Help. Pip assessment person arrived early

[Deleted User]

Yes its a full claim area. Its ok, I wasn't keen on claiming ESA anyway, I think I'd lose out and it would be a nightmare waiting a year for ESA to start again once called in for a face to face (once you go through the appeal process).

I will leave things as they are. The increase in income from PIP and SDP will make an enormous difference although I plan to put a bit by as well as cover expenses. I know its going to be there for two half years so will work on that basis.

[Deleted User]

Someone phoned me from PIP to tell me my claim had been accepted, arrears will be worked out and details sent to a decision maker. Which will take two days, then a letter will be sent out telling me what will be paid when.

Thanks to this forum, I knew what she was going to say once she'd identified herself as calling from PIP following the tribunal lol and had been keeping bank details handy, just in case!

Once I have that letter I can claim SDP as well.

So its only taken two weeks to get that far. Full payment should be about a month from the Tribunal, so not bad at all.

[Deleted User]

Credit where its due.., received the DWP letter today, money will be in my account on Thursday. Thats less than a month from the Tribunal date. Is it shame lol? But will make a heck of a difference.

Also phoned income support about SDP. They are going to query PIP to get details and then will calculate what is payable if I qualify. I should. Will also get a disabled railcard. Hopefully less awful rail journeys if I can find someone to accompany me.

Sncjw

The disabled rail card doesn’t give the other person free travel. It is a 1/3 off each for both of you. You can also travel alone if you wanted to.

Danday

deannatrois wrote: »

Someone phoned me from PIP to tell me my claim had been accepted,
.

Accepted??? where the DWP insisted that you were only entitled to 4 points for care and ended up with 14 points for both care and mobility at a Tribunal hearing?

Have you thought about asking the DWP how they can justify such a massive difference in points?
I know I would be going ape at their comment - accepted.

[Deleted User]

I know, I was given 0 points for planning journeys on assessment, at MR etc, (I think), 10 points at tribunal. But I suppose like most people I'm scared of rocking the boat.

One good thing, I am being given until Nov 2021 til reassessment according to DWP (award is til a year later) so four years rather than the 2 half I thoought I'd have to await the pleasure of another face to face.

I guess its inevitable, and there are some assessors who aren't like this, but the one I had saw herself as there to prove I shouldn't claim. So many negative comments in her report that showed a clear bias against me. The tribunal wasn't as adversarial. They did ask some trick questions, but not in such a nasty way so I was able to give full answers. Plus they wanted detail that the face to face person didn't and ignored when I did give detail. Anything that didn't fit her 'she doesn't qualify' scenario was just ignored.

It seems mad that the government is prepared to waste so much money on this 'system' that it seems is designed to prove people don't qualify rather than finding people who do. Based on the supposed massive amounts of fraudulent claims (which in reality is 0.4% of claimants). Any system set up like that, on a convenient but erroneous bias right from the word go is always going to cost more than it saves because its trying to prove what doesn't actually exist, that most claims are fraudulent. The fact that desperately unwell people who need help and support are left with little or no money (and feeling unheard, like liars) doesn't matter.

Oh well, its all been said before, ad infinitum.

The daft thing is, the PIP back payments are going on repairing a council house the council refuses to repair. Getting a builder in to pave the back area, sanding the lounge and other areas so I can decorate, replastering, covering the broken aspestos tiles the council won't replace, putting a shower in that the council would do as long as I don't mind waiting two years or more to put it in and will look awful (the picture left me gobsmacked, told them I wanted to smile when I go into the bathroom, not cry lol, I know, I am arrogant). If I could afford it, I'd put the kitchen in before the sink falls through the damp worksurface and replace the cupboards that are falling apart that I can't access. That can happen anytime from mid next year to mid 2020 (the council replacing the kitchen with a partly adapted one). Meanwhile I don't cook in it but can't afford to replace it myself even with the PIP backpayment and do anything else. I might have saved up the money to do it from the PIP before the council do it themselves!

Mind you, am also replacing the too low sofa I have with a rather nice second hand one I bought on ebay (I got lucky, £300 for a £1,800 sofa, don't ya love sniping software lol,it should have been at least double that). There isn't room for an armchair here so had to replace the sofa. Can't wait to be able to sit and watch tv rather than use my office chair lol (and it reclines which is occasionally essential cause of the discomfort from my hips).

Not what PIP is designed for but I can't keep on living like this.

Another Oh well. lol. At least I have hope of making it happen now. That's all I needed really. Gotta be careful but I might be able to get it all done.

cantcope

deannatrois wrote: »

Not what PIP is designed for but I can't keep on living like this.
.

PIP is to make your life easier and it sounds like this will xx

Ames

I've said it so, so, so many times before - the tribunal service should have the ability to fine the DWP (or Atos etc) when there has been an obvious muck up. It might focus minds and get it done properly the first time round.

Danday

poppy12345 wrote: »

71% of those who appear in person have a decision in their favour

Yes the percentage is correct but only if you are professionally represented.

Attending on your own with no representation sees the figure fall to below 50%.

[Deleted User]

In my experience in Kent, there is no representation except the CAB maybe if you have one anywhere near you.

I tried the local autistic charity, National autistic society, SEAP (advocacy service), SCOPE, anywhere I could think of except the CAB as my local office is very small with limited hours. No one to actually help me at the tribunal. I had my then social worker at the face to face, I know things weren't done correctly but she just sat there like a lemon. Had an advocate at the tribunal but she said as she wasn't a representative she couldn't speak. She said she couldn't be a representative.

So I'm not sure how many people do have a representative at Tribunals, they seem to be far and few between. I do suspect the 70% figure is people on their own. I think that is the vast majority of people. I also think I was very lucky with my Tribunal, I know I wasn't really there for the last 20 mins. I fully expect to not do so well at the next one so I have this extra help for four years but 'expect' it to last no longer.