I’ve given up

Kami22
Kami22 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener

I’ve just decided to stop the whole fight and just suffer without the help. Idk what I was thinking, that I’d be able to get PIP 😂 what a dream. I’m at tribunal stage and the DWP response just sent shivers down my spine. It’s so pointless trying. It’s made me so anxious and I can’t even cope, I’m worse off than when I applied only because of this process. Everywhere I go I think about it. I spend all my days anxious and reading through posts and forums. But honestly I’m exhausted. It’s like they are picking on me and saying why do you do this if you have this 😭 I’m deflated right now.

I have anxiety and depression, vasovagal syncope and migraines with autoimmune features which I totally agree it’s not about the condition it’s how it affects you. But should I be miserable and have no life because I have these conditions? Is that what disabilities are all about? I disagree, everyday I’m fighting to live a normal and healthy life but now I must say I’m incapable of anything. It’s unrealistic.

I’m withdrawing my appeal. They’ve won 🏆

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Comments

  • Bluebell21
    Bluebell21 Online Community Member Posts: 5,202 Championing

    Hi @Kami22 I am so sorry your experience has been so difficult for you.

    Please do not withdraw your appeal it is in your best interest to go ahead with it.

    The tribunal is generally made up of 3 people sitting at a table (the judge, the disability specialist and someone from the DWP)

    The judge is there to listen to both sides of the case, they are impartial and not linked to the DWP at all.

    They will ask you a few questions about your capability to work.

    Please take care.

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,637 Trailblazing

    Please take the weekend to decide if this is really what you want to do.

    You are so close to getting the award that you deserve.

    Do you have any support from Welfare Rights?

    https://advicelocal.uk/

  • Kami22
    Kami22 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
  • Kami22
    Kami22 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener

    thank you, no I do not have any support from welfare.

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,637 Trailblazing

    It might be an idea looking for some local support, before you cancel your Tribunal.

    I know it's so hard when you're unwell, but think how far you've come already ❤️

  • Bydand
    Bydand Online Community Member Posts: 190 Empowering

    Hi,

    I can well imagine how the whole process has made you feel….in this day and age it really shouldn’t be so difficult.

    I can also appreciate how you might just want to wash your hands of the whole thing, that’s completely understandable.

    I can only offer advice, and that would be to continue with the tribunal, you have nothing to lose by doing so and perhaps a lot to gain…..I realise this is easy for myself and others to suggest but you have come this far and I think you may regret not following it through to its natural conclusion, whether that’s a win for you or not.

    Try and concentrate on the tribunal process and work a day at a time towards the date you’ve been given, try not to let the whole process get you down and concentrate on your part.

    Lots of others on here who I am sure will help with any questions you might have and sometimes it’s just good to vent ( in a friendly manner!!)

    Take a bit of time to think about it though.

    S

  • Agnia
    Agnia Online Community Member Posts: 1,450 Connected

    Hi Kami ,

    Please don’t give up

    Please take care

    Kind regards

  • nemesis57
    nemesis57 Online Community Member Posts: 91 Connected

    Hello, I'm new here and just read your post and the brilliant replies. I hope yo don't mind me putting my 2 pence in?

    Please don't let them demoralise you into giving up. They are counting on being able to discourage and intimidate people from receiving the support we need. I was just hit with a similar issue today. I'm terrified, but bloody minded. I will fight them all the way. I even phoned the people im dealing with to tell them i will fight them until my last breatj. Then i will come back and haunt each and every one of them.

    It's not as if we are asking for the moon. They are the unreasonable ones.

    It's not personal, it's red tape and procedure. It does sometimes feel like we are being singled out for this relentless scrutiny and unfair treatment. But it's more likely a lack of empathy and full knowledge of your situation.

    PPleases don't give up. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Every race is hardest as you approach the finish line. You deserve to cross that finish line and claim your prize. It's yours. Don't let them bully you out of getting it.

    Take kind care of yourself😊

  • Dendoo
    Dendoo Online Community Member Posts: 136 Empowering
    edited November 30

    I’m

    Just on the process after putting off for many years . Please don’t give up . From what I can see they do this to most . I’d never of done this years ago I was too scared but now I have fire in my belly. I too get very anxious but I need to use it to fight . I believe you can do phone / video / paper as tribunal also. It’s so sad people are made to feel this bad when they are entitled to it. I hope you change your mind x

    At end of the day they are flesh and blood like the rest of us. They are not better than us . X

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,637 Trailblazing

    I'd caution against a paper tribunal hearing, because the success rate is extremely low.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 3,457 Championing

    I ran out of fight to do my tribunal a few years ago but still tried to 'get there' by phone, which was incredibly difficult for me at that stage. But it was changed to paper based at the last minute. (Someone literally phoned me to say they wouldn't need to phone me!) And I was awarded a higher rate than expected without having to say anything more for myself.

    I suppose you could call that lucky although the damage to my health had already been done by the process at that point.

    I guess the moral of the story though, is that you could now be too close to throw away any chance at the final hurdle.

    The DWP responses and rejection letters are always confrontational, there's really no need to take it personally.

  • cupcake88
    cupcake88 Posts: 1,406 Trailblazing

    hi sorry your going threw this please don’t give up we are all here for you . I know pip is very stressful I have a review coming up and I’m petrified I’ll loose my pip but I deserve it so I’m trying . You deserve it please keep going you can do this .

  • Amaya_Ringo
    Amaya_Ringo Online Community Member Posts: 228 Empowering

    I agree with everyone who says don't give up. Believe me, I understand how traumatic the appeal process is. I understand how dehumanising the responses are and the way in which they try and frame your disability can be very very frustrating. I spent a year challenging my decision, and it was absolute hell. People don't understand unless they've been through it (though a lot of people here have been through it and come out the other side).

    Some people have good experiences at the tribunal itself. I didn't, I had one very unpleasant person at my tribunal. But I won my case and got awarded PIP. And the feeling when that happened was relief, and the sense that everything I had been put through to get there had been worthwhile.

    A large % of people win their tribunals after originally being rejected. The tribunal is not decided by the DWP, it is decided by a judge and, at least in my case, two other people. The DWP may send someone to the tribunal - in my case she just sat and listened to the case and did not intervene.

    You have come this far. Only you know what you can deal with, but if you've reached this point, you've nothing to lose by going to the tribunal.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,395 Championing

    I would urge you not to give up because that's what they want you to do. If you think you can score enough points needed for an award, you should continue. Many people go to Tribunal with zero points and walk away with an award, over 70% in fact. Providing you either appear in person or have a telephone/video hearing.

    The process is never easy and will always be very stressful, even when you don't have to challenge the decision.

    If you didn't continue with the Tribunal now and further down to the line you decide to reapply for PIP, doing so using the same evidence you previously used could see the same outcome as you just had. For this reason Tribunal is always the best option.

  • Kami22
    Kami22 Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener

    unfortunately i have no support from welfare rights. Not sure how to get it or go about it. I struggle with talking due to severe anxiety.

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 1,637 Trailblazing

    I included a link for you to find help

    https://advicelocal.uk/

    Some places might offer an email option.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,395 Championing

    This link will help you find and advice agency that's local to you.

    https://advicelocal.uk/welfare-benefits

  • kreacher
    kreacher Online Community Member Posts: 214 Empowering

    when i was going through the pip process i had great help from the cab, they got me through it to be honest and i had to go through mr, then was ready to go to tribunal but it didn't get that far as they looked at my claim again and changed there minds, so keep fighting and don't give up the fight

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 62,395 Championing

    If I remember correctly the stats for DWP to change the decision and for the hearing to lapse is about 23%.

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 2,773 Championing

    It's so so overwhelming you deserve pip you come this far they may even give you an offer before tribunal hold in there x