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

Gee23

Yeah I can imagine, I bet you just want the day to come and be over with. Fingers crossed. Most posts I’ve read about tribunal all day that the panel just want to know more about how things affect you, just be yourself and answer them exactly how things are. I’ve heard that there future plans about a reform but for now don’t worry about that. Is your tribunal this week?

hayley5

thank you. I really do struggle talking and geting my words out correctly to people I don’t no but I’ll give it my best. Tribunal is next week gulp. It’s a video but still havnt received the link from them. Really am just hoping dwp call and award me before hand xx

Gee23

ah, I know how you feel it’s the same for me and then end up feeling like I’ve not explained the picture properly! I forget things so quickly too. Maybe try to write down some things that relate to the descriptors that you believe you should have been awarded, even short key words that describe your struggles so that if they ask questions regarding them and you get nervous/tongue tied then having them in front of youmight help prompt you to get out what you want to say.
I should imagine that the panel do see people struggling alot of the time with this, so take your time and tell them when you are. They will understand.

I would chase the courts up for the link if you don’t get it by Friday just incase, my first tribunal date I didn’t get the link and it was a day before bank holiday so the time they realised on the day it was turned into a telephone call which was adjourned!

You never know DWP may change their mind before the tribunal date it happens but I hear that it doesn’t happen too often, so try think that it will go ahead and anything else before that is a bonus.

Gee23

sorry it was the day after bank holiday

hayley5

thank you so much you always seem to calm me down lol I will get a book and write key things down so I don’t struggle so much. Yes I’ll contact the courts mid week if I still haven’t received anything thank you hun xxxx

Gee23

ah bless ya! Writing in a book is a good idea. I use small card flash cards that are easy to have in front, I write and highlight key words. It’s was my daughters idea gotta say it really helps, if it was down to me it would be a scribble on a page that I’d never find 😂 or I’d forget to write it!

Best of luck Hayley, you will be fine! Keep us posted x

hayley5

thank you so much hun I will get some post-it’s from work that’s a good idea. I’ve still not received the link so I’ve emailed them hopefully here from them soon xx

Gee23

Hi all. I had my tribunal today and I’ve already had my decision!! I have been awarded until 2026 🙏 I can’t explain how relieved I feel, I can’t believe it’s finally over with. 

I wanted to jump on to say that the experience with the Tribunal was really positive, it really isn’t like the assessment at all (well not like the experience that I had) 

There was some tough questioning but I did not feel grilled or judged at all. They were just figuring out things that they were not clear about. 

They were really understanding, I struggle massively talking to people I don’t know but judge was very warming, all of the panel were quite supporting and recognised when I was anxious and overwhelmed. They also comforted me at the end and told me I had done well, I kept falling apart when trying to answer but they were patient with me. No one from the DWP turned up. 

The moral of the story is, you must fight! If you feel your pip decision was wrong, fight it! It’s not an easy process but if you give up you’ll never know. There is so much advice and support on this forum and there are people who can point you in the right direction if you need professional support with an appeal. I’m exhausted now but wanted to share 🥱

Jimm_Scope

Amazing @Gee23! Always lovely to hear peoples stories. Makes me more hopeful for my eventual tribunal ❤️

Gee23

Hi Jim. Thank you. It’s an ordeal isn’t it. Do you have a date for yours? Have you had one before.

hayley5

omg this is amazing hun well done so so happy for you. You can relax now and heal from the whole process as I find it makes you worse doesn’t it. I can’t wait to have the drop shoulder feeling once it’s all over xxx well done xxx

JerryR21

@Gee23 oh I’m so happy to hear! Thank God. I’m glad you also had a positive experience. Did you manage to have your daughter with you in the end? You can finally relax, it’s a huge ordeal and it takes a lot out of you mentally and emotionally. But you stuck it out and made yourself heard. I also found with my one the panel were very lovely not judging unlike the DWP assessment. They actually have specialist that understand your struggles and your disability.

Just for your reference because my next questions after were “when will I get my back dated payment and my award letter” I got my backdated payment in about 4 weeks after but my letters I didn’t receive until about 8 weeks after however that could have been due to post office issues. I now get paid without fail every 3rd Thursday but obviously this all can be different for everyone.

Hope this helps and let me know if there’s anything else I can help with.

Gee23

hi @JerryR21 sorry for delayed reply. It’s been an ordeal and feel like I’ve just got to a place where I can half think straight again!
No my daughter was on hols I was alone, it was really hard and I don’t know how I got through it and when it finished I was feeling like I hadn’t said enough but I obviously did. I think it’s natural to feel like it when you have a bad assessment experience and I completely agree with you, having support from someone who live with your experience is absolutely necessary! Unless it’s impossible like it was for me that day.

The rep was helpful but they can’t really get involved unless asked questions, but the panel could see the anxiety and that I was completely they just didn’t judge me and were great at calming me down and understanding. I really want to write a letter to the court to share my positive feedback.

The panel know their stuff and it was disability specialist who asked the most questions, much more specific which goes to show their experience, I feel maybe pip assessors should be trained by them!!

Thanks so much for the payment information, I haven’t heard anything yet but I did call to give my bank details, it’s only been 2 weeks mind but I couldn’t remember if gave them details back in 2022! They didn’t say much apart from the case manager will get to my case and hopefully make a payment in a few weeks then then letters likely to follow a few weeks later. Once I see an award payment I’ll feel like it’s real!!
thanks so much for your advice, all the advice we get from others experiences really helps!!

hayley5

I’m so so happy for you I bet the weight lifted feels amazing doesn’t it. They cancelled my first tribunal date and I’ve still not heard anything about a new date it’s absolutely draining isn’t it. Really really happy for you thought hun you can now concentrate on yourself ❤️❤️ Xxxx

Gee23

Thank you @hayley5 thats exactly how it feels, dropped shoulders, relief. I hope you get your tribunal date soon x

Gee23

Yeah it does @hayley5 my first tribunal date was beg April but got cancelled on the day!! I got my new date in post about 4 weeks after. The new date was exactly 2 months from cancelled one. You should hear very soon, they said they make cancelled hearing priorities! keep us posted. Xx