I won my appeal. Don't give up!

davedj44
davedj44 Online Community Member Posts: 32 Connected
Hi everyone.
I have, like many had a long distressing time with my pip award. June last year I had all my points stripped after an unpleasant assessment, then after waiting 12 months for a tribunal was only awarded 2 points, the tribunal was worse than the initial assessment. 
My local mp put me in touch with the mental health charity Raise. I had a guy called Mike take my case. After waiting 2 months he finally got my statement of reasons and was able to find numerous errors in the way my tribunal was handled. He warned me that the first rear appeal could take months or closer to 12 months to get a response, but I was fortunate to get a reply from the courts within a couple of weeks letting me know that I didn't have to go through the first part, that the original decision was cancelled and within a couple of weeks I'd be called in for a fresh hearing. That happened on Wednesday 12th November and I had my points reinstated and won my appeal.
I won't lie, it has been one of the most difficult times for me, but let me say to anyone who has lost their original tribunal. Don't give up, depending on your circumstances ask your mp to put you in touch with a group that is tailored to your conditions and don't give up. I hope this has been some help to someone out there struggling with the benefits system. 

Comments

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 14,323 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hi @davedj44. I'm so happy for you and glad to hear you didn't give up.
    Thank you for sharing your journey with us as it may encourage others to keep going too. :)
  • davedj44
    davedj44 Online Community Member Posts: 32 Connected
    Hi. 

    I hope it does help, it can be long and drawn out, but with the correct help and support it is possible. I'm afraid the dwp do expect people to give up, it keeps figures down. But it goes to show, that when the people on the panel at tribunals make several legal errors, you really need to get advice because had I not, I would have assumed that everything was correct and I had lost my case 
  • debsidoo
    debsidoo Online Community Member Posts: 325 Empowering
    @davedj44
    Wll done glad your persistence paid off.
           Debsidoo.x
  • Firefly123
    Firefly123 Online Community Member Posts: 526 Empowering
    Well done for not giving up x
  • Chloe_Alumni
    Chloe_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 10,506 Championing
    Thank you so much for sharing this with us @davedj44 and congratulations!
  • Jurph
    Jurph Online Community Member Posts: 367 Empowering
    I'm so glad it's all over for you. Well done for not giving up.
  • davedj44
    davedj44 Online Community Member Posts: 32 Connected
    Thank you everyone for your lovely replies.