Hi, my name is MagpieTFL! I have a PIP tribunal next month and I'm worried about it.

MagpieTFL

I am new here, Hi,

I have a PIP tribunal next month and I'm worried about it. I feel completely dismissed and traumatised by the DWP and the MH person who did the telephone assessment. I have recently been diagnosed with ASD, should I inform the tribunal of this prior? Has anyone had any experience with what to do to prepare for it? I've waited for so long for a date and now I'm freaking out…

Holly_Scope

Hi @MagpieTFL and welcome to the online community 🙂

This is something that comes up a lot and there's many people on here who've had similar experiences, with a lot of great knowledge so I've no doubt you'll receive some advice from other members imminently.

I hope you don't mind but I've added a bit of detail to your post title just to help others find it. I hope that's ok!

All the best,

Holly.

Morgan_Scope

Hello @MagpieTFL and welcome to the community.

PIP isn't about diagnosis but it might be helpful to put a name to some of the things you'll have written about on your form by sharing your diagnosis with them.

A few things I've found helpful with PIP tribunals:

1. Practising what you want to say: You don’t need to memorise anything, but it might help to think about the key points you want to cover. If you're nervous about speaking, it might be useful to have a friend or family member practice with you.
2. Bringing someone with you: You’re allowed to bring a friend, family member, or even a representative to support you during the tribunal, if that would help you feel more comfortable.
3. Being honest about your feelings: The tribunal members are there to listen, and they need to understand how your condition(s) affects you.

Most importantly, try to remember that you’re not alone and feeling overwhelmed or nervous about the tribunal is a common experience. Try and take it one step at a time and be kind to yourself.