My PIP Hearing is imminent and i am feeling the pressure.

Artful

i am relieved that i finally have my hearing date, don’t get me wrong, as believe me it has been an awfully long time coming but i have been thrown a bit of a curve ball. I had requested a face to face hearing but they have told me it is now going to be a phone call. Either way i am terrified as for reasons regarding my childhood history i am very uncomfortable with both phonecalls and authority figures. I am so scared that i dont manage to put my points across clearly enough and yet if i display any kind of competency i know i will be penalised for it. If i am turned down for financial assistance again i honestly don’t know how i will fair with the lack of support and understanding all over again. Everything is a struggle and i feel as though there is not one person who wants me to tread water and not drown.

poppy123456

One thing to bear in mind is the Tribunal are a lot more understanding than DWP and they are there to listen to you, not for anything else. Mostly hearings are still through phone or video call anyway. Not appearing in person will not make your chances of success any less as they all have about 73% success rate.

You can have someone with you during the hearing and put the phone onto loud speaker, though you will be expected to speak for yourself. They will want you to do this anyway because you are the only person that knows how your conditions affect you.

Make sure that you've sent all your evidence within a couple of weeks before the hearing and make sure you have the bundle with you during the hearing because you will need to refer to that too.

They may not tell you what the decision is on the day but this doesn't mean you haven't been successful. They will send you the decision letter in the post within a few days. Lots of people don't have the decision on the day and go on to be awarded.

Artful

Thank you Poppy 😊

rebel11

Make notes to help jog you memory on anything you think might come up or you think you will have difficult explaining and refer to them. 

Artful

Thank you 🙏🏻 

Hannah_Alumni

Wishing you all the best @Artful

As Poppy said, you can have someone with you. I'd plan something for after to take your mind off it. Maybe a trip to the cinema? A walk to a local café and treat yourself to a piece of cake? 

You've got this! Please keep us updated. 

Artful

Thank you Hannah. That sounds like very sensible advice 👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻