PIP tribunal completed

rosie118 · January 2022

So I had my PIP tribunal yesterday afternoon.

A couple of things to note that threw me (especially as I am autistic).
1. I got a call prior to the tribunal. It was due to start at 2pm and I got a call at 1:40pm to go through if I had the pack, if I was ready and who would be with me on the call. I didn't expect this so sharing for others who also may not know.
2. My partner (who was listed from the beginning of the process as my representative, was not allowed to talk or even prompt me. I had been told by others that she would be able to talk with me, but it was made very clear that if she even prompted or reminded me of anything, that my 'evidence' would not count.

They did listen more than the previous calls and guided me rather than accused me, which was nice. They treated me like a disabled person struggling, rather than a normal person claiming to be disabled. It was less about whether I struggle at all, and more about whether it fits the specific descriptors and they made that clear throughout. Hard to explain but the whole tone of the call was a huge shift to the ones with the DWP. I actually felt respected and like they valued my insight into my life, so they could make the correct decision.

Unsure what the outcome will be but I am very relieved to be out the other side of a 10 month PIP process!

I am sure people on here know better than me but google seems to think I'll get the letter within a few days (the judge said 7-10) so i'll update this post with the outcome.

calcotti · January 2022

rosie118 said: My partner (who was listed from the beginning of the process as my representative, was not allowed to talk or even prompt me. I had been told by others that she would be able to talk with me, ..

Whoever advised you that was indeed mistaken. Tribunals want to hear from the claimant. I think Mike made this clear in your previous thread when he said "A rep. Is not allowed to speak for you, because after all you will be there,.."
https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/87335/pip-tribunal-date-confirmed#latest

Glad to hear that you found

rosie118 said:..the whole tone of the call was a huge shift to the ones with the DWP. I actually felt respected and like they valued my insight into my life, so they could make the correct decision.

That is how it should be. A tribunal is inquisitorial and wants to obtain information it needs to enable it to make a decision.

I hope you get an appropriate award.

Karawen · January 2022

Thanks for the update @rosie118 it's useful.

I have my tribunal on the 08/02/22 so it's nice to hear of someone else's experience so thank you.

Good luck and I hope its a positive outcome for you!

rosie118 · January 2022

Username_removed said:

You were actually advised the exact opposite of what you assert above re: representation and in some detail as I was the person who did it. See https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/87335/pip-tribunal-date-confirmed#latest

Google is not and never should be a source of advice. Your decision will have been made on the day and dictated over the phone to the clerk who will have put it in the post the same day.

With all due respect, as I really appreciate your advice, you are the 'google' I speak of. By google I just meant information found online, whether that be government pages, charities or people like yourself. So I'm unsure why you are annoyed that I listened to others on the internet as well as yourself? I have no reason to believe you are the over riding authority on PIP tribunals? Many people told me contradicting information. Though appreciate you were correct and I am very thankful for your responses. I don't mean this response in a funny way, just unsure why I should have known that you were right and other 'google' found people were wrong.
Also to note - my partner was listed as a representative on the paper work.

@Karawen Thank you! I thought I would have closure after the tribunal but I think I just need to know the outcome and then move forward whatever it is.

rosie118 · January 2022

Just wanted to come back to say that I was successful with my tribunal!
I can't believe the amount of stress I have gone through to get to this point and nearly retracted my appeal so many times.
Thanks so much to this forum and everyone on it for the support. Over the (ten) months I have spent countless hours on here. Learning and above else just feeling less alone.
Thanks all