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TRIBUNALS
Pat1960
Member Posts: 8 Listener
My name is Pat i suffer with COPD and Dystonia, Behcets disease, Lumbar and Cervical Spndulosis, Severe nerve pain in my back and legs and abdomin caused by bulging discs and coxideamia and S1 joint problems in my spine. I suffer with PTSD and Anxiety and Stress. I was on DLA for 20 years on High rate Mobility and Middle rate Disabilty. Then this PIP take over I was assessed in my home by ATOS and the assesser was very rude to myself and my daughter. The question s she was asking we're irrelevant to my PIP claim. I never moved off my bed the entire time she was here due to extreme pain was having an epidural the next day. This assesser lied in her report about me myself and my daughter could not believe what she had put. I was awarded no mobility and had to do a mandatory appeal were I was only awarded standard rate not enough to keep my mobility car. I then seen welfare rights to go to a Tribunal. I gave lots of written reports off my Neurologist and Rhumatologist and my GP plus old letters etc. I wentvto my Tribunal which i waited 8 months for only for Welfare rights to cancel coming with me 15 mins before my hearing. My Daughter was with me and the Doctor and ATOS person there humiliated me so did the judge they had me in tears. They basically ignored my medical evidence said it was not enough that the reports were not good enough. That I should of had a full respiratory report ad well and thatvthere was none there. They basically humiliated me and said they stood by my assessers report and that I can walk 50 meters when I clearly can't. It was an awful experience and I was disgusted with how they treated me. I've lost my car and now have to reclaim PIP all over again and have a face to face again because I could not use my new diagnosis at my Tribunal about my S1 J JOINT my Rhumatologist was disgusted when I told him I had lost and that they said his report was not good enough. He said they bviously don't know what there talking about if they did they would have seen off his report and my aNeurologists report just how bad my mobility is. He's done me a fresh report to give with my new PIP Claim. I just hope I gather enough evidence to get the enhanced rate .It's my Independence they've took away from me and security. Plus my self esteem so I've got another 6 months or more of not knowing and Stress and anxiety which make my illnesses even worse. I hope 2018 is a good year for me.
Replies
Unfortunately you are not alone and many people are denied the award they deserve.
It is important to understand the points system, descriptors and the criteria for an award. A good place to start is the B&W self test
http://www.mybenefitsandwork.co.uk/pip/indexxx.php
It is not always the ammount of evidence but the way it is read ( or not ). Try to write any submission using the terminology in the descriptors. Concentrate on showing how your functionality is affected as PIP is not about your conditions but how they affect your daily funtionality.
There is lots of good info on here and many knowledgable members who have been through this and willing to help.
Please have a look around and come back with any questions
CR
How are you getting on atm @Pat1960
I tel every day to try to get through to a human in reception at the Drs bc it won't allow me to do it on the automated system or online bc I need an appt to see a dr first as I moved to a new area 5 months have passed by and don't know anyone who can help and I don't drive & money is too tight for a taxi
My well being lady said she'd attend the appt with me but is on a training course on the day of my Tribunal
My new dream home bungalow has brought new challenges I hope I can overcome
not easy rebuilding life atm
I'll feel better when the clocks change bc my dust allergy lessens sitting outside
I am sorry to hear about your experience with the tribunal.
You have posted that you are getting more evidence to support your claim for enhanced rate mobility. As CR posted it is important to understand the PIP mobility descriptors and then which descriptors apply to you. It is important as it is really useful to then get medical evidence that supports the relevant descriptor e.g. a medical report that details that you can only walk a few metres and why (medically) this is the case.
When asking PIP to also look again at a decision, they will look at the whole of the award. That is they will decide if standard rate daily living is the correct award as well as considering mobility. As such, PIP can not only increase your award they can keep it at the same level or reduce your award. It is therefore worth ensuring that any medical evidence you send to PIP also supports your current award of PIP-Daily living.
Kind regards
Maria