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Hi ,
You have nothing to apologise for. Lots of people find the appeals process stressful and you are not alone in feeling this. You have nothing to lose in doing a MR and even if the DWP doesn’t change its decision and you need to go to Tribunal the community be with you through that process. It is not uncommon for people who the DWP have scored with zero points to win at Tribunal.
You can’t change what you said at the assessment, and you can’t add to your PIP form now but you can use the MR to add further information and to clarify where you think the DWP has misconstrued things. Just give examples of how you struggle to carry out the PIP descriptors. You mention cleaning – this is not a PIP activity so you cant be awarded points for this activity. Make sure you give a full account how you manage to cook and prepare a meal, dress, wash and mobilise etc etc.. It sounds as if you have aids to help you wash and bathe. Needing to sit down to get dressed is not normally in itself sufficient to score points but maybe getting dressed takes you much longer than someone without your health conditions. Because of pain are you restricted in what you wear? Are there particular items of clothing that you have difficulty getting on because of your health conditions? Perhaps you don’t bother to get dressed properly some days because you are in so much pain. You say you have to sit down to prepare food. Explain why this is – is that due to your back pain? It sounds as if your baby is a motivation and prompt for many of your activities and that you are in significant pain while you carry out these activities, but you have to carry on and put up with the pain because you have a baby who depends on you. You should also explain that you felt uncomfortable and embarrassed about talking about your toilet needs at the assessment. This is completely understandable and relatable but it makes it more important that you explain the full impact of your health conditions have on you. Your toilet needs are also relevant to how you feel going out and about. For example someone with toilet needs etc may not feel comfortable going out as they are extremely anxious about finding an accessible toilet. Obviously, some of this may not be relevant to you, and I apologise if this is the case, but the point is that you need to try and give as much information as possible and yes, supporting statements from family and friends can be helpful as well.
Its understandable to be anxious about the Tribunal and the long wait for a date doesn’t help. The tribunal is independent of the DWP. The panel is made up of a judge, a doctor and a disability expert. Sometimes, very occasionally, the DWP will send someone to give evidence. The tribunal panel will ask you lots of questions and you will need to answer them as best you can. You are the best person to give evidence about how your conditions affect you.
Good luck and let us know how you get on
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