PIP MR decision concerning Planning and Following a journey - should I go to tribunal

StarLilly

Hi all, is it worth the stress of going to a tribunal if you disagree with your PIP MR decision on these sections - Engaging with other people face to face, Making Budgeting Decisions and espeically - Planning and Following a Journey?

On my original PIP application decision, I was given 4 points for Moving Around but 0 for Planning and Following a Journey, even though I really struggle with this and can't do it alone. Below is the information my carer wrote for the MR. But they are still giving me no points.

Engaging with other people face to face (PIP MR 0 points)

"She can NOT engage or meet with other people due to her anxiety and depression and it makes her ME/CFS fatigue and pain worsen. She becomes quickly overwhelmed, confused and mentally and physically exhausted which causes her to become anxious. If she needs to meet other people i.e medical appointments I have to go with her to support her.  

Making Budgeting Decisions (PIP MR 0 points)

"She is NOT able to make complex budgeting decisions without me prompting or assisting her due to her ME/CFS fatigue and pain which leads her to become confused and unable to process complex information and manage money.  I manage all her household bills and help her with her online bank account. 

MOBILITY

Planning and following a journey. (PIP MR 0 points)

"She is NEVER able to plan and follow a route of an unfamiliar journey without another person accompanying her due to her ME/CFS fatigue and pain which causes her to become confused when trying to process and organise information. It also causes her severe anxiety as she is frightened of becoming confused and lost, not knowing the distances she would need to walk or if seating is available and if there would be anyone to ask for help".  

Thank you in advance for any suggestions 😊

Albus_Scope

Hey @StarLilly the easy answer is yes. If you feel you should be awarded the points and can show you should get them, tribunals are worth it. I've been through a couple now and other than the wait, they were worlds apart from the assessments and well worth it.

luvpink

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/125252/pip-mr-decision-concerning-planning-and-following-a-journey-should-i-go-to-tribunal

Absolutely yes it is.

I had a similar situation and I requested a mandatory reconsideration which remained the same so I took a gamble and requested a tribunal hearing.

The dwp backed down and made me an "offer" where they awarded me full points for being unable to plan or follow a journey due to "overwhelming psychological distress".

They had previously given me 0 points for that activity.

StarLilly

thank you so much @Albus_Scope and @luvpink for your advice and encouragement. I will go ahead with the tribunal as its not just about the money (which of course is extremely helpful) but also the princlpe as I believe they decision is wrong.

MrJackT

Hello @StarLilly

You should definitely appeal it, if you feel like you should be awarded the mobility element.

I have Autism, OCD and ADHD, and I do not go out of the house without my mum. In fact, I never leave the house unless I have a doctors appointment, and even then I need encouraged to leave the house and my mum will come with me and she also speaks for me. I obviously explained this in a lot more detail on the PIP form and gave some examples, I was awarded 0 points when I initially applied for PIP. As I didn’t get awarded PIP, I had to go to the tribunal, and I won, which was a relief. It was nice to be finally heard, and to explain how my conditions affect me on a daily basis.

I also struggle to engage with people, and I explained this in great detail with some examples, and the assessors awarded 0 points. And, as I mentioned I went to the tribunal and won.

So, if you think that you should have been awarded more points, then you should definitely go to the tribunal.