Talk to me about PIP appeals please

[Dogsaresomucheasier]

DH has just been declined. If anything that should be evidence of the fact I need to be completing it for him! He has physical and cognitive issues associated with MS.

Please tell me what I need to know about how to appeal effectively!

MS can be a tricky one for PIP as often it fluctuates. It can only be granted if it affects him for over 50% of the time. Plus obviously he has to meet the criteria for points in each category. A lot of people succeed at appeal / tribunal but the variability might cause problems? Send in as many supporting letters as possible too, clinic letters, specialist nurse letter if possible, relating his difficulties to the activities you can score in. As specific as possible. Don't give up before appeal. Good luck.

You do have to apply for Mandatory Reconsideration before you can appeal. It's worth sending in lots of paperwork for that if you haven't already as this can sometimes make them award.

Thanks both. He has primary progressive, so he is only going to get worse unfortunately.

Ive got RRMS and got basic PIP without appealing. TBH I couldnt face an appeal so havent. But this website helped advise me, and have help for those facing an appeal. Good luck, MS is shit!

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

Definitely look at the Benefits and Work website.

Ask for an Explanation, a Copy of the Assessor's Report, and a Mandatory Reconsideration.

Then go to Appeal.

More PIP appeals are won than lost, remember that.

I've been through a PIP appeal for a relative of mine, we won when the hospital submitted additional information backing what we had said and didn't have to go to the tribunal. 65% of cases win on appeal, so don't give up, they seem to turn almost everyone down initially.

Contact your local welfare rights they will be able to help you.

Go to turn2us.org.uk and follow their advice to the letter.

I've just read that it's nearer 70% success at appeal currently.

What a dreadful system PIP is.

DWP and tribunal can only make decisions based on how he was at the time the original decision was made. Even if you wait a year for tribunal, they can't take any deterioration into account. So if he gets worse while waiting for tribunal, I would put a new claim in. They can't take into account any future deterioration sadly - only how he is at time of each decision. And like I said it has to be over 50% of the time so it is worth you saying things like, he is like this 4 days a week, or 3 weeks a month, etc, for anything that fluctuates.

Look at all the descriptors very careful and see what issues he has that will give him points. Focus on these- I had a person help me fill in the form but they went to try and give me points for everything! When I went to appeal i concentrated on the things I have most difficulty with and was successful.