PIP Frustration. Anyone know anyone who does advocacy in Medway?

BritPuddles

I am really struggling with my PIP. Anyone know anyone who does advocacy in Medway to help?

poppy123456

You can put your postcode into this link here https://advicelocal.uk/ choose the topic "welfare benefits" then it will tell you what advice agency is local to you.

BritPuddles

@poppy123456 thank you for the link I am currently wanting to scream atm 

poppy123456

If you can give us more information about the difficulties you’re having then I’m sure someone can give some advice.

BritPuddles

Basically in 2018 I had to goto Tribunal. I was given PIP till August 2020. Because of the Pandemic it was extended 6 months. After the Tribunal I was told that it would go to a normal review stage. I found out November 2020 that this is not the case and that my claim was due to end Feb 10 2021. I got the forms in and waited. 

My claim was ended on Feb 10 2021. I was originally awaiting tribunal on December 1st 2021 however, that was adjourned. It was adjourned because I submitted video evidence which had not been sent to the DWP. HMCTS failed to send it until April 6 this year. DWP decided to send it to me and say "we cant open this". They did not inform HMCTS. The adjournment notice said they have to respond to it before the tribunal can be re listed.

I have been dealing with horrible GPs, shocking social services and failure to help me. I had been begging for help since I moved to Medway and no one listened. 

It will be 1 year and 3 months since my claim was stopped come May 10th. If it gets to August 10th it will be a year and a half.

Because of the delay I have really struggled to be honest and I want to cry. I am running out of essentials like clothes that fit, shoe ware and many other things that i can not replace as it has been a choice between clothes or food. Foot ware of food. I can walk round my flat bare food but I cant live without food. 

I am also now trying to find a woman to help me with advocacy because I really dont want to have to tell a man about my toiletting needs or my underware.

poppy123456

It makes no difference whether it’s a review or a new claim, all claims should be treated as a new claim by all claimants. The only difference between the 2 is that a review is a shorter form. 

Was the video evidence related to how your conditions affect you? 

For the Tribunal what you should be concentrating on is exactly where and why you think you should have scored those points. If you haven’t done this already then you should give a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each activity that applies to you. Include detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. 

You mention financial difficulties. Are you currently claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to? 

BritPuddles

So the video was showing the real affect of adjustments I had had to put in place. It showed me walking from my home to Sainsburys and through a shopping centre. It showed in real time how long these walks took including with aids I had had to buy for myself. 

Because I work I am unable to get any other benefits. I have tried the benefit calculator and it says nothing other than PIP. The financial difficulties has arisen because of having to spend the last 1.2 years fighting for my disability benefits.  I have been looking at that as well as providing the tribunal with all medical evidence that comes in as it comes in. 

The reason I mention the review/new claim is because they send forms out for renewals and you have to ask for a form for the new claim. Also with a renewal they keep paying you until the decision of the first assessment. This for me would have been one more payment then I actually got as my assessment centre response didn't come in till March 25th 2021. 

Thankfully work are also allowing me to use things that i drafted on my assistive technology for work as evidence about my communicating issues. so, that's going to be helpful.