Newbie. PIP review, going to tribunal, has anyone else had this?

SnickerDoodles

Hi,My name is Nikki, I'm not sure where to start, for the past 5 years or so I had been getting pip up until last year when I had a review and all of a sudden I'm cured of all my health problems despite taking 19 different medications,I did a mandatory reconsideration but after 9 months of not hearing anything, I contacted them and got several different excuses of why I hadn't heard anything so I had to do it all again, its now gone to the tribunal stage and still waiting for a date to be set, the dwp sent me 366 pages going back 20 years,I broke down when I opened it, I gave it to my son and he has found multiple inconsistencies in what the assessor wrote down and what I said in the assessment, I asked for a woman which was ignored and had a very dismissive guy that made me feel wortless by the time he finished, has anyone else had this? It's very stressful, I've gone from a size 20 down to a size 16 in the last year through stress and worry.

Albus_Scope

Hi there @SnickerDoodles and welcome to the community.

I'm so sorry to hear how you've been treated by the DWP, that does sound very unfair and stressful. I'd say please try not to worry too much, the tribunal is a world apart from the assessment, the people there are there to help you and were all very caring in the two tribunals I've had to attend. 

SnickerDoodles

Thank you for the reply, its good to hear that it could get better, I just wanted to give up when the dwp sent the 366 pages but my son said that's what they want you do and just trying to bury me in paperwork, he's now down as my representative and is dealing with it for me because I just can't cope with it all.

Albus_Scope

I totally understand how you're feeling, it really does feel like it's an endurance race to claim these days, but you're doing the right thing by not giving up. It will get better.  

SnickerDoodles

I asked why they stopped it despite my health issues getting worse and they never give a clear answer,they just kept repeating the same paragraph, I've lost the independence I did have, I have to wait for my son to be free from work to take me anywhere.

Nashota

I had something like this happen to me, I was awarded PIP mainly based on my mental health in 2014, I did get points for physical as well (mobility), was award enhanced for 5 years, I had no treatment in between as what I had tried previously hadn't helped, I had my review in 2019 and the HCP cured me of all of my mental health conditions and tried to make it about my FM, the report was disputed by the DWP but Capita request the GPFR from the wrong  medical centre which there was no excuse at all for as the details were on the form and had been confirmed with someone via phone, it took them 2 months to rectify the issue by which time my award was running out, the case manager decided that she'd go with the assessment report and lowered my PIP. I did an MR which of course failed and then appealed with the help of an advice centre, my decision was then overturn without needing a tribunal by I believe the DWP but there were still certain things that they wouldn't acknowledged even though I'd scored points in the descriptors previously.

I have a PIP review coming up, I think in August, I am dreading it but I'm more prepared this time (I hope) and have typed out answers to each question and will get someone to check it all sounds ok closer to the time.

It's very stressful and impacted my health a lot. I hope everything works out for you.

SnickerDoodles

Sounds like they put you through the mill, try not let your upcoming review stress you out too much,easier said than done I know, I had someone help me with the descriptors etc and dwp still shot me down, I have 8 different health problems and because my conditions are managed I think that's why I'm being penalised. I wish I didn't need the financial support for my health, I used to be so active and was outside all the time riding horses which ive done since I was 2 but my health has took all that away. I miss the old me.

Nashota

Thank you, I'm trying not to, I'm making sure everything is typed out in advance so I can go through it and adjust it if needed and as I said, closer to the time I'll ask my advocate to check it for me and an advice centre that I've found, I'm not letting them fill my form in though, not making that mistake again, I just want to make sure what I've typed out is fine. 

I feel the same, I used to go for 8 mile walks most days, now I'm lucky if I can go around the block.

Who knows with the DWP and assessment companies. I had to appeal ESA twice, the last time they caused me lots of stress and anxiety because I asked for a female HCP due to the nature of my mh conditions, they admitted to booking them with men all but once I believe, so they'd cancel, this went on for about 3 months or more, it's was silly, they were also trying to assess me off a 4 year old form, but Poppy advised me to ask for a new one, which I did and because they'd messed up so much, they allowed me to fill out another and send it to them via email, I ended up having a paperbased assessment and was moved to SG.

I hope everything works out for you.

SnickerDoodles

I was at my copd review today and my nurse has asked would I talk to a social prescriber,I have an idea what one is cus she's concerned with the amount of time I spend on my own and help with my social anxiety, as well as prescribing more meds for my copd,not sure if this would go in my favour with the tribunal. I'm fortunate to have a great copd nurse.

SnickerDoodles

Hi guys n gals, been a while since I posted a update, I had my pip tribunal on the 8th of November, after everyone introduced themselves the judge said immediately that they were reinstating my pip claim, after answering their questions they said they would look at adding extra points to my claim,I had a full on meltdown, the guy from dwp actually apologised to me, 18 months of waiting and stress is finally lifted, can't thank you guys enough for your help and support, it means a lot. Thank you xx

Morgan_Scope

That's such amazing news @SnickerDoodles! After 18 months of stress, it must feel like such a huge weight has been lifted. And for the DWP guy to apologise – that must’ve felt like a bit of justice and very validating after such a wait and so much stress.

SnickerDoodles

A huge weight has been lifted and its great news but there is another issue that needs looking into, in my paperwork my son was looking for a particular page that had missing information on and in place of this information that should of been mine was 3 copies of a physiatrist report of a a rather unstable gentleman and on the back of the report was all my information, my NI number, date of birth, my address, nhs number which this unstable gentleman now has, I need to approach the dwp about this as my son said its a data protection issue, my son told me toget my pip sorted first and gather myself and breathe for a while then approach the dwp about it.

Morgan_Scope

That doesn't sound good @SnickerDoodles. Are you certain that the gentleman will have received a copy of the same thing? It may be that his things were sent to you, but yours not sent to him.

I would suggest raising it with the DWP as a concern though. You could write to them for an explanation as to what’s happened and ask for clarification on what steps they’ll be taking to ensure your personal information is protected. If you're unsure how to word it, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has advice on how to raise data protection issues, which might be useful.

SnickerDoodles

I'll certainly be asking them about it,I could understand it if it was just his name etc but my details are on the back, it wasn't just 1 copy either it was 3 and each had different bits of information of mine on yhe reverse, I'll be ringing them Monday cus this guy is vulnerable and his information shouldn't be in other folks paperwork.

Kittylees53

well done on the tribunal ! Can I ask was you MR in May 2024 and your Tribunal in November 2024 (so this bit took 6 months.) ? I will probably be going through exactly the same thing as you, so I was interested in approximate time scales. Thank you x

SnickerDoodles

My first MR was 12 months ago which they lost, I did another one straight away which was this year and then my tribunal was nov this year, it dragged out 18 months in all, don't give up even when they swamp you in paperwork, fight it all the way no matter how daunting it may seem, I almost gave up ,so glad I stuck at it, it was overwhelming on the day of the tribunal and I cried like a baby, they judge and Dr and disability woman were all very understanding, I did mine by video conference.