I am hoping for some good advice on PIP appeals.

Audrey60

Evening all, I am very new to all of this and I am hoping for some good advice on PIP appeals.

Many, many thanks

Audrey

CockneyRebel

hello Audrey and welcome

Can you tell us a little more ?
Have you had an MR ?
Have you asked for a copy of the assesment report ?

There is plenty of info on here regarding the appeals process, please have a look round and come back with your questions

CR

steve51

Hi @Audrey60

Good Evening & Welcome.

We have got lots of info & advice on “pip”

We also have “Benefit Advisors”

Please please let me know if I can help you further?????

Many thanks.

Audrey60

Hi CockneyRebel

I shall try and be brief and to the point as possible.

I was awarded standard rate for both awards originally, Daily Living 8 points and Mobility Activities 10 points. I asked for a MR at a later date but got awarded the same scores.

I have filled in the correct forms and started the appeal, I have received the bundle back from DWP about a week ago. The only evidence I have from them is the stuff included in the bundle. So do I specifically need to contact the DWP again ask for a copy of my MR assesment report?

I am getting help from my son and have spoke to our local CAB. Specifically I just want advice on what to do next and the best way of going about things, I strongly disagree with a lot of what has been said by the medical examiner i find it disgusting the assumptions they make and disregard they show for your disabilities and medical problems.

Many thanks

Audrey

CockneyRebel

Hi Audrey
You should have a copy of the assessment report in the bundle. if not then you should ask for it

You are not alone with the result of your assessment.
While it is important to address these issues, doing so will not score you the points you deserve.
In your submission try and concentrate on showing that you meet the criteria for an award.
Use the bundle to reference each point that you are challenging. Lead the reader to the page and paragraph that shows this. Often it is not the lack of evidence but the way it is read (or not ) so try and make it idiot proof

Any complaint should be dealt with as a separate matter to the assessment provider.
The tribunal is only interested in how your condition affects your functionality and they are not interested in persuing bad assessors

It is good that you have help, f2f advice from CAB is better than anything we can do on the forum, although there is lots of info on here to help

Please do have a read and come back with any questions

CR

Audrey60

Hi CockneyRebel

Yes I do have a copy of the assessment now that my son has looked thru the bundle again, so much paperwork i was getting confused with all the terms.

I have got lots of notes wrote down and things highlighted where i disagree with what the examiner has said or has decided I can do. I am pretty certain I can back up what I have to say. I am currently waiting to hear back from my GP for some proper supporting evidence as for the MR he only provided a list of my medication and a list of all the conditions and procedures that I have had done.

In terms of the Submission itself it that me just summarising everything, things which I believe to be the truth etc? 

When do I send the submission in?

I have also read elsewhere it could be good to get a close family member to write a letter or my partner who is my carer to just set out what they see every day or I should write a diary of what I go thru in a week as evidence for the appeal. Does that sound about right?

I have been to see the CAB once the lady helped me fill the appeal form in as the time scale had lapsed the appeal was late but that was thru the DWP not doing things properly and telling me as little as possible. It is mainly my son who is helping me and researching things for me.

Thanks 

Audrey

CockneyRebel

Hi Audrey

You can send your submission as soon as you are happy with it
It is a good idea to keep and then send a daily diary showing how you are over a week
Any letters or testamonials from familly and friends can help as will a specific GP's letter detailin the problems you hav with the descriptors

The formula I use for appeal is as follows

Write a brief history of your claim and condition

Write the desciptors that you agree with and the points awarded

Take each desccriptor in turn, give the points awarded then the points that should have been awarded

using the bundle, reference each descriptor to the page and paragraph that shows how you meet the criteria. Each page should have a hand written number to use this. If the HCP didn't take into accout the reliability factors then make sure that you do

Attach your further evidence to the back with your name and NIN and also reference to these in the same way
You may well be referencing to the same place for more than one descriptor as some activities do overlap. Lead the reader to the exact place so they cannot fail to find the right evidence. Make it idiot proof

Write a brief summary totaling the points you should have received and the award that corresponds

This is only my opinion but I have used it successfully an 8 appeals to date

There is also lots of info on here about the process and I am sure that other members will also have advice for you

Best of luck. Please ask any questions and let us know how you get on

CR

Audrey60

Evening CockneyRebel

Thanks a million for taking time out of your day to summarise that as well as you have done. Your insight has been really appreciated and helpful so far. I am sure there will be many other questions along the way too. I will most certainly ask them when I need too. 

Thanks again

Audrey

felix

Hi Audrey 

I'm new here too, and the guys on here seem nice chaps!

The advice above is exactly what I would tell you. Try not to get too worries about all the paperwork, set aside a folder or somewhere where you can pop it all so that you know it's all together and that'll help make yo feel less snowed under. They do seem to be buggers at sending loads of trees to people to stress us out!!

Online, citizens advice bureau have step by step instructions and advice on all aspects of claiming. If you get stuck, have a wee look on there  

Good luck with your claim hun  xxx

AlexW_Scope

Hi @Audrey60 and @felix

You may also find our videos on PIP appeals useful too!

Best wishes, Alex

felix

@Audrey60 job done, listen to the scope guys like @alexwhite !!

Here if you have any more questions and I feel I can answer them.

felix xx

Audrey60

Evening felix and alexwhite

They do send a lot of paperwork, I have done exactly that I keep all my bits and pieces in a particular file. I will look at the videos as soon as I get a chance. The more help the better, I am so pleased I joined this forum it seems like a very valuable way of getting some really good advice and help.

Along the way I am sure I will have lots of questions and will certainly ask them.

Thanks a million

Audrey

Audrey60

Afternoon everyone,

I am just starting to think about exactly what I am going to put in my submission and how to lay things off. I have been unwell lately so need to put some effort in and try and get back on track. Quick question to start with I am going to write a weekly diary for the submission would a letter of support from my partner who is my career or another family member be a good idea or would help?

Thank as always

Audrey

CockneyRebel

Good afternoon Audrey

Testamonials from friends and family that know you and how your condition affects you on a daily basis are always helpful.

CR

Audrey60

Evening CockneyRebel thanks for your valued advice as always. I am only asking as I have read having a family member who see's how you are on a daily basis writing on your behalf will help show another perspective. I didn't know so much had to go into these submissions. Understandably I am taking my time and trying to get things as thorough and to the point as possible.

Thanks Audrey

Audrey60

Evening,

For the weekly diary that I have wrote is it just a case of writing 7 days Monday to Sunday or am I best of also putting the dates of the week it corresponds to?

Thanks

Audrey 

mobbba

Hi All.....I have my PIP appeal on 7th March 2018.   I am 68 years old. I had a bad time on my assessment, lies told and things missed off, painting a different picture of me. 

Anyway its close to an end now, its taken 14 months to get here, so feeling mighty stressed.  A question:  I have an advocate, a Solicitor who is attending my appeal with me.  She has not done my submission yet and I am really worried.  I dont want to bother her, as I am sure she knows the system, but will the court accept the submission if it is late?  My bundle consists of 257 pages which I feel needs obvoulsly condensing into the major points.  I cannot do this in this short space of time, can anyone help me calm down ?

CockneyRebel

Hi mobbba and welcome

Sorry but you are running out of time. Your submission needs to be with the tribunal 7 days before the hearing

CR

mobbba

Hi Cockney Rebel, thank you.  I have just plucked up the courage to ring the Advocate.  She has told me her submission goes to the court either on the day or the day before.  I mentioned the seven days, her answer was she has a 98% success rate and has never had a problem highlighting the points of law relating to a PIP case before.

I am worrying as I like to do everything by the book and worry uncontrollably about everything.

Do I just leave it???

CockneyRebel

How much of your submission bundle is the DWP' s case ?
What  I mean is out of the 267 pages how much has the tribunal allready got access to ?
There is no way a tribunal will be able to read that ammount on the day and any new evidence should be available to the DWP to read before hand.
However , if you advocate has condensed your case to two pages of bullet points referenced to the bundle it should be fine
As you have an advocate that you trust then I cannot tell you not to trust them and 98% is a great success rate

try not to worry, there is little more you can do now

CR

mobbba

Thank you.  The Tribunal has all the 267 pages of the bundle. My appeal has taken 10 months so they have had them some time now, apart from recent evidence from hospital, after my recent relapse and breathlessness.

My Advocate is condensing the main points.

Thank you again.