About to wade into the quagmire of PIP Appeals

Artful

Hi, long story short. I applied for PIP and it was refused. Did the Mandatory bit and that was also refused.
i have tons of medical evidence and had assistance to complete the forms and I now need to Appeal.
i share rented accomodation with the father of my youngest child and he works, I on the other hand struggle day to day with C-PTSD, Fibromyalgia,Dissociative conditions, Dispraxia, amongst other things and have no personal income. I haven’t claimed any kind of living benefit for many years but am now finding it impossible to manage as my Other Half is beginning to resent my mood swings, etc so is using the financial situation to disempower me. I can’t even afford the treatment I need and I am getting nowhere fast with Therapy etc. i am at an extremely low ebb and have suffered many losses over the past 2 years due to unexpected and unpleasant circumstances which has heightened my anxiety levels to the extent that I seriously think something broke in my head at the last funeral I attended as I lost control of myself and have since lost the ability to come back properly from a dissociative state. I need some help to be honest and I don’t know what to do.

Ross_Alumni

hello @Artful

Thanks for posting, and sorry to read of everything you're going through. I have sent you an email from community@scope.org.uk to see if we can support you at all with some of the things you mentioend in your post.

In terms of your benefits, If you want to receive any professional advice for your situation, you can go through Advice Local or get in touch with Citizens Advice who might be able to support.

Artful

Thank you. Much appreciated 🙏🏻

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @Artful. It is the very least you deserve. If we can do anything else to help, please don't hesitate to let us know 

Artful

Thank you.
i am thinking about the help that has been offered and where to go from here. 

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @Artful. The help is the very least you deserve. Do you want to share more with us about where your thoughts are currently with regards to where to go from here? We'll hopefully be able to help or at least listen while you process it 

Artful

I am presently preparing myself mentally to collect together my paperwork for my PIP Appeal. It seems so unfair that I haven’t claimed any benefits for at least 12 years as my partner works and yet I am having to beg for help with my disabilities. I have C-PTSD, Dissociative Fugue, Vanishing White Blood Cell Disease, Anxiety, Fibromyalgia, Dispraxia and Agoraphobic tendencies and they keep giving me zero points. I have so much medical evidence and yet because I picked up my handbag from the floor before I stop up at the PIP Assessment I was told I am not eligible for financial assistance. I have no-one to fight my corner and the stress is the main thing shortening my life span. I am living on borrowed time as it is with my Blood Disease. How can I get help please? Thank you. 

calcotti

Artful said: How can I get help please? 

As advised by Ross in first reply

Ross_Scope said:

In terms of your benefits, If you want to receive any professional advice for your situation, you can go through Advice Local or get in touch with Citizens Advice who might be able to support.

chiarieds

Did you try the link above to see if you can get some help near you: https://advicelocal.uk/   choose 'welfare benefits' from the drop down menu. If you could get help from there to represent you with your appeal that would alleviate the stress you are going through. A local Welfare Rights Office would be ideal, otherwise Citizens Advice.

poppy123456

One thing that stands out for me is this.

Artful said:

i have tons of medical evidence and had assistance to complete the forms and I now need to Appeal.

Less is very often more when it comes to evidence. You don't need tons of it, You also need to be careful that one piece of evidence doesn't contradict the other, which can happen when sending in lots of it.

When the forms were filled out did you give a couple of real worl incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted that activity for each descriptor that applies? If you didn't then you should do that next.

Include detailed information such as where you were, what exactly happened, did anyone see it and what the consequences were. You should aim for at least half an A4 side of paper per descriptor that applies to you.

Finally, put down the assessment report (if you have it) and the decision letter and concetrate on the weakness in your evidence.

You can also get expert advice from an agency near you and if you can get representation then even better. Start here. https://advicelocal.uk/

Artful

Thank you Poppy, Chiarieds and Calcutti. I shall contact Advicelocal. Thank you so much.

Tori_Scope

Keep us updated @artful

Artful

I will do. Thank you Tori. 😊