I have ADHD, challenged my appeal in tribunal and was successful!

JerryR21

Hi all, just wanted to share my experience with you and hopefully it might help someone in their process.

I finally worked up the courage to seek help for ADHD at the age of 27. I always knew I was not “normal”. I started the process of getting a diagnosis in 2019. 

In November 2021 I was given a diagnosis of ADHD and at its highest form. I started treatment but I struggled so much with just remembering to take my medication. 

Around mid 2022 my ADHD nurse advised I could be eligible for PIP but any type of forms or applications or paperwork does not get done (as anyone with adhd knows what a huge struggle this can be) so I actually came onto this site and there was a lot of advice to seek professional help. 

I reached out to my local citizens advice and I met this lovely lady Kate who honestly has been my guardian angel. She helped me from filling in the forms, to advising me of the next steps and what to expect etc. I applied officially in June 2022 for ADHD, Anxiety and Depression.

October 2022 I had to attend my face to face assessment. Honestly it was not great. The lady seemed like she did not care (probably not their job too) and I know she did not listen to anything I was saying. Just picking at everything I said and trying to put words in my mouth. I remembered the advice Kate gave me which was “don’t agree with what they say if it isn’t true and don’t be afraid to say that what they said is not correct” for example she would say “so you don’t need help showering at all” where it’s actually I need help getting to the shower and getting out. 

As expected I only received 2 points for my daily living and 0 for mobility. They decided I didn’t struggled because I work 5 days a week (I have to otherwise I cannot live!) and I can drive (very rarely do I due to not being good at following journeys) I reached out to Kate who assured me not to worry and to ask for a MR straight away. She said very rarely they overturn the decision but it is part of the process.

January 2023 I received a call from DWP to go over the questions and asked why I didn’t agree. The person that called sounded like a robot just reading a script. I explained everything and was told to wait for a letter. 

March 2023 received my MR decision letter which said nothing changed. Kate said no problem we will take it to tribunal. She passed it onto a law centre and she explained sometimes it can take 6 months to hear back but to make sure I absolutely attend the appointment they give me. Unless there is an emergency. 

October 2023 I still had not heard anything back so I reached out to Kate. She said to give it some more time as they seem to be getting a lot of people going to tribunals. 

January 2024 I received my letter, my appointment was on 5th of March 2024. I was now very nervous and I let Kate know that I had now received the letter. She said someone from the law centre would contact me closer to the time and that they also had received the letter. 

February 2024 I spoke to my representative who mentioned he would not argue certain points which I agreed to but overall he was happy to agree the rest. I was super super nervous but he was great at reassuring me and explaining the situation. 

5th March 2024 it was the day of the tribunal and I was bricking it. My partner came with me (he had come to every appointment and also I depend heavily on him for my day to day) so i didn’t feel so alone. My representative joined via teams so he was not physically there but it was still good to have him there. There was also a DWP representative there. The panel consisted of a judge, doctor and a disability specialist. They asked me questions and I answered honestly. They did not try to catch me out it was just to understand how my conditions affect me daily. They asked my partner if he had anything to say and he just mentioned our daily struggles. 

The judge asked the DWP representative if she had questions but instead she had suggestions for the court. My representative also had a few points to argue. They asked if I wanted to wait for the decision but I said no thank you as waiting is a huge struggle and I’ve waited here enough. 

1 hour later, I received a call from my representative to say they had awarded me enhanced living rate and standard mobility rate! I was over the moon. I also should be back dated 2 years! So thank God and all the people that helped me. 

I know this exactly experience and outcome will not be the same for everyone but just wanted to say there is hope and don’t give up. Also get advice from professionals. 

Now just waiting for my money to arrive which will probably be another month or so but I don’t mind! I am just happy this is over for the next 4 years at least. 

MW123

@JerryR21

Well done! a lot of stress but worth it in the end. Thank you for sharing.

Hannah_Alumni

Thank you for sharing your story with us @JerryR21 and welcome to the community!  

I am so glad that you had such great support through the process and were awarded  

bookrabbit

That's great. Well done for sticking with it.

hayley5

Amazing well done. I applied 13 months ago (last feb 23) it was declined so I did a MR that was also declined so it went to tribunal in July 23 and I’m still waiting to hear back. The courts keep saying it’s ready for listing but been saying that for months now. Any advice please xx

JerryR21

Hi @hayley5 do you mean that you asked to have it go to tribunal in july 2023? If so, then you should hopefully be hearing from them soon maybe this month of next if it’s anything to go by my waiting times. Mine took about 8-9 months to get a date for the actual tribunal which was a month and 2 weeks from the date of the letter. 

hayley5

Oh thank you so much for your reply. Yes I started the tribunal process July last year and I’ve been emailing them to ask for updates and I keep geting back it’s ready for hearing date to be arranged xx

pipersiren

Wow, thank you for sharing! Well done for perservering. That must've been so challenging.

Gee23

Hi @JerryR21 it’s really good to hear that you have had a good outcome and won your pip appeal! You do not always hear about the good outcomes, so your post has made me feel good.
 I also have ADHD and suffer with depresssion and applied for PIP in Aug 2022, it was rejected in Dec 22 and the MR did not change the decision. I appealed and given a tribunal hearing date for the April 2024, but at the start of the hearing it was postponed because the panel felt more time was needed to review my bundle and evidence. 

I now have a new date for June. I wanted to ask if you feel that having your partner there as support helped the result of the decision? I will have a representative helping me, however, she will
be joining in through video call. The panel suggest that I should have support physically with me and they mentioned that in the letter explaining why tribunal was postponed. My older daughter supports me daily and so do my parents. My daughter could not attend the first hearing as she could not get the time off, it was the day after bank holiday was already booked out by other staff. She does work from home and her job is flexible to support me at home but being present in the tribunal is not possible without taking time off. My parents were here but they are both profoundly deaf and without an interpreter they could not support me in the tribunal. The problem I face is that my daughter is going on holiday the day of the new tribunal date! You could not make it up!!!  So even though my parents will be staying here for the week, again they cannot support me in the tribunal without having somebody to interpret everything that is being said during the hearing. I now am stuck as I do not have anyone close enough to me to support and I’m not sure if taking part alone will change the result of my hearing. I am prepared and have a support of a rep and but no one will be in the room with me!  Because this has been such a long and draining process the thought of having to re arrange the date makes me feel like giving up. I want to go ahead with it still but wondering if you feel that having support does go further when it comes to the panel deciding. I hope to hear back or from anyone with advice that can help….. Ps I am sorry it’s so long this message 

Gee23

BTW the hearing is through video link @JerryR21

JerryR21

Hi @Gee23 thank you for reaching out! I completely understand how you are feeling. It is super draining and at times it does make you feel like you want to give up. However don’t give in, you are almost at the end. It is very good that you have a representative, i couldn’t have done this process without them and they know what they are talking about and what they need to highlight etc. 

I will be honest and I found having my partner there very helpful due to the fact that he was able to explain how he has to help me every day and how ADHD I affects our lives daily. Who better to explain the struggles than someone who has to live them with you and deal with them and sees first hand how you struggle. If I were you, I would write to them and ask if they are able to change the date again so that your daughter can be present or if they are able to get an interpreter for your parents because it is a massive support to have someone 1) be there with you but 2) help you explain things because as you know with ADHD, explaining and articulating ourselves can be challenging especially in these sort of situations.

Hopefully they will understand and be able to change the date. Perhaps also reach out to your representative and see what they advise? 

JerryR21

Also in terms of helping the panel make a decision, I would say that it does help but if you can’t make it happen, it’s not the end of the world. they take into consideration what the experts say, what your representative says and what DWP representative might say. I would say having someone there with you is more for support than for anything else. 

hayley5

Hi I feel you I also have a tribunal Comimg up mine is in 2 weeks time and I’m absolutely bricking it 😩 any advice could be appreciated please xxx

Albus_Scope

Heya @hayley5 eek, that's snuck up quickly! My main advice is don't panic!  The tribunal is worlds apart from the assessment. I found the panel really kind and they were fine for me to take breaks when I started having a panic attack. It was all over very quickly.

Best of luck for it! Will you let us know how you get on please? 

hayley5

Hey hun yes of course I will. Eeekk I’m so so worried feel sick constantly 😩😩 I hate talking to people out of my comfort zone if that makes sense xx

Albus_Scope

That makes perfect sense @hayley5 I was exactly the same. I'm not a fan of interacting with people I don't know, so I was freaking out beforehand. I had a giggle afterwards as I'd built it up so much, when it fact it was actually quite nice.  

hayley5

Oh this is lovely to hear thank you that’s really helped the dred just got the better of me xxx

Gee23

Hi Jerry. TY so much for replying to me. I am sorry to hear that you had to go through it’s so hard when deep down you know in your heart you were entitled to Pip and the first decision was wrong. Your partner sounds like a great support to you and I really understand where you are coming from, my daughter has been a massive support to me since she was a little girl and my struggles have been a big impact on her life too. My mum and dad also have seen it all first hand but there is no one who knows how difficult things are better than my daughter does and that’s why I’m so frustrated that the only time that she has ever been away from home we get a new tribunal date.

Unless I arrange an interpreter privately, it seems impossible to get any advice from the tribunal service about this. I have talked to my reps about it and they said that sometimes things in life are beyond our control, if I can’t get someone to support me, it’s not my fault and if I feel comfortable to go ahead that I should. They also assured me that the panel will understand if I struggle and that the reps will be there to help me through.

They did say if I was to postpone again, it’s likely I’ll be waiting 2/3 months for another date. That would make it nearly 2 years since I applied and I just don’t think I can take much more of this process, I’m really done with it all. I think of re arrange this hearing it will tip me over the edge !!

I really appreciate your advice, it has made me feel confident. I think I have to just push on through, I can only be myself and hope that the panel understand.

Gee23

Hi Hayley @hayley5

Good luck for your tribunal, I feel how nervous you are. I feel the same and I hope that advice from others that have been through it has helped you feel better about it. Let us know how you get on

hayley5

thank you hun I keep going through waves, one minute I’m ok the next I’m freaking out. I’ve also heard they are not helping people with MH problems anymore ? Xx

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/864721#Comment_864721

They are just proposals at the moment and nothing has been confirmed.