PIP tribunal stress, advice/words of encouragement needed please

Blossom22

Hi Scope community…

I’m not sure where to start with this one my thoughts are very scrambled.
Last year my PIP was reviewed and stopped, MR unsuccessful and with the help of an advisor requested an appeal tribunal, appeal lodged beginning October and still no date.
I’ve just received a letter that’s a copy of the DWP’s response explaining why they refuse my claim - is this an indication I could get a date through soon?

I am trying to remind myself that it is their job to try and stop people from getting money and not to take personally the horrible things they say but resilience is low at the minute and I feel so rotten. I feel like I’m being accused of making it up and trying to swindle them, and having to bare every ugly detail of my life I usually try to hide, in order to try and convince them I deserve it. The irony being that it’s not really money I want anyway! I want to live in a world that disabled people can easily navigate with actual support services that help, but since none of that exists the money helps navigate the world as it is.

Despite not being a means tested benefit the main argument for saying I didn’t need it was because I worked. I do get jobs and try to stay in them as long as I can because I want to try to be normal, but if they looked at my whole work history they would see it’s a few months here and there with great big unemployed times in between. This year I’ve been granted LCWRA by UC, and they have even rejected this saying it’s not relevant evidence! How can that possibly be?!
I feel like they’re trying to penalise me for trying to do the best I can. I have submitted loads of medical evidence but I was wondering if I could submit any statements from people who’ve known me a long time? People who’ve seen the whole picture? I’m guessing probably not but thought I would ask…

I don’t know what I will do if the tribunal isn’t soon/doesn’t go my way. I’ve been in worse shape than ever the past 18 months and not been able to work at all, and when the pip got stoped before it impacted my finances so much I ended up homeless, and I am again now for the third time in a year! Sofa surfing whilst being physically and mentally in poor health is really not great! But trying to find somewhere when you don’t work is impossible apparently. If anyone has any tips or advice on that I’d like to hear it.

Sorry for such a downer post, I just feel like everything is getting harder and harder and I can’t get a handle on it, and I’m getting too tired to carry on like this. I need something to change! (For the better obvs).

Jimm_Scope

Hey @Blossom22, I understand how you feel. You're stuck waiting and all you're getting is more things from the DWP saying negative things about you. You know what they're saying is wrong though, and the tribunal is where you can finally say your story and have it actually be listened to.

Before now you've really just been telling the DWP everything, and they've clearly just not listened. The tribunal you aren't telling the DWP anything, you're telling a panel of a judge and up to 2 others, of which one will be a health professional. A neutral third party who want to hear what you have to say. If you need time to gather your thoughts, just let them know. If there is someone who can go with you who you think can support you and perhaps help you answer some questions, bring them with you.

You aren't on trial. You are going to say how your day to day life is affected, the DWP have to prove otherwise. "The DWP don't believe you" doesn't cut it with a tribunal panel. Remember, over 70% of all tribunals are successful against the DWP. As long as you are clear in how much your life is affected, you'll be doing well.

Citizen's Advice have a good page with advice on how to prepare for a tribunal, maybe it will be of some use? Challenging a PIP decision - the tribunal hearing - Citizens Advice

Blossom22

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/903326#Comment_903326

Hi @Jimm_Scope,

Thank you! This is what I needed… I do keep forgetting that the tribunal is independent and not another appeal to the DWP.

The advisor who helped me with submitting the appeal has said he should be able to be with me for the tribunal so fingers crossed he can help me remember all the things I need to say. I will have a read of the CAB page, thanks for that.

Do you have any knowledge about the current waiting times? I know it changes often and is always going up, it’s been almost 11months now since we lodged the appeal.

Jimm_Scope

I don't know about current waiting times I'm sorry 😕 . Last year I know it seems to average around 8 months, but it's getting worse and worse and can also change depending on the region of the UK. As the tribunals are usually done as close to the claimant as possible.

poppy123456

Average wait is about 12 months, sometimes longer.