HB v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (PIP) (Personal independence payment � daily living activities : Activity 7: communicating verbally)

For the Appellant: Ms. Zoe Leventhal of Counsel (instructed by The National Deaf Children�s Society on behalf of the Appellant)

For the Respondent: Mr. Simon Pritchard of Counsel (instructed by the Solicitor, Department for Work and Pensions)

I allow the appeal.� As the decision of the First-tier Tribunal (made on 2 April 2015 at Kidderminster under reference SC014/14/00210 ) involved the making of an error in point of law, it is set aside under section 12(2)(a) and (b)(i) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and the case is remitted to the tribunal for rehearing by a differently constituted panel.

I held an oral hearing of the appeal to the Upper Tribunal on 8 March 2016.� The claimant was represented by Ms. Leventhal of Counsel, and the Secretary of State by Mr. Simon Pritchard of Counsel.� I am grateful to them both for their helpful submissions.

The claimant appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (�the tribunal�).� She argued that she satisfied the criteria of descriptor 9c (�needs social support to be able to engage with other people�).� The tribunal refused the appeal and confirmed the decision of 24 September 2014.� I have allowed the appeal because the tribunal�s reasons were inadequate.�