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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to give up with pip tribunal?

28 replies

Tobythecat · 02/10/2018 13:12

I am autistic and have mh issues. I had my pip tribunal a week ago. The judge grilled me and didnt seem to believe me, him and the doctor had an accusatory tone. My mum and support worker were with me and he grilled them too. The judge decided to adjourn my case because he wanted more evidence. He also gave me the number of a local representative.

I just went to see the representative with my support worker, she looked through all my evidence and made out that i was lying. She was horrible and spoke down to me. She said i have a degree (which i did completely online) and said i have no case.

I cant stop crying. I dont know where to go from here. I was previously getting DLA but cant survive on just my esa of 500 a month. I dont know if i should give up now because i will just get a 2 hour long grilling at the tribunal again which will be traumatising, and then they would probably still award me nothing. I want to die, i cant take anymore.

OP posts:

loubluee · 02/10/2018 13:20

Don’t give up that’s what they want you to do! I have 2 degrees, have bipolar and get PIP (also for a back injury from a car accident), but 50% of my problems are mental health related. Please don’t give up, I’m not well today so can’t write much but will drop you a dm later in the week. Stay strong x

Spam88 · 02/10/2018 13:24

I have no practical advice to offer, but don't give up OP they treat you like this and make you jump through all these hoops so that you'll give up and then the government can declare what a wonderful job they've done of reducing the welfare bill. It's despicable how they're treating people, but don't let them win.

6SpringCats · 02/10/2018 13:26

Agree try not to give up, its what they want. Contact your support worker and tell her how you feel.

aLilNonnyMouse · 02/10/2018 13:28

Don't give up. 70% of people are winning their tribunals. They are trying to make people give up because they know they are likely to lose!

I've had to go to tribunal 4 times now, I was grilled like that every time, told I had no case, and every time I won.

Have a look here for the PIP descriptors and write down the reasons exactly why you score points for each one. Take that in with you, and when they are grilling you you'll have something to refer back to. It might help you keep a clear head if you have something to refer to - I know it did for me.

Good luck, you are almost through to the end, you've done amazing to get this far, just keep going a little further.

Lougle · 02/10/2018 13:28

Having a degree isn't a criteria for or against PIP, so don't worry about that.

Original poster

Tobythecat · 02/10/2018 13:41

I have already put together a letter with my mum relating to the descriptors. The judge was very impressed with it and tried to accuse me of writing it all by myself.

OP posts:

Original poster

Tobythecat · 02/10/2018 13:43

I dont enjoy my life, this is just another thing to make it more unenjoyable.

OP posts:

Aeroflotgirl · 02/10/2018 14:29

Funny they take from the vulnerable, I don't see MP jumping through hoops for their large pay packet.

Aeroflotgirl · 02/10/2018 14:30

My dd 11 has ASD and learning difficulties, hope PIP goes by then, she has DLA. I can see her scoring high points on some of the criteria at the moment, it might change as she gets older.

Broken11Girl · 02/10/2018 14:38

I'm sorry. Having a degree is nothing to do with PIP. Please don't give up

KatieMarieJ · 02/10/2018 14:42

Please don't give in. My brother in law won at tribunal a few weeks ago now after a year or more of being knocked back at appeals etc. My sister is accustomed to dealing with courts in her profession yet even she said that the process felt like they were on trial. It seems like part of the DWPs current MO is to try and put people off their applications. Please try not to give in.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 02/10/2018 14:48

You need to look at your points score and particularly at the questions where you feel you weren't awarded the right number of points. Then you need to provide evidence for what you are saying.

Yourenotericlove · 02/10/2018 14:49

I know someone who went from zero points at initial assessment to 23 at tribunal. They want you to give up, keep going.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 02/10/2018 14:51

Sorry cross posted.

I don't see that it matters if you did write them yourself. Obviously you can write a coherent sentence; you have a degree. I have a degree and I still get PIP.

AmateurSwami · 02/10/2018 14:52

Funny they take from the vulnerable, I don't see MP jumping through hoops for their large pay packet.

Couldn’t agree more. I’m sorry you’re having to go through this shit op.

Bombardier25966 · 02/10/2018 14:55

The assessor said I could manage my finances because I worked in finance. She neglected to mention that I lasted six months ... and it was twenty years ago! Fucking joke.

I completely understood why you want to give up. It's soul destroying, I ended up under the crisis team because of it. But if you're entitled to it, and on what you've said you are, please please keep going. If the tribunal have asked for more evidence then you're still in there, they've not refused you. You're more likely to win that not.

I hope you get some better news soon.

Rockmeamaryllis · 02/10/2018 14:57

I had 2 PIP interviews last week for my 2 teenage children who have life long mental health issues. The interviews were both horrendous. A month ago we completed 2 in depth questionnaires and supplied medical evidence for their conditions. We then had less than a week’s notice for both interviews. The interviewer asked my kids the same questions that were on the questionnaire. She kept asked them why they couldn’t do something. Apparently just saying it’s due to their autism isn’t sufficient. Any confidence that my kids have had was completely destroyed in the interview. My daughter needs to be reminded to have baths and wash her hair. However she doesn’t want to admit to anyone this, so she told the interviewer she didn’t need this help. Trying to persuade her that it was true was difficult and embarrassing. No body likes to admit their faults nor concentrate on their failings to complete strangers. Carers will tell you that’s it’s so important to concentrate on their positives. We came out of the interview feeling very depressed and angry vowing that we would never put ourselves through that again, even if losing the money puts us at a financial disadvantage.They are attacking the most vulnerable in society who can’t fight any unfair decisions. This is exactly what the government want.

Oblomov18 · 02/10/2018 15:18

Please don't give up. That's what they want you to do!

Dodie66 · 02/10/2018 15:20

Don’t give up. I agree with other posters. That’s what they want you to do. You might get a different judge next time
Good luck

SilverDragonfly1 · 02/10/2018 15:40

Well, representative is a twat. PIP is an in-work benefit, so suggesting doing a degree online is even relevant is ridiculous. Even a full time uni based degree is not the same in terms of commitment as a full time job (ie you can take the day off without penalty, do the work when it suits you and so on- NOT suggesting uni is easy!). It might be worth listing in writing the adjustments you had to make to complete your degree compared to other students- again, not because it's relevant but because some professionals who should know better apparently don't realise that.

MaMaMaBelle · 02/10/2018 15:49

My dh just lost his pip tribunal and was made to feel like he is a liar, so I know a little how you're feeling.

Please don't give up though. Have you been to citizens advice for help?

Original poster

Tobythecat · 02/10/2018 16:37

I feel like its all a bad dream. I dont have it in me to keep fighting.

OP posts:

Bombardier25966 · 02/10/2018 16:40

Do you know what other evidence they want? Are you to get it or is the tribunal getting it?

Original poster

Tobythecat · 02/10/2018 17:30

The judge is requesting my medical records. Im going to as well

OP posts:

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 02/10/2018 17:49

What is the worst that can happen if you go? That they won’t believe you? Well prepare yourself for that but you stand a chance of being successful. Are you allowed an advocate who can speak up for you?

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