Personal Independence Payment Professionals

Cyclamen

Alice  not sure how to quote so old fashioned style
"Tribunals want to hear directly from the claimant. The claimants oral evidence will be very important for the tribunal outcome. Having someone such as 'fightback4justice' present at the tribunal may not be particularly helpful. In my experience it may be better to have a family member / friend present who can help the claimant explain fully to the tribunal (and who has read the PIP descriptors, and knows how the help the claimant needs with these)."

I am the only person who could accompany my husband.. i cant travel and am not well enough so that wouldnt wok.. both my parents are disabled and dont understand the PIP criteria (i do their forms), his family deceased and as so often happens with long term illness  friends are online.  Ad in Autism and it's too much for my husband to manage on his own...an nobody to support him... so reluctantly we pay.

He wont and cant do it on his own.. his words, he doesnt understadn the criteria there is no logic. .  eg The phone assessor pushed him on how many times he goes out.. he started on the truth max two mornings a week, usually one sometimes none.. as the assessor got pushy he then answered tries everyday.. he does he stands on doorstep in garden for air so yes technically out the house.  he needs someone and is finding communicating with FB4J by email and surprisinngly phone reassuring and so far seems productive.   

I do agree if he had someone who could do the forms, create a file of info and go with him that would be great
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Minimad - the guilt is immense here.  I am not coping even slightly at not being able to do this, seeing the strain on him, the unfairness of the system and so on.   So thank you. 
I dont think its something we should have to pay for, i dont think the system shouldbe so complicated that it doesnt work easily bt it is and here we are. 

elle_may

born_again said:

Or even better 

https://www.advicenow.org.uk

FREE
Allows you to set up a account and save the descriptors you use and will generate a letter for MR if required.

I have used these and they are very good. Needed help with a MR and they helped me how to get more points. The advice given meant went from standard to enhanced. Easy web site.

Cyclamen

Born-again and elle-may

i aso used advce now for the MR .  there free template letter was really useful.. just recieved the file from dwp for my husband and the letter is not included.. so it looks like they did the MR without the extra information despite it being signed for... this is why i need someone to take over... how on earth can a governmet depatment mislay (being kind) vital post, fail to read evidence i initial form and make stuff up in phone call.

poppy12345

Cyclamen said:

Born-again and elle-may

i aso used advce now for the MR .  there free template letter was really useful.. just recieved the file from dwp for my husband and the letter is not included.. so it looks like they did the MR without the extra information despite it being signed for... this is why i need someone to take over... how on earth can a governmet depatment mislay (being kind) vital post, fail to read evidence i initial form and make stuff up in phone call.

Although the letter was signed for, it would not have been signed for by anyone from DWP, it would have been someone from Royal Mail. This is why sending mail this way to DWP is not recommended. It's not classed as arriving until it's been added to the computer and it could be anywhere in the building. Post does sometimes get lost and not just with DWP.

If you kept a copy of what you sent then you can always send this to HMCTS.

Cyclamen

Poppy.. thanks yes i know 'mail handling centres open and scan'  but at least it shows we did indeed send something.

I don't understand the logic of looking at a MR when the claimant stated they would be sending more info and details by post without actually looking for the more details.

It is such a flawed system.. 

just posting without any tracking doesn even give us proof we posted and it got to address. 

Honestly i've had enough.. i hate having to pay someone to do an appeal.. its even more galling seeing they didnt even look at the MR info that took so much health to compile... and now we have to wait an indefinite time with it affecting both our mental wellbeing from the stress.  The system is truly awful.  I'd like to ring up and say, actually it looks like something went missing in post system and didnt make the file.. but really whats the point. 

Yes there are copies thankfully.. they have been emailed onto Fightback just incase its me that hasnt been able to see it in the 300+ pages from dwp although they do state nothing was recieved for MR and that they tried to call last wednesday..a day we were both in all day and the phone didnt ring.  

poppy12345

Proof of posting is all that's needed, which is free. Wow 300+ pages of evidence is a huge amount for anyone to get through i must be honest.

It's not the first time they haven't waited for the extra evidence before making a decision with the MR, which is why i usually tell people to send the evidence with the MR request and don't ring to request it.

I definitely don't agree with anyone that charges people for this.  Do be aware though that they won't be able to speak on your behalf during the hearing.

The good news is that Tribunal waiting times have decreased considerably and it's between 11-16 weeks wait depending on which area you're in of course.

calcotti

poppy12345 said:

Proof of posting is all that's needed, which is free. Wow 300+ pages of evidence is a huge amount for anyone to get through i must be honest. 

I think the 300+ pages refers to the size of the tribunal bundle rather than the amount of evidence,

Alice_Holt

Cyclamen said:

I don't understand the logic of looking at a MR when the claimant stated they would be sending more info and details by post without actually looking for the more details.

It is such a flawed system.. 

just posting without any tracking doesn even give us proof we posted and it got to address. 

.. its even more galling seeing they didnt even look at the MR info that took so much health to compile... and now we have to wait an indefinite time with it affecting both our mental wellbeing from the stress.  The system is truly awful.  I'd like to ring up and say, actually it looks like something went missing in post system and didnt make the file.. but really whats the point. 

Yes there are copies thankfully.. 

 I'd suggest posting a copy to HMCTS (quoting your NI number and ref).
 Copy this letter to your MP (or email as an attachment), set out your concerns and ask them to intervene with the DWP requesting that the decision is looked at again in light of the evidence that was ignored at MR stage.


You could also attach any new supporting evidence / statements  based on the DWP paperwork bundle. 

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal
See sections 15 & 16.

Cyclamen

Poppy - yes 300+ pages is what dwp sent to tribunal people, reps and a copy to us not our submission.   The MR reply was with the post handling team a couple of weeks before MR decision was made.. they just didnt put it in the file. 

We followed advice now MR stuff and phoned to ask for copies of hs decision reports and phone assement stating this was so we could decide if to MR.  Then phoned to say we would be MR and that letter was in post.  I believe the MR reply was 15 pages give or take.. 

As I said i dont think its right anyone should have to pay to get help to recieve benefit entitlement. But when there are no free options in area (not even CAB) and the person cant do it themselves and dont have anyone else.. its a bit catch 22.  either we dont appeal or we pay for support.... 

I hadnt thought of MP.. the few times i've asked for help, a question or so on i've just got a stock 'fill in the blanks' type reply. I will sort an email out to him soon asking him to step in and ask for MR to be looked at again.

But the dining table has a pile of 300+ paper so thick i can't lift it that I assume needs reading through ... as someone who reads a book every 3-4 years that is an old favourite and in non tech speak.. that is just too much. 

The system is broken.. noody should have to pay to get the correct award.  But there is little other option for some

calcotti

Cyclamen said: But the dining table has a pile of 300+ paper so thick i can't lift it that I assume needs reading through ... 

Most of the content will be things you have already seen (copy of your submission, decision letters etc.).