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Tribunal

billandben
billandben Community member Posts: 19 Connected
Hi everyone, I've just had the most terrifying day going to a tribunal over PIP. Do DWP realise the stress they put on people withdrawing benefits without warning.  In February  2017 they stopped my PIP and then dropped my ESA allowances needless to say I won a ESA tribunal in 2016 in the November and before Christmas this past year ESA have already called me back for another assessment. I honestly feel sick and tired. I suffer with severe anxiety, depression, PTSD and have had to have 8 surgeries on my foot and leg due to a car accident in 2012 I broke every bone in my foot and had 2 surgeries on it last year alone and yesterday found out I may have Complex Regional Pain syndrome and have been referred to a pain specialist. I honestly feel like these people put a label on people like me and I feel like they are taking the mick.  My welfare rights worker said they will send me the answer by post as they were running behind with cases but it couldn't of gone any better in the court.  Fingers crossed xxxx and thanks for listening
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Comments

  • Markinsutton
    Markinsutton Community member Posts: 83 Pioneering
    Good luck and hope you get the result you deserve. I have just started my road of applying for PIP as my DLA is now going to stop. It be interesting to know how it goes for you. I think together we can get the help we need, living with constant pain is not nice and something I think these assessments do not consider as it can not be measured like anything else.   
  • billandben
    billandben Community member Posts: 19 Connected
    I wish you luck, it is absolutely sickening and inhumane the way they treat people I had a break down before Christmas due to all the stress xx
  • Misscleo
    Misscleo Community member Posts: 647 Pioneering
    Give us some info on tribunal 
  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    What was daunting about the actual Tribunal @billandben
  • billandben
    billandben Community member Posts: 19 Connected
    @JANICE all of it, same questions but asked in many different ways
  • YuffieG
    YuffieG Community member Posts: 10 Connected
    edited January 2018
    I think it all depends on the type of people you get in the tribunal. I’d pretty much had read some horror stories about people’s experience and I was dreading my tribunal. Whilst I was waiting to be called in I could see some people coming out of their tribunals and they were crying, whether because they’d received good or bad news I had no idea, but it made me even more worried.

    The doctor I had, though very polite and respectful to me, I was daunted by and though I struggle with maintaining eye contact and hate social situations, I did notice the disability advisor that was there flashed me a reassuring smile every time I glanced in her direction. It wasn’t a pleasant experience and one I’d rather avoid if I could but it wasn’t as bad as I expected. When I won my appeal (I was lucky and was told on the day) I was in such a state of shock that I didn’t react in any way. I think I mumbled something like “I’ve won?” Then I can remember walking out of the room and I’m sure I heard a woman whisper “did she just win or not?” And that’s about it. It didn’t actually sync in until much later on that day that I’d won!

    i wish you luck and hope that you get the result that you’re entitled to. :smile:
  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    edited January 2018
    Thank you for both sharing @YuffieG
    @billandben

    At present I'm too set back to get my current info photocopied to send to the Courts before the end of next week 

    I haven't felt well enough to face the new Dr and attending appointments inc meeting well being advisor who is only allowed to 'meet out' 
    I'm hoping my Tribunal is going to be positive as I feel coping alone is slow manslaughter 
    I will take my case even further if I lose but with representation 
  • billandben
    billandben Community member Posts: 19 Connected
    @janice_in_wonderland and @YuffieG Everything does seem so hard when we all have to face a tribunal alone. It seems like a hole we cant get out of at the time, I wish you both the very best and that any of us don't get anymore stress than we can handle.  My news today is I won and would like to Thank everyone for helping me to talk about my disability and mental health without being judged.
  • billandben
    billandben Community member Posts: 19 Connected
    I think so many people are knocked back on receiving the correct benefits because they are too scarred to fight it, but with the right paper work and a welfare rights lawyer you can do it.
  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    Thank you @billandben
    I hope so too 
    best wishes 
  • lizzie55
    lizzie55 Community member Posts: 12 Listener
    Hello, I'm new to this page and I am looking for a bit of information about the PIP tribunals. I received high rate Mobility payments for a good few years as I have a few chronic illness, then last April 2017 they were stopped after an assessment . I was awarded payments for personal help but not mobility! I appealed to the tribunal on the 26/06/2017 , but I haven't heard anything since. Just wondering how long others have waited as I'm getting desperate now. 
    Thank you. 
  • billandben
    billandben Community member Posts: 19 Connected
    almost a year for me @lizzie55 don't worry I only got my letter at the end of December with my court day
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi lizzie

    Did you receive confirmation that your appeal was accepted ?

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • lizzie55
    lizzie55 Community member Posts: 12 Listener
    edited January 2018
    Yes Got everything but a date.  They have stopped my mobility payment as well. If I loose this appeal they are condemning me to be housebound, how can they take it away from you after 20 yrs, when you have a progressive chronic condition? 
  • Matilda
    Matilda Community member Posts: 2,593 Disability Gamechanger
    65% of oral appeals succeed.  Disability Rights UK site has a guide to PIP appeals.  The Disability Rights Handbook, available from their site, price £15, tells you what to expect at hearings and makes several points including: don't dress up and expect the hearing to be inquisitorial.
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger
    You can ring the tribunal clerk for an update on waiting times in your area

    CR
    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste
  • janice_in_wonderland
    janice_in_wonderland Community member Posts: 265 Pioneering
    Almost a year for me and it's REALLY taking its toll 

    Minimum contact with the world atm let alone physical 

    Hugging is healing well how can anyone feel better if they're being ground down to a halt? 

    I hope I win mine this week 
  • lizzie55
    lizzie55 Community member Posts: 12 Listener
    Hi everybody, I have rung courts and waiting time is approx 39 weeks so I should get a date for April time. Thanks for all your help. 
  • Pippa_Alumni
    Pippa_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,793 Disability Gamechanger
    Glad you have your date @lizzie55, keep us updates and best of luck!
  • lizzie55
    lizzie55 Community member Posts: 12 Listener
    Hi Pippa, had my appeal heard Monday, got my letter today, I've been refused the motability award again. Only given 4 points.  How can you be awarded the higher rate motability for 20 yrs then suddenly take it away from you when you suffer a number of progressive illnesses?  I found the appeal very distressing , the judge would not let my son speak and bombarded me with questions of how I felt ans dates I was hospitalised 13 months ago. I cannot remember yesterday never mind last year.  Since then my heart failure has got worse, my arthris is progressing and I live every single day in pain, I struggle particularly in winter with my COPD and I still cannot walk the 50 - 300 meters that they said I can. 

    I am 64 in March so is this my last chance of getting the motability help as now I am virtually house bound.  If this is it for the rest of my life, what is the point? 

Brightness

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