ESA tribunal cancel due to snow

flight747

Has anyones been cancelled of tribunal appointment due to heavy snow or difficult to get there with train, buses shut ?

ebsay

I'd imagine like the ATOS test meetings themselves, they are allowed to cancel the appointment, but you are not.

They will use any excuse to stop your benefits, and non attendance (even by death) is not an acceptable excuse!

rogerblack

If you are unable to get to the tribunal, phone the tribunals service directly, beforehand, and ideally phone the tribunal venue, if you can.
Get proof that you are unable to make it, despite reasonable precautions.
For example, closed bus routes that's your only practical route to the tribunal, or photos of your blocked drive.
This will give the best chance of having the verdict of the tribunal, that may decide to sit in your absence - set aside if it goes against you, and a new one setup to rehear your case.

gayleanne

All the tribunals in the Cardiff area, were cancelled on Friday and today, this was due to the trains and buses being stopped and there are still difficulties people getting into Cardiff from the Valley areas, even today.

My relative actually organises these tribunals, for Cardiff area, dealing with the Doctors and Interpreters, and as the Doctors could not guarantee being able to get in, she had the job of cancelling everything.

She left work to get home herself at about 11.30 on Friday morning as the weather was getting so bad, as she walked out of the building she was on the phone to her husband saying that all the tribunals had been cancelled and she was on her way home, when a woman grabbed her arm, and said ARE THE TRIBUNALS FOR DLA ALL CANCELLED? my relative said Yes, and the woman then said, I have just walked 5 miles through all this snow to get here on time, my tribunal is today, they have stopped my mobility and care allowance. The woman was on her own.

Needless to say my relative was speechless (for once).

sja75

Whilst not in connection with a Tribunal as such. I can remember I had a interview at the JCP office during the snow of 2010...

I tried to call them on the day to see if try was open, no response so I walked about two miles in awful conditions to attend. Needless to say I got to the office with a sign on the door "closed due to snow".

Why they couldn't simply contact those affected by phone / email to reschedule appointments was beyond me. I attended fearing a possible sanction...