PIP and Asperger and OCD Client with no physical problems. 

I’m looking for some guidance and case law, which would assist me in a forcoming tribunal . The client looks fine but never makes eye contact. When out he walks looking down at his feet because he is very afraid that strangers will speak to him. If he talks back or alternatively ignores them they will beat him up. Stays in most of the time because of his phobia. He goes out to local shops, about 100 yards away once every two to three days. Lives alone, doesn’t eat unless a friend insists he eat. More likely to feed the cat than himself.
When he takes a bath,  he uses a thermometer to make sure the water’s temperature is between 30 and 34 degrees. If not he won’t get in. When I mentioned the temperature of the water in the bath falls quite quickly He said he is checking temperature, when he’s in the bath.  Notwithstanding this once the temp decreases to say 29 degrees.. He has a panic attacked whoever this occurs.

Thermometer just a thought

aid or appliance”- (a) means any device which improves, provides or replaces [the claimant’s] impaired physical or mental function

Could be put into the Ingenius but misguided argument bin but if he can only bath by using the device why not.

Also with OCD the following may be relevant

“reasonable time period” means no more than twice as long as the maximum period that a person without a physical or mental condition which limits that person’s ability to carry out the activity in question would normally take to complete that activity

Delusions, surely. What effect do they have on his day to day life? if he sets out to go to the shops does he arrive or does he feel someone is going to beat him up and he should go home? Similarly buses—does he every get angry with people because they touch him in the street, sit next to him on a bus? What happens if someone jostles him in the street etc? What happens when he bangs into someone because he’s not looking where he’s going—suppose they shout “look where you’re going mate”. What happens next? Does he cry? go home? shout back?