Pip tribunal

JeanieHarmieson107

Hi any advice? Went to tribunal running later well over a hour and half I was nervous wreck I think panel so see that plus represensive said it was to near so couldn't represent is so I was on me own

Judge mentioned about points could be taken away so judge seen I was in a state she asked if I wanted more time and asked if I needed to get advice told me to go out. When I was called back in she asked if I thought if I needed more time, I think my face said it all cause I was crippled with pain and haven't slept for weeks leading up to it so I agreed, judge says I would get another date but then says for me to sign to ask for medical records saying what my disabilitys and summary from go and documents from hops

what do you think I don't think I could go through that again any advice would be grateful Jean 

mikehughescq

1) You appear to have had a rep. who didn't materialise. Go back and ask that they continue as your rep but this time ensure that you give them sufficient notice of the hearing and ensure that HMCTS understand that you do not consent to a hearing with less than 14 days notice. They;ve given you a second bite of the cherry so grab it with both hands. 

2) HMCTS do not like adjournments so there always needs to be a justification. Getting GP records offers that and can also provide lots of useful information. If that includes what your diagnosis is though then that must have been a very poorly completed claim pack.

JeanieHarmieson107

Thanks but they had evidence from GPS consultants from hosp so couldn't understand why ask for more and do u mean what information I sent in to get an appeal jean

JeanieHarmieson107

Could any body advice where I could go or ring to see if I could get another represent ice 

JeanieHarmieson107

Pip tribunals 

markyboy

If going to a tribunal causes you this much stress you are best to write down your medical problems and how it affects your daily life also get medical reports and send all these to the court and ask for a paper hearing where the tribunal will look at your case and make a decision without you being there,
You can get help from the citizens advice on how to submit your paperwork

mikehughescq

GP records are far more comprehensive than a letter.

@markyboy a paper hearing is a poor idea. Overall PIP appeal success rates are 69%. Paper hearings the rate falls to about 3 to 5%. 

NannyG

Hi Jeanie, I am new here and I just wanted to share my experience of my successful PIP appeal. I've read a lot of threads and visited numerous forums and they all say different things and sometimes this can be confusing to say the least, as you hear horror stories which I can imagine only adds to an already stressed situation. it looks like you will have to go back and do it all again, and this won't take away the stress..do you have a family member that could go with you, also make sure all of your evidence paperwork is in order and get it sent off beforehand. It has been suggested that you write everything down on how you condition/s effect you daily and take it with you so you can read from it. I was all prepared with that but I didn't need it, but you will feel better for having it there.I do wish you the best of luck and try not to worry too much..  

Matilda

Try to get some f2f advice from CAB or similar.

Disability Rights UK site has a good guide to PIP appeals.  And they publish their own Disability Rights Handbook which has a good section on tribunal appeals. £18.50 from their website or might be available in your local public library reference section.

Tribunals are supposed to be inquisitorial - the panel are there to find out what you can and can't do.

Laura99

I can sense that you are very, very anxious.

Ask CAB for help in finding a new representative.

When you go to your adjourned appeal, remembet the panel are not the DWP, nor do they represent the DWP. They are there to assess what you can and can't do.

A paper appeal is not a good idea. Bite the bullet and go for it.

I have recently had my appeal and although I was very frightened, it was not a bad experience at all.

It was successful and I have just received a year's worth of PIP as a result.

Yadnad

Laura99 said:

I can sense that you are very, very anxious.

Ask CAB for help in finding a new representative.

When you go to your adjourned appeal, remembet the panel are not the DWP, nor do they represent the DWP. They are there to assess what you can and can't do.

A paper appeal is not a good idea. Bite the bullet and go for it.

I have recently had my appeal and although I was very frightened, it was not a bad experience at all.

It was successful and I have just received a year's worth of PIP as a result.

I telephoned a local welfare rights charity (not CAB or AgeUK as tried them already - too busy) in 2013 to see if they would look over my PIP2 on transferring to PIP from PIP. They were quite clear that they did not have the time but could suggest a representative to do the work and he would charge a % of the annual PIP award. If it was refused at Tribunal then there would be no fee.

Suffice it to say that I refused point blank to get involved with that shenanigan.  

Laura99

That is awful. How dare they try to charge you.

I think you were quite right not to get involved in that.

I live in a council property and here the council employs a welfare rights worker. Having her by my side helped me enormously. She also wrote a submission to the panel for me.

I actually wrote my own detailed submission and sent it in to the tribunal (by recorded delivery) a month before the hearing. I was able to list the points I wanted to make and I attached a doctor's letter.

Most of my tribunal was based on my submission and I did get points for the things I suggested. 

I do understand that it is very frightening but try to say to yourself, 'What's the worst that can happen?'

They DWP is being shown up time and time again now. Almost 70% of tribunals are successful and that figure is rising. They must urgently be reviewing their assessment process.

I found my PIP home assessment nerve-racking and got no points for anything, which made me feel like a liar.

Fortunately the tribunal doctor and disability worker did not agree and I got the standard rate for daily living PIP and it was awarded from a year previously.

I did write in my submission that I had felt that the initial assessor had made me feel that I was a liar. This is a very common reaction by disabled people who get a refusal. We have enough to worry about without having this chaos about PIP.

I do feel for you.

mikehughescq

Some great companies with massive knowledge would not exist if they could not charge. Some companies exist because of widescale job losses in the advice sector. Some are very dodgy indeed but it’s a leap to conclude that all charging means a company is somehow unacceptable. Most of us think advice should be free but that’s not always practical.

I am aware of one company whose case selection could be described as cherry picking and whose attempt to charge a three figure sum to return appeal papers to a client who wanted to go elsewhere, when the client could have got another set for free from HMCTS, was “interesting”.