I didn't include all my conditions on PIP claim, is it too late now?

Henny5

Thank you all for your input, I am currently gathering evidence to send. I had brain surgery 15 yrs ago which has lft me completely deaf on one side due to no hearing nerve and balance problems. I explained I have specialised Cross hearing aids which make everything worse and make my dizzyness worse, they said I do not wear an aid and can hear my doorbell, I don't have a doorbell! I cannot hear the door if I am eating or if there are other noises in the house such as TV washing machine etc. So I have an appt with the audiologist tomorrow to hopefully get proof of all this.
I am so grateful to have found this helpful forum. Thank you again!!! 

Alex_Alumni

I'm really glad that the community has been able to support you in appealing your PIP decision, and please continue to reach out if you need a hand  

I'm sorry that you were made to feel so uncomfortable during your assessment, it is very stressful, not an easy thing to manage at all. You're taking the right steps to challenge the decision now, and you are worthy of the support! 

Let us know how your appointment goes when you can, and take care today.

2oldcodgers

rebel11 said:

I think a lot of people do this (forget to tell the DWP stuff, on forms, during assessments etc), simply because they've done it previously at some point, they subconsciously think they've told the DWP previously, so don't do it again.  

Precisely. I claimed ESA and completed the ESA50 years ago. The form at the time did not indicate what had to be put in the section of what were my illnesses. I contacted the DWP over this and was told to put what the GP had shown on the sick note.
Obviously at a later stage it became clear that I should have included all of my illnesses at the appeal stage.
I complained to the DWP over the poor quality of the claim form. A year or so later I had to fill out another which had been changed to specifically state ALL of the illnesses. 

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

rebel11 said:

I think a lot of people do this (forget to tell the DWP stuff, on forms, during assessments etc), simply because they've done it previously at some point, they subconsciously think they've told the DWP previously, so don't do it again.  

Precisely. I claimed ESA and completed the ESA50 years ago. The form at the time did not indicate what had to be put in the section of what were my illnesses. I contacted the DWP over this and was told to put what the GP had shown on the sick note.
Obviously at a later stage it became clear that I should have included all of my illnesses at the appeal stage.
I complained to the DWP over the poor quality of the claim form. A year or so later I had to fill out another which had been changed to specifically state ALL of the illnesses. 

I've been claiming ESA since 2013 and i've never known the ESA50 forms to be any different to what they are now.

Also when you ring any DWP department you're speaking to someone from a call centre, who have very little benefits knowledge. I wouldn't be ringing them to ask anything about filling out any forms such as ESA50.

Henny5

Alex_Scope said:

I'm really glad that the community has been able to support you in appealing your PIP decision, and please continue to reach out if you need a hand  

I'm sorry that you were made to feel so uncomfortable during your assessment, it is very stressful, not an easy thing to manage at all. You're taking the right steps to challenge the decision now, and you are worthy of the support! 

Let us know how your appointment goes when you can, and take care today.

Thank you
I had my appointment with the audiologist today. I explained everything. They tested my hearing and as expected, nothing on one side, they agreed that although for some, the cross aid can help some people, the agreed that for me it has no benefit. They are referring me to Hearing therapy to see if they can help me cope with the tinnitus etc. So not sure how pip will react to that. 

Hannah_Alumni

@Henny5 I'm glad you managed to get your appointment and have been referred on for more support  

Henny5

Hi again, just thought I would let you know the latest and see if I am handling this properly. 
I sent off further information with my MR to be considered. I also plucked up the courage to complain to capita about my report as there were areas in it that were incorrect, and misreported. The DA was interviewed and cannot remember the interview but somehow remembered that I wasn't distressed as I said I was!!?? She was also caught out on another area but the overall decision was that she did everything correctly. They have offered to look at the complaint again, I don't know what to do? Do I just give up or do I get them to look again. I haven't had a decision on the MR as yet. So fed up with it all to be honest. 

L_Volunteer

Thank you for keeping us in the loop @Henny5. How are you feeling about the actions you have taken at the moment? 

It is really sad to hear your feelings of distress were not validated  You deserve validation.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything we can do to support you 

Henny5

Hello
Thank you for your kind reply. I have decided to ask for the complaint to be looked at again as it has upset me so much. They will probably just come back with the same reply as I understand there is no evidence to support what I have said, other than that she was caught out on one thing which suggests things were not right. I just want to come out of this with my dignity. 

L_Volunteer

Have they agreed to look at the complaint again @Henny5? It sounds really upsetting for you