Hi, my name is lcc!

lcc

I am waiting for appeal date for tribunal for PIP, I was let down by my legal rep 3 days before the hearing date and no luck finding anyone else as of yet. I have got the how to win appeal document need to read through it but i think my reasons are down to assessor told pack of lies and missed stuff out.  I have osteoarthritis and said as I wear supports I don't need help. I cannot get my head around DWP ignoring all my evidence and I am very very daunted at prospect of going to appeal alone, I have no letter to submit why I am appealing or no idea how to do it dont know if submitting diary sheets will make it easier on the day for me. Any tips or advice?

poppy123456

Hi,
You need to forget what the assessor said because you can prove anything. It’s their opinion based on everything you sent and what you said during the assessment. That’s all in the past now. 

Concentrating on the report could damage your case. 

What you need to do is state where and why you think you should have scored those points. Include a couple of real world incidents of what happened the last time you attempted that activity. Adding information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. 

Any extra evidence you have should be sent to HMCTS rather than take it with you on the day.

poppy123456

Have a read of this https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/87932/pip-tribunal-representation/p1

Libby_Alumni

Hello @lcc,

Welcome to the community and thank you for your comment.

I'm sorry to hear about your previous legal representative, but it sounds as you're being really proactive with seeking support for the tribunal event.

Both @Teddybear12 and @poppy123456 have offered some great suggestions and I hope they're helpful for you. I can only really add with some other resources that might help with the tribunal process. Please see them below:

• Challenging a DWP decision | Disability charity Scope UK
• Challenging a PIP decision - the tribunal hearing - Citizens Advice
  

I hope the above help and please do let us know if you have any further questions.

It would be great if you could keep us updated on the process and we'll speak to you soon.

Libby

lcc

Hi trying figure out how to reply say thank you so much. 

lcc

Thats fab. Not been on anythink like this so trying figure it all out. I was told use mandatory review letter n add to it but your info makes more sense to me. 

lcc

Hi, I would like to say a massive thank you, I was literally doing an updated version of mandatory request and trying to figure out reasons for scoring and never thought about doing examples of recent events and feel doing this will also help reduce the amount of questions as I have learning difficulties processing information at normal pace and understanding things that are not very clear or too much information I am overwhelmed. I was basing my letter of appeal on the assessors lies and not taking notice of OT letters and assessment outcomes rather than this is me and here are examples focus.  My friend who has witnessed me before and after arthritis in my hands has seen me in the intial stage when it first started and I thought I had strained my hands on the first day of swelling and inflamation, would it be worth getting a witness statement from her as she actually saw me shout out in pain trying to cut up my apple and had to lift my pan of pasta off the hob and strain and wash it, stuff like that on kind of day 1 and over time seen it affect me in different ways. My knee arthritis been there couple of years before, got specialist chair and wear knee support/warmers and use taxis when it is cold. Used to get lifts off colleagues as only 5 mins drive from work and I don't drive but since covid majority of people working from home permanent now so my manager suggested ATW for cold days as I only going back 1 day for now and 2 days in the future the other 3 from home. I work reduced  hours of 30 hours and super flex time and support plan at workplace. Would the ATW taxi to work support my mobility, my issue is cold affects my arthritis in knees, feet and hands and in feet and hands walking is painful and hard feels like ice in my knees, and also I cannot tolerate the cold standing around bus stops and walking up gradiant and stairs affect it outdoors too.  I have some hearing impairment but can hear face to face if people facing me and cannot wear hearing aids due to aggravating my psoraisis on my scalp and round ears and inner ear. Any suggestions what to say about this and is it worth focusing on this?

poppy123456

You do not need any witness statements because you're not on trial at the Tribunal.

Some of your understanding of the descriptors isn't quite correct. For preparing a meal it's about using fresh ingredients and opening packaging. Carry pots/pans and using an oven is not considered in this activity.

For the moving around part of mobility it's not about using steps/stairs or driving. It's about walking outside, on a flat surface. It's about how far you're able to walk, regularly, reliably. Standing at bus stops isn't considered with this activity either.

PIP also isn't about your ability to work, people claim PIP and work.

Remember that PIP is about how your affected the majority of the time over a 12 month period.

This maybe helpful. https://pipinfo.net/

lcc

Thank you. Im not panicing about legal rep n just need get stuff across relevant and exclude unnucessary facts n waffle. Ill work on this next few days anychance i could send to you for feedback??? 

poppy123456

lcc said:

Ill work on this next few days anychance i could send to you for feedback??? 

I'm sorry but i don't advise anyone through private message because i just don't have the time to do that. I volunteer my time here as and when i can.

You're more than welcome to post on the community what you've wrote and i'm sure someone will advise you. Please make sure you remove any personal details before posting because it's a public forum and also against the rules to post personal details.

SueHeath

Morning @lcc welcome to the group.
Have you managed to have time to have a good look around,
and find out how the site works.

lcc

lets say I am getting there with your help, at 59 and never done face book, twitter and all that sort of stuff this is totally new but as this is so important to me and great to share it has helped a lot and I shall be focusing my letter based on what I have been advised from you and information copied from the links you sent me.  As you say, every day is not exactly the same, would you put a score of pain 1 - 10 as without support and no naproxen my score would be 9-10, with splint base supports would probably be 7 to 8 and on my 2 weeks naproxen then 12 week break (out of 56 weeks I get 8 weeks allowed naproxen due to gastro issues and had stomach issues on it) but within a couple of days on naproxen it eases off a little and would say more like 5 with supports and 6 to 7 without supports, I have a thumb support for severe arthritis and then a pair of black splited ones more for wrist support and come just below botton of my fingers so they restrict my movement but still painful if I have to move my hand at an angle like brushing my teeth and so use of fingers is still hard. My fingers and thumb are swollen and stiff most of the time but calm down a bit with naproxen, day after I come off naproxen back to square one. My supports are limited to 2 hours per day each but I use these in smaller bursts to help me dress bottom half and go toilet and light housework that is not part of claim.  I now need to get focused on my supporting letter and have, thanks to everyones help, stopped panicking about being represented and more a case for me having someone there for moral support with my anxieties and learning difficulties if things are overwhelming. You all been amazing and sorry I keep asking things.

Alex_Alumni

No need to apologise @lcc it's a really good thing to see that you've reached out for help, well done

I'm very glad you feel so supported here on the community, do let us know if you need a hand with anything further.

Alex

lcc

Hi  I would like to know if you could look at the document I produce with my friend see we are only putting in what is necessary and to the point to show my daily struggles and why I feel I should get PIP.

poppy123456

It's rather confusing with 2 threads on the same subject, i'll ask admin to combine them both. @Alex_Scope please could you do that, other thread is here. https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/89376/hi-my-name-is-lcc#latest

@lcc I would leave out the pain scores. Just stick to the real world incidents as explained yesterday. Less is more and they don't need to know your life story. Half an A4 page per descriptor that applies should be more than enough.

Alex_Alumni

All sorted @poppy123456 thanks for the link

We can certainly offer advice and guidance on filling out the form @lcc as we have done in this thread. Is there any particular part you are struggling with? You can find the PIP descriptors here if you don't have them already.

lcc

Hi the rep done original form Scc thing so do i need do this again if he not representing me? The details on descriptors i need that checking over as i may waffle on n struggle how to cut it down whats important n what not needed. 

poppy123456

You do not need to request the Tribunal again. 

Have you got a date for the hearing? If so when is that please?

lcc

Hi I tried to send email but it would not work, I don't think I understand what to do, I used poppy123456 for example and would not work. Sent to community email address in the hope it will get picked up and whoever picks it up will send it on.  I really need some feedback to make sure I am including everything I should and paint the picture so hopefully less to be asked on the day as well.  I have sent diary sheets i started give you an idea of things as well, but stopped recording them as not sure what I supposed to do with them anyhow.

poppy123456

lcc said:

Hi I tried to send email but it would not work, I don't think I understand what to do, I used poppy123456 for example and would not work.

I'm sorry but i do not give any advice through any private message, which i did explain in a previous comment. I just don't have the time to give such advice through PM as well as the time i spend on the community. I volunteer my time here. For this reason i will not be able to help you in this way.

As i previously advised, you can post what you've writen on the community (make sure you remove any personal information like names etc etc.) and i'm sure someone will advise you further.