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Worried I can't cope with an appeal
Bevers1959
Member Posts: 56 Connected
Hi ope u can help i have border line bi polar ,and suffer from ptsd through childhood abuse ,i ad pip assessment and had all my benefits stopped, i work 24hrs a wk ,i asked for mr and sent evidence from doc and phycologist , explaining my condition and that my work was helping me as i would otherwise be isolated, i have been advised to appeal, and also lodge a complaint about the assesor as all she asked was do i drive ,did u have one meal a day and how many hrs i worked ,i am worried about appealing as the stress it will cause ope someone can advise and help
Replies
If you're struggling and worried about appealing, it might be worth having a look at the Advicelocal website to see if there are any organisations near you who could possibly help.
It's so hard coping with all this benefits **** on top of coping with what you need the benefits for in the first place!
So frustrating having to appeal, so sorry it's a nightmare. But more appeals are won than lost and you are not alone xx
I know it doesn't feel like it sometimes but there is support out there. Have you made contact with any charities?
Scope have really helped us sort benefits out... And even yesterday our Universal Credit payments ACTUALLY went into our bank account.
Or age UK are great at supporting people over 50 (worth calling even if you are younger)
Mind the mental health charity are good.
If you can get help... And if you can't come back on here and us lot could find phone numbers or links etc to help.
But most of all, there is hope. There are so many bad news stories about benefits and they have to be told... But they create so much fear and anxiety.
It is possible to fight the benefits system and win. We are getting the help we need right now and I was in your (if you know what I mean) position about 3 years ago. It's been on the up since.
Sounds like the assessor was dodgy... Have you written down everything you can remember about the assessment? Might help.
Keep us updated xxx
"I'm trying to live like a random poem I read that ended 'to bloom where we are planted"
It takes time and money for the health professionals who are already over worked. The accessors ive seen don't seem to care about how stressful this is. One accessor told me she was going to terminate the interview as I asked for a supportive chair then one at the appeal asked why wouldn't I go through with an operation that only had a 14percent success the 86perc I would be paralysed.. I never asked to be this way I worked 3 jobs until I was struck down by these disabilities.My husband takes care of these letters I find it overwhelming and sink into a dark place...I'm glad I have found scope it will give me hope.thank you. I can see others stressing about this judgemental application to appeals.
@Bevers1959 thats great you have an appointment!
Yeah like I siad, some good support makes such a difference. Even if is just us lot on here reassuring us.
Because you are right @debbien, we have none of us asked for this situation. I suspect most if not all of us would be rather out working and earning our living. Our lives ow are about surviving each day, dealing with pain, disibility and mental health problems which is much harder work!
It does sound @debbbien like your situation is complicated, with lots of evidenve and issues. That will take time initially but once you are on PIP you can leave benefits for a while and get some life back.
We had PIP decision last year and ESA and Universal Credit back this week and its becoming sorted. Its taken some real stress to get it sorted but I guess I just wa red to say that it will be worth it.
Mean while dotry and put it to the back of your mind. Easier said than done I know but, do you have any hobbies or stuff sin your spare time you enjoy?
"I'm trying to live like a random poem I read that ended 'to bloom where we are planted"
I once had a free rep (solicitor & professor of law) from the local university law school take my case to a Tribunal which was in respect of the level of Council Tax Benefit that should have been allowed.
It was a fantastic 2 hours in court - I never uttered a word leaving it up to my rep to do all of the arguing. He tied both the woman Judge and the rep for the Council up in knots. It ended up with the Judge reaching for her law books and by the end the table looked like a library. I won (how and why I have no idea) and saved over £3000 in Council Tax payments over a 3 year period.
So yes professional and experienced reps are worth their weight in gold.
How do they get away with that behaviour. or are they enforced encouraged to squeeze the last penny of us. regardless of the evidence or truth.
In a fair world lots would be demoted sacked or retrained. with their past results rechecked. well thats dreaming again no chance. one law for the rich do not pay tax. but make sure we are kept under the cosh
That's why the most successful wrongdoers out there all live in mansions and high class postcode areas.
If you do have a read of this https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/375631/legal-aid-reform-faq.pdf
It's been the case since Harold managed to get his eye shot out at the Battle of Hastings in 1066AD. Anybody and everybody that backed William were given huge tracts of valuable land in return for their help in getting hold of the English Crown.
Money and power is the only way to succeed - you only have to look at Russia today and see how many ordinary Russians managed to become so wealthy.