Upcoming pip tribunal

maz895

I have been receiving pip since 2015 after breaking back from falling from a significant height . I was awarded standard for both daily living and mobility . I appealed with the help of a charity and won  enhanced for both . I was reviewed again in 2017. I attended a assessment and was dropped to standard for daily living but mobility remained the same . I was given a 5 year award .I requested an MR as there was lots of discrepancies in my medical assessment report. My depression wasn’t taken seriously and I was dropped for points in cooking etc when this wasn’t the case and the MR wasn’t changed . I was suffering with my physical health and was receiving CBT at the time because My life wasn’t the same I was struggling with depression too. I chose not to appeal because it was too stressful . In 2021 I received my AR1 pip review form which I filled in with the same struggles I was experiencing since my initial  claim and my assessment in 2017 . I was awarded the same daily living and enhanced mobility but as a paper review and on my previous assessment which I had in 2017. I requested an MR and it was refused. I have appealed . My appeal is on the 4th may 2023 . I have no help or representative and I don’t know if I should attend . Won’t the tribunal ask why I didn’t appeal before. Should I mention my last assessment had discrepancies. Please can anyone help with what to do .

maz895

Just to add . I wasn’t invited for a assessment when I received a pip review form in 2021. A decision was just made on the form I filled in . 

Adrian_Scope

Hello @maz895 and a warm welcome to the community. 

Do you know which descriptors you are appealing and feel you have a good understanding of the criteria? 

Some people do point out any obvious discrepencies but it shouldn't be your focus of your appeal. You need to evidence how you meet the descriptors that you're appealing. 

Do you have anyone to come along to the appeal with you? 

poppy123456

maz895 said:

Won’t the tribunal ask why I didn’t appeal before. Should I mention my last assessment had discrepancies. Please can anyone help with what to do .

No, they won't. They will only be interested in the decision that was made for your current award. There's no need to tell them about your previous award or the assessment report because it's not relevant to your current claim.

cfc1881

Hi I had my reviews a dropped from enhanced daily and standrd mobility , to enhanced mobility. Scored zero points this time around nothing.for living, I suffer with mental health, epilepsy, anxiety, depression. Was in a coma anfter havin many seizures on new medication. I requested a MR which has been kept the same. I don’t understand how I can receive points tho enhanced daily living then zero on the review. Am I best to go to a tribunal or leave it?  I’m in Scotland also an is there an option of me cancelling my claim with dwp and make one with adult disability payment? I 

maz895

Hi @Adrian_Scope . Thankyou for replying to my post. My friend will be coming along to support me . I have a guide that was given to me by a friend who used to work in welfare advice , it sets out how descriptors are applied etc . I am disputing points on preparing food. I have been given 2 points for aid but I require assistance. I was also going to dispute monitoring or managing therapy to receive 1 point. I have issues with taking medication and it’s consistent with my gp records . I get stressed about taking it because of the side effects it causes and how it makes me feel when I’m on mediation ,Im always worrying about getting addicted to them . Im only 35 years old. I don’t take them properly and miss doses because of the above  reasons. The pain killers are so strong Im just in a daze and I still feel pain and the solution is to increase the dose which starts my worrying over addiction and feeling numb . My gp encourages me , I have received cbt to change my way of thinking but it works for a day or so and I resort back to old ways of thinking. I have a daughter and i feel like I’m just a burden because I can’t do any fun things with her . All my friends are enjoying their lives and I can’t relate . I avoid seeing them or going for a meal because I will be putting too much on them. I feel like everyone’s life is moving forward and I’m at a standstill . I feel like my accident happened because i was careless so I blame myself for why Im in this position. At my tribunal I don’t know if I will end up crying and I will feel embarrassed if I do . I feel if it gets too much I may  ask to leave  . I don’t know if I should attend as these things could go against me . I did provide my medical record when I filed for appeal . There is evidence of things I wrote and spoke about at my cbt sessions. I I feel like I may not articulate myself properly at the tribunal . When I first attended tribunal in 2015 it was only a few months after I had surgery so the tribunal didn’t ask me much and I was there for only a few minutes. The judge asked me to wait outside while she makes a decision . She didn’t call me back in , instead she came out to me to tell me she’s changed the decision . So my experience then was pleasant . 

poppy123456

cfc1881 said:

Hi I had my reviews a dropped from enhanced daily and standrd mobility , to enhanced mobility. Scored zero points this time around nothing.for living, I suffer with mental health, epilepsy, anxiety, depression. Was in a coma anfter havin many seizures on new medication. I requested a MR which has been kept the same. I don’t understand how I can receive points tho enhanced daily living then zero on the review. Am I best to go to a tribunal or leave it?  I’m in Scotland also an is there an option of me cancelling my claim with dwp and make one with adult disability payment? I 

Question answered on your other thread here. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/105218/go-for-pip-tribunal-or-apply-for-adp#latest

maz895

Hi @poppy123456 . Thanks for replying to my post . I ask this because when I received my appeal bundle it states that Why dwp made the decisions they did and they keep referring back  to my 2017 assessment . I didn’t have a assessment this time so they’re basing this on my last assessment and my review form. 

maz895

I think what I want to know is if It’s get too over whelming for  me at tribunal and I want to just stop and leave.  Will i be allowed to that?Will it go against me?Is it best I don’t attend? 

maz895

Is it worth mentioning - the days my mum can’t help me with making food . I have taken appetite suppressant’s to help me with hunger pangs till I can eat something I enjoy . I get fed up of eating cereal and ready made sandwiches repeatedly . 

poppy123456

When you attend your Tribunal hearing they will be a lot more understand that DWP. They are there to listen to you. If you need to leave for any reason then you'll need to explain to them.

Alex_Alumni

Best of luck with your tribunal @maz895 we'll be thinking of you!

As Poppy has mentioned, if you need to take a break, explain this to them, and they'll be able to accommodate you. I'm glad you've got a friend to support you as well.