What to do if turned down?

lemontart

elljay wrote: »

Hundreds, all her life. Tests, treatments, hospitalisation, operations. Something different each time (apparently).Range of different hospitals. Seems to find validation in illness rather than for her other qualities which is why we think it's far more mental than otherwise.

I have cfs/me it is a regonised condition at at times I am totally bedridden, pthers not it is not always visable, it has over 80 symtoms that are not all visable from incontinance, to forgetfulness and a whole lot more I do not go on about it to my friends and family - and even some medics still think it is in the head. With all due respect her gp's would not spend the money on tests etc if they did not think there was something wrong, DWP are turning people down based on lies written by so called health assesors in their reports and ignoring medical evidence.

Confuseddot

elljay wrote: »

Thank you for these replies. No I don't think anyone's trying to jump on any bandwagon but all of her friends (well she hasn't many sadly) feel her complaints are more mental than physical. Well definitely.

She is now awaiting the outcome of the ESA assessment but says she hasn't enough to live on (around £75 a week for everything) while waiting to hear which could be a few weeks.Is this right? If she's really stuck then we will support her but if there's some interim benefit or other she should be applying for then she needs to know about it.

She's been to CAB but says they weren't helpful, probably as they didn't give her the answer she wanted!! They've told her she needs to borrow from friends and family. Surely they wouldn't say that. As I say, getting to the truth of things is quite hard (which is why I want to support her from an informed point of view, not just to tell her what she wants to hear) but she is very depressed and does get confused and is basically really not too bright!

Thanks

Job seekers and ESA assessment rate is 73 so maybe that you could help her with her budget as it may be the case that she needs to live of this amount for the foreseeable future. Also helping her look at her electricity etc making sure she is on the best tariff.

CAB should be able to help her with the appeals, not sure they would say that with regards the money but who knows.

NeilCr

lemontart wrote: »

just curious, has she had confirmed diagnoses of physcial conditions? or undergone tests -

Confuseddot wrote: »

Job seekers and ESA assessment rate is 73 so maybe that you could help her with her budget as it may be the case that she needs to live of this amount for the foreseeable future. Also helping her look at her electricity etc making sure she is on the best tariff.

CAB should be able to help her with the appeals, not sure they would say that with regards the money but who knows.

I'd have thought they might have said that as one of a range of options - not the only thing. Sometimes you have to try a number of different tacks with clients - and as the OP suggests her friend isn't necessarily always truthful.

Newly_retired

If she has already appealed and been turned down then that is the end of the road for Pip, unless she has genuine grounds to make a fresh claim, and medical evidence to support it. Did she actually appeal, that is, go to Tribunal? Or did she just challenge the decision, which is asking DWP to look at it again, a Mandatory Reconsideration, the first necessary step before you can appeal?
Whichever, it sounds as if it would be hard to make a successful PIP claim.
If she loses her ESA, then she has to claim JSA.
Not much money to live on, so asking if she has friends or family to support her might be the only extra financial help she is going to get.
There are certain trust funds, and she might get help with her utilities if she is struggling, but that is something CAB might have advised on.