Hi, my name is desperateforhelp78! Money worries, PIP tribunal, really need help

desperateforhelp78

hi I’ve just come across this and I’m so desperate so thought I’d post, so last sept 2023 I had my renewal of pip I was declined, filed for an MR and declined again, then in Jan 2024 I went to cab for help they then filed for a tribunal for me, now I work part time but finding it increasingly difficult due to fibromyalgia stage 4 endometriosis 2 heart attacks compression on the spine/bulging discs, cptsd due to dv and other factors, that’s to name just a few issues, it’s now been over a year and I’m at the point of losing my home, as I can’t pay to live anymore as having time off work and we only get ssp and that’s after the first 3 days so I’m barley able to pay anything now, I am receipt of esa also, but I can’t survive on less than £1000 pm when also paying a mortgage, I have no support from anyone, I’m at a point in my life now where I’m seriously questioning my I’m even here anymore I’m no long living I’m not even surviving at present, I need the tribunal to hurry up to get this all done my health has declined rapidly over the last year due to this process too, I’ve worked over 30 years many as a nurse, I’m now begging for some help but not getting any, I’m constantly getting reminders that this isn’t paid or that isn’t paid if I don’t have the money I can’t pay it it’s that simple, does anyone have any advise on what I can do as it’s clear no one cares, and as I said I’m at the point where the unthinkable is now being thought, how do I get through this? Cab have helped as much as they can but there’s only so much they can do, I can’t afford to hire a solicitor to help me, I’m quite bluntly at a point in my life where I see no light anymore, I’m in a really dark place all my issues depress me then on top of that there’s daily chronic pain that I’m finding unbearable yet already on strong meds, I am begging for some kind of help but there isn’t any, the whole system is stupid I see and hear people bragging that they get pip as they lied about it all and then there’s me who’s still working even though in excruciating pain and discomfort how is this acceptable? It’s barbaric and something needs to change asap, thank you all for reading

poppy123456

You mention "we" and SSP, is it you that's claiming SSP or a partner? The reason I'm asking is because ESA can't be paid at the same time as SSP.

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

Have you used a benefits calculator to check entitlement to Universal Credit? If not then please do that. If you live with a partner you'll need to claim as a couple.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/

The ESA will be deducted in full.

Are you also claiming council tax reduction from your local Authority? The benefits calculator will tell you if there's any entitlement to that.

For your PIP Tribunal, you could ring HMCTS to ask them how long it will be before your hearing and they will be able to give you a timescale.

If the benefits calculator shows entitlement to UC then you can claim Support for Mortgage Interest but this is loan and does need to be repaid back in the future if you sell your home.

I'm afraid I don't have any other advice for you because the only benefits possible to claim now are the ones I mentioned above.

I hope you're not waiting too much longer for the hearing.

It's also worth noting that very few people claim PIP fraudulently.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @desperateforhelp78, welcome to our community 😊 As Poppy said you can call HMCTS to get an update about likely time to wait and you can inform them of your situation.

About the costs, we have some advice sections on help with bills, I hope some of it can help you:

Government help with energy bills | Disability charity Scope UK

https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/help-with-bills-and-food