ET1 accepted. Why is my preliminary hearing in October? What does this mean?

@Username_removed I have already looked at the Vento Scale, named the amount I feel that my case is worth.  As for the disability part, I know it is not just the medical reports but how it affects your day to day living. I don't think it's easy but if I tell the truth about how it impacts my life daily and does, it has a profound effect on me, to the point I never open the blinds, never go out until there is no-one is around or very little people and it is dark. I can't boil chicken for my cat, as I forget I have put it on, even when I set a timer, I forget it has gone off and then the pan boils dry. It's the little things, that are the HUGE things.  Just even brushing my teeth, having a shower is an effort, absolutely exhausting when I can be bothered. However, this if my life, this is how I live it day to day and although it seems pathetic to the average person, it's my reality.

@Username_removed I'm not arguing just saying it indeed has a substantial impact in my day to day life  I remember the Life of Brian, showing my age now lol

@Hugo51 I have read that too, they have to look at what you would be like without medication, it's on a few cases that did go to tribunal.

Hugo51 said:

@shellbell20 just heard I have a preliminary hearing end of January, an hours telephone conference call 

Mine was 2 hours and that wasn't long enough. All I can say is don't make my mistake, the respondent's solicitors sent a finished document only a day or so before the hearing and I didn't print it out. I didn't even realise I needed to follow it and when I did online stupid adobe acrobat wouldn't let it open properly for me to follow. 

You should find that the judge will lead you with questions and explain things you don't understand. I think you address them madam if female, probably sir if it's a male, but just follow what the solicitors address the judge as.

If you don't understand any point don't be afraid to speak out. Normally at the end, they give directions, however, in my case they are yet to post them as we ran out of time. 

 Don't be surprised if you receive a phone call from ACAS a few days later to settle as I did. Still waiting for a response from the respondent but nothing thus far. I guess it is just one big "cat and mouse" game. 

I am not going to play though. I am so done with all the BS, the decline in my mental health has been great and I am not going to allow them to add to it by dragging their feet. I need to get the energy together to collate evidence against them and just take them to task on it all.

Good luck, I'm rooting for you!

Hugo51 said:

@shellbell20 thanks for that, gives me an idea what to expect, my solicitor is going to give me a consultation soon , I’m hoping he will be answering most of the questions at the preliminary hearing, did you have solicitor representing you?
my solicitor says it’s just for the judge to get an idea about the case and set a date for later in the year.

I had no solicitor, I am the middle of trying to get one, just not really been well enough to do anything, it's an effort to get up, an effort to sleep if I do at all, but once I get a good day which is rare I will talk to my doctor, sort out the useless union and ask for prove again they don't help me at all, get a SAR underway, sort out a place to live etc. I am just so overwhelmed right now that i can barely make it through the days to be honest

Hugo51 said:

shellbell20 said:

Hugo51 said:

@shellbell20 thanks for that, gives me an idea what to expect, my solicitor is going to give me a consultation soon , I’m hoping he will be answering most of the questions at the preliminary hearing, did you have solicitor representing you?
my solicitor says it’s just for the judge to get an idea about the case and set a date for later in the year.

I had no solicitor, I am the middle of trying to get one, just not really been well enough to do anything, it's an effort to get up, an effort to sleep if I do at all, but once I get a good day which is rare I will talk to my doctor, sort out the useless union and ask for prove again they don't help me at all, get a SAR underway, sort out a place to live etc. I am just so overwhelmed right now that i can barely make it through the days to be honest

@shellbell20, does your union not provide you with a solicitor? They are providing me with one thankfully, worth asking them maybe? 
Sounds like you are having a really hard time of it, hope everything works out well for you in the end , rooting for you, I know what it’s like with poor mental Health 

They don't even answer the phone when I have the strength to ring them

Username_removed said:

shellbell20 said:

@Username_removed Seems you were correct about posturing.  I know you said you don't accept the first offer or such, but have you ever been in the position where they want to settle but they want you to name the amount?  If so is this "game-playing"?  Also if you do come up with a figure, do they tend to procrastinate before coming back to you with a counteroffer? Sorry in advance for so many questions.

Have been in exactly that position as both a rep and a claimant. Do your research. There are bandings for different types of claim. Choose the right banding; name your price and enjoy the bartering. Remember that if ACAS are involved and you’re made an offer you reject then at the point they will go no higher you must either accept or risk going to UT. 

In one of my cases I asked for a sub £10,000 figure knowing it wasn’t worth that and we settled for 5/9ths of that. In another they made the first offer of £1,000. I countered with £6,000 and we eventually settled for £2,500. The Naim thing here is to understand the bandings and get good advice on how to negotiate. 

I would be very concerned with the “proving your disability” element of your case. I would not dismiss that as an easy thing at all. They’re likely not asking you to prove your disability. More likely to be asking you to prove you are a disabled person u set EA 10. The level of proof an employer might accept for that is often much lower than the level a tribunal might accept. Really important to note that medical evidence may not assist at all here as the test is one of whether your health has a substantial impact. Now my employers have always accepted that my inability to drive meets that test. It is by no means a given that a tribunal would.