Please help or advise I am going out of my mind with anxiety.

yoshiboobah
yoshiboobah Community member Posts: 2 Listener
Dear friends, I am so nervous about posting. I applied for PIP back in September 2021 on the recommendation ironically of my mental health nurse, my tribunal which was probably one of the worst experiences of my life was towards the in March. I was so upset and over wrought and I still feel anxious and down. 

During the tribunal the judge said they were too busy to be making decisions on the day and I would receive a letter within 5 days. The tribunal were very hard on me (my advocate agreed) and I left feeling defeated rather than listened to. The judge even brought up my weight and asked how I could be "so fat" if I can't take nutrition (those exact word!?) Not even considering symptoms of my disability mean I hold / can't lose weight. The Doctor even looked shocked. 

5 days passed, then another 5 and I got in contact with the central court system. At that point they stated a decision had not been made due to an administration error. They said to get in contact a week later.

Another week passed and I got back in contact, still nothing had happened and they sent a "memo" to a higher up to get it looked into urgency. The day after I had an email saying a decision had be made and I would get a letter within 5 days. It's now been another 9 days and no letter. No one will talk to me over the phone or webchat and I am told to wait. 

All in all since the tribunal now it has been nearly 30 days.

I am feeling very negative as my mental health has been very effected by the whole process. I can't help but think the "no" is on the way as it has taken so long. I've had no contact from the DWP (no text for example) and I am just in limbo.  The case is at least now showing as closed online but is has been like that for 10 days now. I worry as there has been this "error" are they even going to ever come to a decision? I can't go through this all again, I honestly think it will destroy me. 

Sorry for the moan, can any one advise? 

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    edited April 2023
    If you can track the appeal online then I’m surprised you can’t see what the decision was. We’ve had a few members here in the past few months who’ve been able to see the decision online before receiving the decision letter.

    When HMCTS send the decision letter to you they also send it to DWP at the same time. If you’re or getting any luck when ringing HMCTS then ring PIP to ask if they know what the decision was and they should be able to tell you.

    You should still receive the letter yourself so all I can advise with that is to try contacting HMCTS again to ask them to send another copy. 
  • yoshiboobah
    yoshiboobah Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    Thank you Poppy. Online all it says is "hearing closed" nothing else. Maybe that just means the DWP decision has been upheld. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place? Thank you very much for your comment, it is appreciated. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 59,054 Championing
    I have no idea where you look, I just know from past members here that they’ve seen their decision online before receiving the decision letter. 

    I would try DWP first but try to ring as soon as they open because that’s usually the best time to ring.