Rachel Josephine Perry v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Facts

Miss Perry claimed personal independence payment (PIP). Her appeal against the Secretary of State's decision on that claim was heard by the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) at Leicester (Judge M D Joshi, Ms K Turquoise and Dr G K Sharma), which decided it on 6 May 2025. On mobility activity 2 (moving around), the FTT noted that her PIP form said she wore knee supports, could move between 50 and 200 metres and used her car even on short journeys. Relying on its other findings of fact and on the evidence of Dr Tring, a consultant in anaesthesia and pain management, it found that she could stand and then move more than 200 metres, aided or unaided, and awarded no points for the activity. Her representative had made a written submission to the FTT. It said that for significant parts of the day she could not walk 20 metres because of extreme fatigue and pain. It enclosed a Leicester City Council Blue Badge assessment, which confirmed a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, widespread and persistent pain, marked fatigue and difficulties with memory and concentration. The assessment concluded that her mobility was expected to be significantly reduced. The health care professional had observed her walk 20 metres in 18 seconds. Upper Tribunal Judge Wright gave permission to appeal. The Secretary of State then supported the appeal in a submission dated 19 March 2026.