus the extra cost of physio once stopped by the NHS doesn't come cheap.

[Arrods]

Retrochic it's not my appeal - it's OH's. She was the one who had to present her case on her own in front of a high-level tribunal. The benefit was for her.

[furrypusscat]

Thank you Arrods. As you say not only has OH won for herself but for everyone in similar situations. She has now set a precedence for others to follow.