Pip appeal

bargainhunter121

Has anyone done a telephone pip appeal? Mine is next Friday and I'm beyond nervous. I was just wondering if anyone had any insight they could offer, how long it was, was it more difficult than face to face, etc?

Alice_Holt

I would just concentrate on preparing some notes that you could use to explain why and how you should have been awarded PIP, and have some examples ready that you can tell the tribunal panel about.

This is a helpful site:
https://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/how-win-pip-appeal

And:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/your-hearing/

If you have someone who can be there with you, that might help calm your nerves.

Cyclamen

My husband had his PIP tribunal by phone.  A very strange feeling to be sat in bed with folders full of paperwork on the bed and a judge and panel on the end of the phone line.

His took about 1hrand a quarter.
The judge was very human and friendly.. not the scary monster i imagined.
The DWP didnt turn up to the phone call, there was a medical advisor and a disability specialist. 

Started with the judge introducing himself and taking to my husband, then talking to me we asked permisiion to use speaker phone.  He then added in our advocate and the rest of the panel.

Panel each introduced themselves so we could hear them. 

Then my husband was asked questions based on the paperwork submitted stating where advocate thought points were missing.  The medical advisor wasnt the friendliest chap and advocate commented afterwards but judge stepped in and stated my notes show that X was said. 

He was allowed to ask for a break, allowed to ask questions.  The judge made it clear I was allowed to speak and even asked me if I had anything to add at the end.  This came as a shock as I had been told I could only listen. 

Exhausting, emotional and hard going but my husband got the correct result by the end of it.

Advocate said we had a very nice judge and she hadnt been in court with one like him before.  

bargainhunter121

Thank you for your replies. My anxiety doesn't help in this situation, I just want it to be over but its not until 3.15pm on Friday so I'll be worrying until then. Its such a draining procedure. I was wondering, is the question 'describe a typical day? Still asked? And a diary type answer required? I've done it just incase but It's not great. I'm quite confused as a lot has changed since I applied and I can hardly remember back then. My renewal application was Feb 2020 and face to face the week before lockdown. It taken until now to get my date for appeal.

poppy12345

I wouldn't take the approach of describing a "typical day" you're much better off giving a couple of real world incidents of exactly what happened the last time you attempted each activity that applies. This should have already been done for your submission but if you haven't done this then you still have a little time left to do this before the hearing.

Don't be too alarmed if you don't get the decision on the day. It doesn't mean you've been refused, it just means they haven't yet made their decision. Usually when this happens they will send you a decision letter in the post within a few days.

Cyclamen

For my husband it was led by the paperwork.. they had been through it and asked questions and clarifications.

He wasnt asked to describe a day but was asked to givemore detail to some questions.. things that the advocate had said were missing points.. so a question on cooking.  he was told to give real examples to the panel. 

the doctor was quite hung up on some of the medical evidence disputing it .. but that didnt really succeed.  

it took a couple of weeks for the decision.. the judge thanked us, said goodbye and 'hung up' on us saying they would discuss and letter would be in post that day.. it took far longer.. 

it is a really scary feeling.. we felt so much 'lighter' at the end as nothing more could be done.. hang in there

bargainhunter121

Thanks so much. I'm glad your husband got the right decision in the end. It's a very draining process. My application form was very detailed and I'm not sure how much more information they need, but still....I have wrote some examples today so hopefully they'll be useful tomorrow. I just want it over now, tired of the stress.