Hello and thanks for being there! I have to pay back overpaid benefit?

tillywhippet22

Hello,my name is Tilly and I suffer from Chronic Vestibular Migraine. I was medically dismissed from work 8 years ago as I was unable to function.After spending two years without any money,I was told by the C.A.B. I should apply for P.I.P.After a long fight I was awarded the lower rate,which wasn’t much but at least it was something.Over the years,despite many medications and therapies,my condition has got worse.However,I recently had a 20 minute telephone assessment by what sounded like a very young person,who had no idea of my condition and the decision was made that I am “well” and must pay back overpaid benefit. I have no idea how much,or how I’m going to do it and it is incredibly stressful for me at the moment. Thank you for listening.

Alex_Alumni

Hi there @tillywhippet22 and welcome, thanks for reaching out. I'm sorry to hear about what's happened with your PIP, I'm not surprised you're feeling stressed. 

Can I ask when you heard about this latest decision, and have you requested a Mandatory Reconsideration to challenge this?

In the meantime, please ask if we can help with anything further, and we'll do what we can

tillywhippet22

Hello,I received the decision letter 11 days after it was posted in March. I rang the CAB and they told me to phone to request a Mandatory Reconsideration and follow it up with a letter,which I have done. I know they will uphold their decision and I will have to go to a tribunal,which is really worrying me.I can’t travel as I get so ill and I never know from one day to the next if I’m going to have an attack.I very rarely go out.I don’t know what to do now,to be honest.

poppy123456

If you take it to Tribunal you can either ask for a telephone/video hearing or to appear in person. Most are through phone or video call. Either of those will give you about 73% success rate.

Paper based hearings have a much less chance of success at only about 5-8%. For this reason i wouldn't advise you to request this.

The Tribunal will want to hear from you in your own words exactly how your conditions affect you.

How much overpayment did you have? Usually when it's a review you don't normally have to repay anything back, unless the decision was made around the time you received a payment and then they maybe a small amount owed.

tillywhippet22

Hello,sorry for the delay-internet outages here! The decision was made exactly 28 days after my last pip payment.I only knew they had stopped my money when I checked my bank. I had to wait 11days for the letter to inform me of their decision and that I have to pay it back. I have no idea how much I have to pay back. The letter just says “we have overpaid you and will be writing to you to arrange repayment”. It’s all very abrupt and worrying to be honest.

MadCow1

Hi @tillywhippet22,

I am sorry to hear you're going through this stress & worry.

I'm just getting a bit confused,due to my mental health. If a review goes back 13 months,due to their backlog,at what point does it class as an over - payment,if that makes sense?!