From the enhanced mobility allowance with 16 points to standard allowance with 0 points?

Mark_00007

Hi, my name is Mark. I’m 60 years old. I would like to ask anybody if they can help, How will it affect my appeal against the   DWP after a new claim for pip affected my disability award and from enhanced mobility allowance to standard allowance. In June I was awarded 16 points and received the enhanced rate of mobility. After a stay in hospital for two months I filled in a new pip for as required to do as my condition is worsened. After a long time waiting the result went from the enhanced mobility allowance with 16 points to standard allowance with 0 points. 
I cannot attend the court due to my anxiety as it would just be too overwhelming for me to attend. Will this go against me by not going. 
Thanks for any help 

CockneyRebel

Hi @Mark_00007 and welcome

You should seek trained help from an advice agency near you.

The following may be of some use

REPRESENTATION AND ROLES

You can be 

- a representative - you don’t talk for the appellant because they’re there but you do get to outline what award you’re looking for and what the legal case is as well as pick up on any issues the tribunal or appellant miss or misinterpret.

- observer - sits away from the tribunal but you are watching only. You do not and cannot take part.

- witness - you give your own evidence to support the appellants own case. You don’t get to comment on anything else. You watch silently, do your bit and you’re done.

- appellant - the person making the claim being appealed. The only person allowed to present their evidence and answer questions on it unless they have an appointee. 

Most family members struggle to be observers as it’s hard to be silent. They struggle to represent as they don’t know enough of the law, case law or guidance and confuse the role with speaking for the appellant and get shot down in flames to the detriment of the case. They often make poor witnesses as they haven’t been prepared by a rep and want to rehear the whole case instead of focusing on what they know. 

The temptation to talk for any appellant needs to be resisted. You’ll always get people saying “but...

- they’re not articulate.

- they’re nervous.

and many other arguments. Bottom line - nothing makes the case for the consequences of someone’s ill health better than a poorly appellant. 

The other side of having representative is that, as you’ll read on here, people get incredibly stressed with the process; what comes when; what letters mean; what is good evidence; what will happen on the day. A good rep explains all and covers all the bases. It’s typical that people think representation is just about what happens on the day and the outcome. That’s about 10% of what gets done. A good rep should also keep you off web forums (seriously). All your questions should be answered by them. If people come on here because they need answers and they have a rep. that is concerning. 

Now, having said that, tribunals are inquisitorial so it’s perfectly possible to win a case without a rep just as it’s equally possible to lose a case with a rep. However, a badly presented case can win with a decent tribunal but won’t with a poor one People who have won without representation tend to almost always ascribe this to something they did rather than the skill of the tribunal pulling out what was relevant. Having seen tribunals over three decades, including many times as an observer, it’s almost never the case. I’ve never yet heard of anyone unrepresented winning two tribunals for themselves. 

Finally, don’t confuse an organisation with a good reputation as meaning all their reps will be good. Good organisations have bad reps. Reputationally poor organisation have good reps. How can you tell? Walk away from anyone who wants to tell you their success rate? It’s a fave tactic of organisations that charge but also of inexperienced or renegade/boastful reps. That tells you that they’re either lying or cherry picking only cases which are clear cut winners and probably would be anyway with a decent tribunal and without them. Good reps do not guarantee a win but they will take in winnable cases rather than likely winners and they’re the more likely to turn a marginal case into a winner. They’ll also know their law, case law and guidance and be able to cite it but in plain English. 

TRIBUNAL

1 - Concentrate wholly on what you were like on the date of claim.

2 - There are no “trick” questions. Tribunals are usually listed 20 to 40 minutes apart so, apart from the appeal papers, they need questions which cut across lots of functions. So the car question is brilliant because it indicates grip; mobility; dexterity; the ability to do something repeatedly; concentration and stamina. Instead of thinking negatively about such stuff think about what they’re getting at and your answers will be much better and more detailed. Similar questions include whether you’ve been on holiday recently. It feeds into mobility (getting across an airport); stamina; the ability to cope alone; the need for aids and appliances.

3 - There are no set rules or order for a hearing beyind the requirement that it must be seen to be fair. 

4 - Watch the judge’s pen. All 3 members may take notes but only the judge writes a record of proceedings. If you don’t want them to miss anything then remember that they can’t write as fast as you can speak, so watch their pen and slow down. Don’t worry about going too slow. They will tell you if you do.

5 - Never interrupt any tribunal member. It is perfectly okay to challenge them provided it’s not rude or aggressive. However, think about whether what you’re challenging them on is directly related to points. If it’s not then better to focus on points. This is especially important because loads of people second guess the demeanour of tribunal members as determining whether they are pro or against and it’s largely nonsense. An aggressive, challenging member may well just be a poor communicator and wholly on your side right up to the point you challenge them etc.

6 - Get yourself a representative and travel to the venue by whatever means makes you feel comfortable. It’s only ever an issue if you don’t explain what you did in full and if doing so contradicts your other evidence in some way for daily living and /or mobility.

7 - Same goes for clothes. You need to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. If you’re not relaxed then the likelihood of you presenting well are much reduced. Dressing down is not a good idea unless that all you can afford. A person who feels naked without make-up or a suit and tie will similarly be over stressed if they try to pretend they’re in their comfort zone dressing down. 

8 - Other people’s tribunal experience can be valuable but it’s just that. Their experience. If they lost then it’s the tribunal to blame. If they win they everything they did is why they won and what you must do. The truth is usually very much in between.

9 - Know your case. What points are you going for and why. What’s your evidence? “The HCP was a liar” is neither evidence nor a winning strategy. Also, know the appeal papers. What’s where. 

10 - Do not be tempted to claim you’ve worsened since the date of claim. That’s a recipe for a failed appeal and an invitation to make another claim. Even if you have got worse always concentrate on your date of claim and what you were like then.

Mark_00007

Thank you, that’s very a interesting read. 

madquasimodo

The car point is valid, but its a problem too, disabled people get mobility to help with getting around, as stated the very fact you drive means you have certain key skills working. I would disagree with no trick questions, been to 3 courts.
1,the disability specialist in the first picked every single problem to pieces the advisor I had with me could not believe it, "she took a dislike to you" was his words outside. I had a large hernia problem and limited movement in my wrist due to breaking it badly and struggled with toilet needs, was told to "Learn to wipe like a girl"
2nd one the doctor spoke and spent the next 15min firing questions over and over repeating them, in my view he was trying to see if the answers changed or a mistake would be slipped in, he was rude and aggressive. 
3rd one the Judge did most of the talking, took the view you arrived so no problems with mobility, you seemed fine and walked into court, doctor asked one question about medication, disability specialist never spoke, very short and never went though any of the forms and was totally uninterest with the DWP not using medical report.

One thing, your age I have thoughts that the DWP are looking at people and casting a critical eye over awards near to retirement age, should you be awarded something once you turn 65 that's all you will get, you have one year to appeal and try and get it reinstated, but once you turn 65 you cannot get enhanced award unless you already have it, so its fixed whatever you have at 65 that's all you will get. For some reason they dislike mobility and pensioners, my neighbour had his taken, it knocked him back and he never was the same again, he did need it but just before he turned 65 they took mobility, he tried but the local CAB were not much help and he couldn't get it back.

Get help, I hope your CAB is better than mine, try to find an advisor to help with preparing, I would try and attend even if you need help from the doctor (meds)

wilko

Hello posters, having got I presume enhanced mobility and basic care your conditions had worsened so you rightly informed DWP about your changes in the hope of getting enhanced care and keeping the enhanced mobility. In situations like these it’s better to not rock the boat without seeking  professional advice as to many report changes and lose what they had and then have to go through the MR and Tribunal process without the benefit, which is back dated if you win your MR or win your Tribunal hearing. It’s a lot to lose and can’t be taken for granted that you will get the enhanced care or mobility award.