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£600 gone

205 replies

user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:13

Opened a letter last night that says they've decided I'm not entitled to any PIP.

I've been receiving the enhanced rates for daily and mobility for years.

I've never been able to work.

I've stayed up all night to write a letter and collect evidence only to be told it's taking them longer than the 10 week time line to reconsider despite it taking them 5 days to decide to remove all of my award.

I asked how I'm supposed to manage with £600+ removed.
I was told I can get a job as it isn't means-tested.

Unfuckingbelievable

OP posts:
gnarlyauldboiler · 08/09/2021 11:16
Sad

I'm sorry this happened to you. I know the PIP process is horrendous. Can you access a charity who could perhaps help you to improve/adjust the application?

Tooembarrassingtomention · 08/09/2021 11:17

Very few people cant work at all- it is about getting the right support in place.

Can you get advice and help with this?

toolazytothinkofausername · 08/09/2021 11:17

I am so sorry you are going through this. The system is disgusting. I hope someone comes along to offer useful advice.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

VanCleefArpels · 08/09/2021 11:19

Contact CAB ASAP and they will help you to ask for a mandatory reconsideration and, if necessary, later appeal to a tribunal. None of this will happen quickly but if successful you will get your claim backdated. You should gather together all relevant medical evidence to support your claim and have a look here at all the various criteria and have a think where your points will come from

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/

toolazytothinkofausername · 08/09/2021 11:19

@Tooembarrassingtomention

Very few people cant work at all- it is about getting the right support in place.

Can you get advice and help with this?

But no one gives a crap about disabled people! No one can be bothered to put the right support in place!

LMAO get advice and support!!! From where?!?!?

VanCleefArpels · 08/09/2021 11:20

I’m assuming you are claiming means tested benefits as well if you are not working?

Akire · 08/09/2021 11:20

You can appeal it’s common to be awarded zero then in appeal to get max award. Don’t give up yet get advice how to appeal and how to have representation on the day.

user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:21

@Tooembarrassingtomention

Very few people cant work at all- it is about getting the right support in place.

Can you get advice and help with this?

Yeah, I'm one of those people.

Have no idea what to do for 3 months

OP posts:
worrybutterfly · 08/09/2021 11:21

Make sure you contact CAB to get advise.

If they are now saying you can work, can you claim jobseekers? It won't make up for the full £600 but will hopefully soften the blow until you get reassessed or find suitable work (if it exists).

user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:21

@gnarlyauldboiler

Sad

I'm sorry this happened to you. I know the PIP process is horrendous. Can you access a charity who could perhaps help you to improve/adjust the application?

That's a really good idea. I'm going to contact them this morning. Thank you
OP posts:
user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:22

[quote VanCleefArpels]Contact CAB ASAP and they will help you to ask for a mandatory reconsideration and, if necessary, later appeal to a tribunal. None of this will happen quickly but if successful you will get your claim backdated. You should gather together all relevant medical evidence to support your claim and have a look here at all the various criteria and have a think where your points will come from

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/help-with-your-claim/fill-in-form/[/quote]
Thank you for your advice. I'm going to contact them also

Thanks a lot Smile

OP posts:
user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:23

@VanCleefArpels

I’m assuming you are claiming means tested benefits as well if you are not working?
Correct yes. Unfortunately these are consumed by my high rental amount which isn't covered by housing benefit.
OP posts:
user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:24

@Akire

You can appeal it’s common to be awarded zero then in appeal to get max award. Don’t give up yet get advice how to appeal and how to have representation on the day.
Thank you.

It's crazy. I've literally been getting the enhanced rate since I was 16. My conditions have only worsened.

OP posts:
Porridgealert · 08/09/2021 11:25

This happened to a friend of mine. She did appeal it and got it reinstated but it does take time. Are you entitled to universal credit?

VanCleefArpels · 08/09/2021 11:25

@user874326686 we get this ALL THE TIME - try not to panic! Success rate is about 60-70% . The big issue is the length of delay which makes meeting regular bills n the interim tricky. Please ask CAB to do a benefits check with you to make sure you are claiming everything you can. If you live with a partner their income and your joint savings etc will be taken into account.

VanCleefArpels · 08/09/2021 11:28

@user874326686 it’s not uncommon for local housing allowance to not cover private rents sadly. Are you on your council housing register? Social housing rents usually much more in line with housing allowance

user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:28

@Porridgealert

This happened to a friend of mine. She did appeal it and got it reinstated but it does take time. Are you entitled to universal credit?
Do you know how long it took?

I do, but I have a 3yo with chronic illnesses and a high rent. I'm literally going to have £50pw to spend on bills, food, transport to hospital etc

OP posts:
user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:30

[quote VanCleefArpels]@user874326686 we get this ALL THE TIME - try not to panic! Success rate is about 60-70% . The big issue is the length of delay which makes meeting regular bills n the interim tricky. Please ask CAB to do a benefits check with you to make sure you are claiming everything you can. If you live with a partner their income and your joint savings etc will be taken into account.[/quote]
Thank you so much.

I have applied for Discretionary Housing Payments also.

There's literally no suitable properties to rent either.

Nightmare

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 08/09/2021 11:35

@Tooembarrassingtomention

Very few people cant work at all- it is about getting the right support in place.

Can you get advice and help with this?

Jesus!

I support a woman who has what is coloquially known as 'sudden drop epilepsy'. She can't work, ever. Can't even volunteer as her condition is utterly inconsistent and she can have an episode at any moment. When she is good she is a little frail, tottery on her feet but otherwise seems perfectly normal. When she has an episode her body goes rigid and she 'flaps' full body length, has put holes in walls, ripped radiators of walls with her head.

Her DH is her full time carer. He gets no repsite. Her medication is not supported in day care homes, it's given via anal suppository.

Not only does he get questioned about his nonworking/carer status she does. Over and over again her consultant has sent detailed, starkly written letters. We have detailed the cost of the NHS supplying 24/7 medical care and compared it to the cost of their combined benefit care.

And still she gets grilled because when she is not having or recovering from an episode she seems 'perfectly normal'. As we know only too well, having lost a good friend, any attack can be fatal and the more she has the more of her mental faculties become eroded. She is now in her late 40s, miraculously still alive but less and less mobile, less able to talk etc.

And yet she still has that letter on a regular basis.

She isn't alone. And there are many other conditions that are similarly constraining, no amount of support wil change that.

@user874326686 have you got a local advice centre, often called Neighbourhood Projects or One Stop Shops? They will have an advisor who an help you write your next letter, maybe get you access to an emergency payment.

Best of luck

Akire · 08/09/2021 11:36

May be worth email to MP to see if least can bump your appeal higher up the ladder. If your housing is so high that it’s taken large portion of your “to live on benefits” that’s much worse position than someone who’s “just” lost PIP. Appeals are done at local level so May be more wriggle room.

In mean time find out how get referral local food banks so you not spending money on food. Speak to PALS about how to claim back travel expenses to hospital you may not know about this of just used PIP before.

Babyroobs · 08/09/2021 11:41

If you get Universal Credit and cannot work - do you get the LCWRA element of UC? Have you been assessed for this ? It is an extra £343 a month on your claim.

nellly · 08/09/2021 11:41

Have they given details about why it was removed? Something concrete you can challenge?
Contact your local community hub/housing office as well, it might not seem like their issues but we have specialist benefits advisors in our council and they're based there. They know all the ins and outs and would have good advice on whether you're actually still entitled and how to get it reinstated

Babyroobs · 08/09/2021 11:43

@worrybutterfly

Make sure you contact CAB to get advise.

If they are now saying you can work, can you claim jobseekers? It won't make up for the full £600 but will hopefully soften the blow until you get reassessed or find suitable work (if it exists).

If op is already claiming Universal credit , then claiming JSA is not going to make her any better off.
NigellasCookalong · 08/09/2021 11:44

@Tooembarrassingtomention

Very few people cant work at all- it is about getting the right support in place.

Can you get advice and help with this?

How can you even write this when OP has given absolutely no indication of what her illness is apart from that she can’t work, no idea why you’re questioning that? She hasn’t asked on help on how to get back to work.

Maybe technically she is physically capable of doing a few hours of certain types of work but maybe that will have an extreme detrimental impact on her disability.

OP definitely appeal and ask for your report to see how you’ve suddenly gone from full allowance to zero points.

Babyroobs · 08/09/2021 11:44

@user874326686

Opened a letter last night that says they've decided I'm not entitled to any PIP.

I've been receiving the enhanced rates for daily and mobility for years.

I've never been able to work.

I've stayed up all night to write a letter and collect evidence only to be told it's taking them longer than the 10 week time line to reconsider despite it taking them 5 days to decide to remove all of my award.

I asked how I'm supposed to manage with £600+ removed.
I was told I can get a job as it isn't means-tested.

Unfuckingbelievable

Did you send much medical evidence with your original renewal?