My Successful PIP Appeal – What I Learned & How I Prepared and how £20 helped me win!

Angelmaker30 · February 14

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my PIP tribunal experience to help others who might be going through the same thing. I was initially awarded 0 points for both daily living and mobility, but after appealing, I was awarded Enhanced Daily Living and Standard Mobility for 5 years. The process was frustrating and exhausting, but I hope my experience can help others.

🔹 My Situation & Why I Appealed

I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, chronic fatigue, and mobility difficulties.
My original PIP assessment ignored key evidence, misrepresented things I said, and even included completely incorrect information (e.g., they claimed I was a keen fisherman when I had actually said I used to keep aquariums but had to stop due to my condition).
The DWP also argued that because I drive, I must be able to walk long distances, which is legally incorrect and contradicted by case law.
I knew I had to challenge the decision because it did not reflect my reality.

🔹 How I Prepared for My Tribunal & What Worked Best

✅ I Took My Time & Prepared a Detailed Written Response

The biggest piece of advice I can give is prepare a written response to the DWP’s arguments before your hearing.
I systematically went through their decision and explained what was incorrect, what they ignored, and how my condition actually affects me.
This meant that when my brain fog was bad during the hearing, I could ask them to refer to my responseinstead of struggling to recall everything.

✅ I Used Case Law to Challenge the DWP’s Arguments

I found out that the Upper Tribunal had already ruled that driving does NOT prove someone can walk long distances (MH v SSWP [2020]).
By mentioning this in my response, I was able to counter one of the DWP’s key arguments before the tribunal even had to ask me about it.

✅ I Used ChatGPT Plus to Help Structure My Response & Prepare for Questions

I paid for a 1-month subscription to ChatGPT Plus and used it to help structure my written response, refine my arguments, and anticipate tribunal questions.
I still made sure everything was in my own words and that it reflected my experience honestly.
The tribunal clearly read my submission carefully, which helped them make their decision more easily.

✅ I Reviewed the DWP’s Bundle in Detail & Found Their Mistakes

I discovered that the DWP claimed they called me twice during my Mandatory Reconsideration, but I had no missed calls or voicemails.
I took a screenshot of my call history and submitted this as evidence.
This showed the tribunal that the DWP did not properly review my case before rejecting my appeal.

✅ I Stayed Honest & Fair About My Limitations

I was fully prepared to argue for Enhanced Mobility, but on reflection, I felt that Standard Mobility was actually fair because I can still walk short distances, even with pain and instability.
I think this honesty helped me come across as credible.

🔹 What Happened at the Tribunal?

The panel had clearly read my response—the doctor on the panel even made a lighthearted joke referencing my previous job as an intelligence analyst, which was only mentioned in my written submission.
They thanked me for being so well-prepared, saying it made their jobs easier.
I struggled with brain fog during the hearing, but because I had a structured response, I could refer them back to my written arguments rather than panicking.
They awarded me Enhanced Daily Living (13 points) and Standard Mobility (8 points) for 5 years.

🔹 My Advice to Others Appealing PIP

1️⃣ Prepare a Written Response – Go through the DWP’s reasoning and explain exactly where they got it wrong. If you struggle with brain fog or anxiety, this will be your safety net in the hearing.

2️⃣ Use Case Law & DWP Guidelines Against Them – The tribunal will respect legal precedent more than DWP assumptions (e.g., driving ≠ mobility).

3️⃣ Call Out Mistakes in Your Mandatory Reconsideration – If the DWP ignored evidence or mishandled your MR, make it known to the tribunal.

4️⃣ Be Honest About Your Limitations – Stick to what is true for you, rather than what you think will get you the most points.

5️⃣ Consider Getting Support – Whether it’s ChatGPT, a benefits advisor, or just someone to help organize your thoughts, don’t feel like you have to do it all alone.

🔹 Final Thoughts

The PIP system is frustrating, and the DWP makes far too many mistakes, but the tribunal process CAN be fairif you go in prepared. If you’re in the middle of your appeal, don’t give up! If you have any questions, I’m happy to share more about my experience.

Santosha12 · February 14

@Angelmaker30 thank you for sharing your experience, I can't reply fully right now but just wanted to say that and pleased that you were so rightfully awarded, I have been through the Tribunal process too (was awarded). Your comment regarding fisherman vs having an aquarium...... what can I say, like saying I ran Crufts because I have a dog. Dear me. I know very well the frustration and exhaustion and commend very highly how you've articulated and handled it in a non-emotive manner.

Rosie_Scope · February 14

Thanks for sharing such a detailed account of your experience @Angelmaker30 I know lots of people will find this useful to read 😊

Angelmaker30 · February 14

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/984127#Comment_984127

Thank you, I hope it might give others a few ideas and maybe some hope.

Angelmaker30 · February 14

Thank you. If it helps one person it was totally worth it.

egister · February 15

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/129589/my-successful-pip-appeal-what-i-learned-how-i-prepared-and-how-20-helped-me-win

To defeat the DWP now, a disabled person will need to be an intelligence analyst; when the next Prime Minister comes, a disabled person will probably have to be James Bond))

Congratulations on your victory!

Holly_Scope · February 15

@Angelmaker30 thank you so much for sharing this - really insightful.

sben · February 19

PIP might be changing into a new/different benefit, which might be a lot harder to apply and claim.

I am having great difficulty with tribunals.

I have not been heard, and my health and disabilities are getting a lot worse.

tifo · February 19

excellent post …

i think they got me on the driving, saying i can drive a manual car (i actually had an automatic).

Mary_Scope · February 19

This is a great post @Angelmaker30. Thank you for sharing your experience!