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AMA
Original poster

I have just gone through a PIP tribunal (and won)

36 replies

DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 16/04/2019 16:19

After nearly a 2 year wait, thought it might be useful.

Also in that time was made homeless, had to go into temp accommodation and go through all that as well. So know a little about that system as well.

OP posts:
bsc · 16/04/2019 16:20

No question, but well done! I hope things improve for you Thanks

Frokoko · 16/04/2019 16:21

Have the back dated your payments?
Well done x

Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 16/04/2019 16:22

Thank you, after the delays it is a relief, although now probably going to have to do the same for ESA

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Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 16/04/2019 16:23

Frokoko

Yes they did, it came through in about 4 weeks (tribunal was 6 weeks ago)

We managed to pay off a lot of the debt we had gotten into plus a few little treats for our DS

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Brandnewshit · 16/04/2019 19:58

Were you challenging a total no decision or challenging being marked down?
And good for you seeing it through!

Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 16/04/2019 20:21

Brandnewshit

I was challenging a total no decision.

I got awarded for the next 18 months, as my disability is mental health related and I am going through some fairly intensive therapy, plus trying various new medication.

They normally only award 12 months at a time, but the panel said because they are aware of the DWP calling people in 6 months earlier than the award ends, they would give me a little longer

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elliejjtiny · 17/04/2019 10:58

What was the tribunal like? I'm going to tribunal in 2 weeks for my son's dla and I'm dreading it.

Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 17/04/2019 13:33

elliejjtiny

It was actually a lot easier than I thought. You need to go through a metal detecter, then you are put in a seperate room, till you are called.

One of the things I was unprepared for, was on my second date (I had 3 tribunal dates altogether, first one was cancelled a week before) the second one was postponed for more evidence, I honestly didn't think that after such a long wait they would do that, so ended up bursting into tears.

They asked a lot of questions, with the words the majority of the time, I was really sick of that phrase by the end of it. I did the whole appeal process by myself, so it was just my partner and I. But I had sent in so much supportive evidence is was unreal.

The best piece of advice that I found was don't say yes but. Just go no, if you (or you son) can't do it.

I also asked for time to find what I was looking for. I had a diary of my mental health over the previous 2 weeks, while it didn't help as they only take into account the time of the assessment, it did let them know of an average period for me.

Good luck with yours

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BambooB · 19/04/2019 08:00

How long did it take to get to tribunal? X

Snog · 19/04/2019 08:38

Congrats on finally getting the award, and I'm sorry to hear that it has been so difficult and time consuming to get. PIP and ESA systems are a national disgrace and embarrassment.

Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:14

BambooB

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Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:18

BambooB

Sorry pressed the wrong button.

From being refused to the getting it back it took just under 2 years. The waiting time in my area was 47 weeks.

However in that time I had a cancellation at around 16 months and then a month later they postponed it due to wanting more evidence (although I think it had to do with the fact it was lunchtime) and then I had to wait till I got another date

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jackparlabane · 19/04/2019 14:21

Congratulations OP, and sorry to hear of another scandalous refusal in the first place.

Can't stress highly enough how 'yes' is a trigger word for ignoring people - you have to say no, 'because I cannot do x repeatedly, reliably, safely, to a reasonable standard or in a reasonable time' as appropriate.

Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:22

Snog

Thank you, the systems are really bad and something new needs to be put in place. I get some of the reasons as to why they do things they are doing it, but I had someone who was trained in physiotherapy make decisions on me, who has mental health problems.

There has to be a better way, especially as its costing a whole lot more money making people go to tribunal. Refusing people is not saving any money at all as its something like 70% all get it back at tribunal

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NoBaggyPants · 19/04/2019 14:24

The system is abysmal, it's always positive to hear when someone gets the right outcome.

They normally only award 12 months at a time,

This is not accurate. Awards can be anything from one year (with assessment starting after six months) to ten years.

Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:25

jackparlabane

The best advice I got was do not say yes but. Just go no, I am fairly sure I got it on here and it was the 2nd most repeated phrase after "the majority of time"

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Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:27

NoBaggyPants

This is not accurate. Awards can be anything from one year (with assessment starting after six months) to ten years.

Sorry I was basing that on my own experience and also my friends,

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NoBaggyPants · 19/04/2019 14:29

No problem. Hopefully at your next renewal they'll grant a longer award (and not make it so difficult to get it).

lillymunster · 19/04/2019 14:30

Well done OP!
What sort of questions did they ask you? Were they a repeat of what they ask in the first interview when you've initially made your claim or different/additional things?

Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:40

No problem. Hopefully at your next renewal they'll grant a longer award (and not make it so difficult to get it).

NoBaggyPants

I am seriously hoping that I will not have to do this again. During the time I was waiting I got a diagnosis of bipolar. I am lucky that the mental health care in my area is really good. In January 2018 I went to the doctor to tell them I was having some very worrying suicidal thoughts and I was thinking of acting on them.

That prompted a lot of services getting involved in my life and since then we have been trying out various medication to get me as stable as possible as well as working on my anxiety and OCD.

The tribunal has technically given me a deadline to try and get sorted because I really don't want to go through this again. However, if I am still not doing well, myself and my partner have made the decision not to do it anyway, it made me so unwell its unbelievable and put our relationship under an unreal amount of pressure that its just not worth it

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 19/04/2019 14:44

because they are aware of the DWP calling people in 6 months earlier than the award ends, they would give me a little longer
Sorry op but it’s 12 months before award date you are invited to reapply.

Flyinga · 19/04/2019 14:46

Great to hear! It must have been hell waiting 2 years, but try to look at it as having been saving!

Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:47

lillymunster

It was a mixture, they really wanted to try and get to know what it was like living a day in my life, they went into a lot more depth than the original assessment, because they can only base it on the time of the original assessment they had to try and figure out what I was like at that time 2 years ago.

I checked social media accounts to try and figure out where I was mentally

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Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:48

Sorry op but it’s 12 months before award date you are invited to reapply.

I really really hope you are wrong

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Original poster
DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 19/04/2019 14:56

Flyinga

I wish I could, but due to losing PIP we also had real difficulty paying our rent as well as doing certain things for my son which really helped me out.

TBF in that time we also lost ESA, tax credits and had our housing benefit suspended,

In the end our landlord gave us notice to quit, we were never in arrears as such but we were late a few times and they could not afford us being late as that would make them late with their bills, so I understand why and it helped us out with the council if I am honest, but it was a lovely house and I really regret losing it, but we would of have to leave as he needed to put the rent up and we were struggling with the rent as it was

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