I am terrified of tribunal — Scope | Disability forum
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I am terrified of tribunal

sammy34
sammy34 Community member Posts: 2 Listener
edited December 2018 in PIP, DLA, and AA
I have a pip tribunal appeal coming up I'm terrified they said i presented well in my medical that was after initially leaving on first arrival as too many people in there waiting to be called outside as having panic attack being accompanied by my daughter and a friend who drove us there as I cannot journey by myself all this was ignored my daughter did most of talking as I am fearful of people I don't know and as she does most of my care,budgeting etc and knows me best why not but apparently i did most communication although I brought my daughter they said are they allowed to state things that are not quite how it was I'm worried I'm going to lose am i ? 

Comments

  • steve51
    steve51 Community member Posts: 7,153 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @sammy37

    Good Evening & Welcome it’s great to have today.

    We have got some good info & advice on “pip” here on our site.

    Please please let me know if I can help you with anything that is above????
  • CaraLee
    CaraLee Community member Posts: 39 Courageous
    Welcome to the community sammy34 it's great to meet you!  :)
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,638 Scope online community team
    It's good to meet you. I understand that this is a very stressful time for you. The waiting is horrible. We have lots of members who will have experienced similar circumstances. We're a very friendly bunch!

    Scope
    Specialist Information Officer and Cerebral Palsy Programme Lead

    'Concerned about another member's safety or wellbeing? Flag your concerns with us.

    Want to tell us about your experience in the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know. 
  • sammy34
    sammy34 Community member Posts: 2 Listener
    Thank you caralee nice to meet you and it is stressful Richard I was hoping someone would let me know what to expect 
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,638 Scope online community team
    @sammy34 I'm sure that one of our knowledgeable members will be in touch soon.
    Scope
    Specialist Information Officer and Cerebral Palsy Programme Lead

    'Concerned about another member's safety or wellbeing? Flag your concerns with us.

    Want to tell us about your experience in the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know. 
  • steve51
    steve51 Community member Posts: 7,153 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @sammy34

    Good Afternoon it’s time to meet our today.

    I am very very sorry to hear about your “pip tribunal”

    Yes I would be more than happy in helping you with things if you need?????

    We have got some good info & advice that we can call on.

    Please please let me know if I can help/support you with things?????
  • CaraLee
    CaraLee Community member Posts: 39 Courageous
    Welcome to the community @sammy34 it's great to meet you!  :)@steve51 is right there is lots of useful information here on the scope site as well as all our wonderful community members sharing their own knowledge and experience to help others. I have attached a link to a video about preparing for a tribunal (there is also some information about what to do on the day of the tribunal on the same page)  hopefully you will find some of the information useful and knowing how to prepare might ease your anxieties regarding the tribunal. Wishing you all the best and good luck. 
    https://www.scope.org.uk/support/disabled-people/benefits/appeals
    https://youtu.be/tIHjSpNNbQo
  • CaraLee
    CaraLee Community member Posts: 39 Courageous
    Hello @sammy34 maybe this page with some information and videos regarding how to prepare for a tribunal and what to do on the day might help you? 
    https://www.scope.org.uk/support/disabled-people/benefits/appeals
    https://youtu.be/tIHjSpNNbQo
  • CockneyRebel
    CockneyRebel Community member Posts: 5,209 Disability Gamechanger

    Concentrate wholly on what you were like on the date of claim.

    2) There are no “trick” questions. Tribunals are usually listed 20 minutes apart so, apart from the appeal papers, they need questions which cut across lots of functions. So the car question is brilliant because it indicates grip; mobility; dexterity; the ability to do something repeatedly; concentration and stamina. Instead of thinking negatively about such stuff think about what they’re getting at and your answers will be much better and more detailed. Similar questions include whether you’ve been on holiday recently. It feeds into mobility (getting across an airport); stamina; the ability to cope alone; the need for aids and appliances.

    3) There are no set rules or order for a hearing beyind the requirement that it must be seen to be fair. 

    4) Watch the judge’s pen. All three members may take notes but only the judge writes a record of proceedings. If you don’t want them to miss anything then remember that they can’t write as fast as you can speak, so watch their pen and slow down. Don’t worry about going too slow. They will tell you if you do.

    5) Never interrupt any tribunal member. It is perfectly okay to challenge them provided it’s not rude or aggressive. However, think about whether what you’re challenging them on is directly related to points. If it’s not then better to focus on points. This is especially important because loads of people second guess the demeanour of tribunal members as determining whether they are pro or against and it’s largely nonsense. An aggressive, challenging member may well just be a poor communicator and wholly on your side right up to the point you challenge them etc.

    6) Get yourself a representative and travel to the venue by whatever means makes you feel comfortable. It’s only ever an issue if you don’t explain what you did in full and if doing so contradicts your other evidence in some way for daily living and /or mobility.

    7) Same goes for clothes. You need to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. If you’re not relaxed then the likelihood of you presenting well are much reduced. Dressing down is not a good idea unless that all you can afford. A person who feels naked without make-up or a suit abd tie will similarly be over stressed if they try to pretend they’re in their comfort zone dressing down. 

    8) Other people’s tribunal experience can be valuable but it’s just that. Their experience. If they lost then it’s the tribunal to blame. If they win they everything they did is why they won and what you must do. The truth is usually very much in between.

    9) Know your case. What points are you going for and why. What’s your evidence? “The HCP was a liar” is neither evidence nor a winning strategy. Also, know the appeal papers. What’s where. 

    10) Do not be tempted to claim you’ve worsened since the date of claim. That’s a recipe for a failed appeal and an invitation to make another claim. Even if you have got worse always concentrate on your date of claim and what you were like then.

    Be all you can be, make  every day count. Namaste

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