Failure to secure professional advice and representation for a PIP claim and subsequent MR & appeal

Yadnad
Yadnad Posts: 2,892 Championing
in PIP, DLA, ADP and AA
After some challenging conversations on this subject and the advice given that the UK for the last 2 years is seeing an increase in the above availability (more and better qualified welfare rights agencies) am I the only one that was unable to secure such advice and importantly, representation at a PIP appeal?

I am in the South East and apart from the areas of deprivation - Chatham, Dover etc - it seems to be a desert when looking for the above help.

Comments

  • Tardis
    Tardis Online Community Member Posts: 214 Empowering
    You really aren't that far from Dover.  Will they not take your case?
  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,892 Championing
    edited December 2018
    Tardis said:
    You really aren't that far from Dover.  Will they not take your case?
    No I am not but the agencies in that area only deal with residents of that area.

    Ridiculous as it may seem I have also contacted those agencies in the Manchester area because I have a connection there. I have been told that they also will only deal with people if they are resident in that area. 
  • Misscleo
    Misscleo Online Community Member Posts: 645 Pioneering
    There isnt anything where i live in westmidlands either
  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,892 Championing
    edited December 2018
    Misscleo said:
    There isnt anything where i live in westmidlands either
    Thankyou. I am reliably informed that over the past 2 years new agencies and better provision in existing ones has been on the increase.

  • Spibes
    Spibes Online Community Member Posts: 58 Contributor
    I'm in Bolton and the support services are great, welfare advice and a charity which helps with appeals. 

    I never knew how lucky I am to have these options, it's so unfair on others like yourself. 

    All due to these cruel budget cuts from the Government. 
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 584 Listener
    The services are pretty good in Nottingham as well.
  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,892 Championing
    Spibes said:
    I'm in Bolton and the support services are great, welfare advice and a charity which helps with appeals. 

    I never knew how lucky I am to have these options, it's so unfair on others like yourself. 

    All due to these cruel budget cuts from the Government. 
    Thank you. I am aware of your good fortune as I spent the first 40 years of my life living in the Darwen/Blackburn/Bury areas. I am also aware of the services that are available in the Whalley Range, Salford, Moss Side and Hulme areas of Manchester
    I am also aware that there is a North/South divide as to where these agencies are. 

    It does seem to be the case also that in areas of deemed good wealth - Surrey, Sussex, Kent etc of it's residents, these agencies are few and far between.
    Liverpool also has good advice centres. It was apparent that there were as many of these 'law centres/clinics' as there where pubs on street corners!
     
  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,892 Championing
    To be honest I'm getting to the point of not caring. I know what I know down here and what is or what is not available.
    I can't even access face to face advice/discussion for a potential Attendance Allowance claim with all of the protocol involved explained to me.. Yes I can get help with filling in the forms but will it be done properly? Past experience says no it won't.
    It seems a damn shame that the DWP win with my PIP claim only because I am lacking the ability to fight it and the inability to get someone onboard to see it through for me.

  • Spibes
    Spibes Online Community Member Posts: 58 Contributor
    That's right Mike I have those too, I feel very lucky. There's a lovely local foodbank in farnworth Bolton which has former social workers and benefits specialists who have already told me they will help me with a appeal and come with me if it comes to that. 

    But I'm happy to do what I can to point folks local to me to the best services, Bolton is pretty good services wise I cannot speak for other areas. 
  • Waylay
    Waylay Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 965 Trailblazing
    None in Cambridge either.
  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,892 Championing
    Username_removed said:
    I work with someone from Cambridge who commutes to Cambridge each weekend and there is plenty of advice going in Cambridge from a variety of sources. 

    This is second tier - https://www.ncls.co.uk/welfare-benefits-advice-advocay/ - but second tier can’t exist unless there’s a first tier to refer into them. That’s just one example. A quick search revealed half a dozen first tier without too much difficulty.
    Mike all of that and the first tier listings are for Norfolk. The last time I looked at the map of England, Cambridge is in Cambridgeshire.

    Every time I have asked an outside agency if they would help I was told that I had to live in the area covered - as in Salford - Greater Manchester?

  • cavailia
    cavailia Online Community Member Posts: 13 Listener
    i went to my gp and got referred to a support worker not for pip but i mentioned i had a pip review and they offered to come with me. I have not had my medical thing yet so remains to be seen if they are available when that times comes but maybe ask your gp to see a support worker.
  • Yadnad
    Yadnad Posts: 2,892 Championing
    cavailia said:
    i went to my gp and got referred to a support worker not for pip but i mentioned i had a pip review and they offered to come with me. I have not had my medical thing yet so remains to be seen if they are available when that times comes but maybe ask your gp to see a support worker.
    What sort of support worker were you given and what is it for?

  • cavailia
    cavailia Online Community Member Posts: 13 Listener
     Yadnad said:
    cavailia said:
    i went to my gp and got referred to a support worker not for pip but i mentioned i had a pip review and they offered to come with me. I have not had my medical thing yet so remains to be seen if they are available when that times comes but maybe ask your gp to see a support worker.
    What sort of support worker were you given and what is it for?

    mobility issues and anxiety

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