PIP face to face assessment - Need some advice.

SaitenMar

poppy12345 said:

The most likely outcome of any MR is the decision stays the same. You do actually have 13 months to appeal the decision, with good reason why you didn't request it within the first month.

Success rate at Tribunal is a lot higher than MR too and the last time i checked it was about 70% success rate, if you appear in person (or telephone)

SaitenMar said:

Because of this, I have decided to end my attempt at claiming PIP and will look elsewhere to see if there are any other options available to me.

Not sure what you mean by this but PIP is the only disability benefit for working age people.

I was curious if there is any other form of support available, but it doesn't seem so. The whole process of PIP has felt like talking to a brick wall and it's made me feel worthless. The idea of the Tribunal is so overwhelming to me, especially given how things have gone so far despite what the statistics say, so I'm still not sure I have it in me. 

SaitenMar

Thanks for the replies, do appreciate them. The family have advised I take a week or so to think things over, it's probably not helping that my pain levels have been pretty high the past week so not been in the best frame of mind. The idea of the Tribunal is so daunting to me and I can imagine how bad my anxiety will get if I go through with that. So right now I'm just not sure about fighting it. That said I do really appreciate all the helpful advice you folks have provided me on here, the only place I've been able to get any real help. 

Alice_Holt

I do appreciate the idea of the Tribunal would be daunting, but do take into account:

i)  The tribunal's job is to decide if the DWP decision was correct or incorrect,
ii)  You have nothing to lose by explaining things to a tribunal - but if they decide the DWP decision is incorrect (and award you only an additional 2 points) then you receive PIP,  
iii)  In my experience tribunals are very good at putting claimants (as far as possible) at their ease. They will want to hear from you, and are well aware that people will be stressed and anxious. 

Have a look at the section in the Advice Now guide about how tribunals work and what happens on the day. 

savingholmes

Good luck whatever you decide. I found the benefits&work website really helpful as it has a lot of guides. It has a subscription fee - but I got a little knocked off by doing its PIP questionnaire first...

SaitenMar

savingholmes said:

Good luck whatever you decide. I found the benefits&work website really helpful as it has a lot of guides. It has a subscription fee - but I got a little knocked off by doing its PIP questionnaire first...

Alice_Holt said:

I do appreciate the idea of the Tribunal would be daunting, but do take into account:

i)  The tribunal's job is to decide if the DWP decision was correct or incorrect,
ii)  You have nothing to lose by explaining things to a tribunal - but if they decide the DWP decision is incorrect (and award you only an additional 2 points) then you receive PIP,  
iii)  In my experience tribunals are very good at putting claimants (as far as possible) at their ease. They will want to hear from you, and are well aware that people will be stressed and anxious. 

Have a look at the section in the Advice Now guide about how tribunals work and what happens on the day. 

Thanks for the advice. I have started the tribunal process online. Still rather daunting, just hope I can cope with it. 

elsien

You know you can take someone with you to tribunal for moral support? 

SaitenMar

elsien said:

You know you can take someone with you to tribunal for moral support? 

I'm aware of it. Depends on when my tribunal will be and I can't really predict that. Wait and see I guess. 

poppy12345

Your hearing may also be by telephone.

Alice_Holt

SaitenMar said:

savingholmes said:

Good luck whatever you decide. I found the benefits&work website really helpful as it has a lot of guides. It has a subscription fee - but I got a little knocked off by doing its PIP questionnaire first...

Alice_Holt said:

I do appreciate the idea of the Tribunal would be daunting, but do take into account:

i)  The tribunal's job is to decide if the DWP decision was correct or incorrect,
ii)  You have nothing to lose by explaining things to a tribunal - but if they decide the DWP decision is incorrect (and award you only an additional 2 points) then you receive PIP,  
iii)  In my experience tribunals are very good at putting claimants (as far as possible) at their ease. They will want to hear from you, and are well aware that people will be stressed and anxious. 

Have a look at the section in the Advice Now guide about how tribunals work and what happens on the day. 

Thanks for the advice. I have started the tribunal process online. Still rather daunting, just hope I can cope with it. 

        I hope it goes well for you. 

        It might be worth contacting your local advice charity, and seeing if they have any capacity to help with the appeal.

        Otherwise, as savingholmes said, the Benefits and Work PIP appeal guides are very comprehensive (however membership is c.£20 a year). 

  https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-appeals

Robbie64

Benefits and Work do offer a discounted membership. You need to subscribe to the weekly newsletter on the website. The newsletter (normally emailed to subscribers on a Wednesday morning) usually includes a code which offers £4 off the membership price.