DMU v The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Facts

DMU, the anonymised appellant, claimed personal independence payment (PIP) on 25 April 2024. He had a telephone consultation with a healthcare professional on 12 June 2024. On 4 July 2024, acting on that professional's advice, a DWP decision-maker awarded him four points for the daily living activities and none for the mobility activities. The evidence included a diagnostic report for autistic spectrum disorder and accounts from DMU's wife. She said that she prompted him to wash and to change his clothes, and that he did not understand budgeting priorities. She also said that at his fish and chip shop job he had been supervised and was never left alone at the pans. On 11 August 2025 the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber), sitting at Sheffield, heard his appeal by video. It awarded five daily living points, for descriptors 3.b and 9.c, and no mobility points. Because eight points are needed for either component, it refused the appeal and confirmed the decision. Its Statement of Reasons followed on 22 August 2025. On 19 March 2026 Upper Tribunal Judge Butler gave permission to appeal on grounds about preparing food, making budgeting decisions, planning and following journeys, and the prompting DMU received for washing and bathing and for dressing and undressing. In written submissions the Secretary of State supported the appeal.