I'm going to tribunal, and am at my wit's end.

CMM

Hi Tory...i understand why and agree you cutting out that part. My social media language is not quite there yet( i got told off on Facebook last year).My tribunal was like they had  pulled a fast one on me, but i think the damage was done at the PIP assessment. I wonder though because on  November 2020 my Uni Cred work capability assessment tribunal was held via phone(the assessment was Feb 2019 and what with the backlog and Covid 19 i had to wait 20 or so months) and i was awarded 15 points and LCW would this have swayed the judgement at the PIP tribunal?.

CMM

Thanks for the reply,...it is a judge and not the DWP as i mistakenly typed.

calcotti

CMM said:

Thanks for the reply,...it is a judge and not the DWP as i mistakenly typed.

CMM said:.. as it turned out the DWP person judge who sat in the middle was the best even though she just asked questions.

And that is exactly what a good judge should do. Ask questions to seek out information to help fill in gaps in the evidence and to address inconsistencies. The role of a tribunal is inquisitorial (rather than adversarial as seen in court procedures).

justjoe

Verbal communication is an issue though - it's literally part of the diagnostic criteria and a positive diagnosis indicates significant difficulty with social communication. I'm going to email my CAB enabler to ask a few questions - I can see me pulling out but if I don't fight this appalling system then DWP will continue to abuse autistics and more of us will die. I wish the Oliver McGowan training extended to DWP staff too (not that I've noticed a difference in NHS or social services yet but I live in hope) because they haven't got the foggiest idea of how incredibly difficult it is to get a point across without being labelled rude, arrogant etc when really I'm terrified because I have nearly a half century of unresolved trauma due to this late diagnosis. High intelligence doesn't improve my capabilities in the slightest because I'm expected to just 'try harder', 'know better' etc but often the issue is with the other person's perception. I could waffle all day about the psychology of communication and explain double empathy to the nth degree but it wouldn't make a chuff's difference. Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Done for, am I not?