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Devastated. Can't go on. PIP

32 replies

user874326686 · 07/09/2021 22:00

I was awarded the enhanced daily living rate and mobility rate 3 years ago.

Prior to that, before my mobility issues started, I was awarded the enhanced daily living rate.

I have never been able to work. I have many chronic conditions.

I've just received a letter stating I only scored 4 out of the whole assessment.

I'm no longer being awarded any PIP.

I don't know how I can live like this.

I feel suicidal. I have my 3yo dc here.

I have no one. I have no help.

OP posts:
healmebaby · 07/09/2021 22:05

appeal! utter bastards

Effinell · 07/09/2021 22:06

Hi lovely

The first thing you need to do is apply for a mandatory reconsideration

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/pip/appeals/mandatory-reconsideration/

A lot of decisions are overturned at this stage but you can take it to tribunal if it gets that far.

Citizens Advice are a good source of help as are any local benefit services. I'm not sure where in the country you are but if you Google you should hopefully find one near you x

2021Vision · 07/09/2021 22:07

OP slow down a bit there is something you can do, deep breaths.

Tomorrow morining call your local Citizens Advice Bureau and explain your situation. They have specialist people who can help. They will support you. It may be worth calling your GP too?

Flowers
EstherMumsnet · 07/09/2021 22:12

Hello OP,

We are really sorry to hear you are feeling this way. We hope you don't mind, but when these threads are flagged up to us we usually add a link to our Mental Health resources. You can also go to the Samaritans website or email them on [email protected]. Support from other Mumsnetters is great and we really hope you will be able to take some comfort from your fellow posters, but as other MNers will tell you, it's really a good idea to seek RL help and support as well.

We also like to remind everyone that, although we're awed daily by the astonishing support our members give each other through life's trickier twists and turns, we'd always caution anyone never to give more of themselves to another poster, emotionally or financially, than they can afford to spare.

We are going to move this thread to the Mental Health section shortly.

SpindleWhorl · 07/09/2021 22:16

Please access the Benefits and Work website for advice on Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals. And contact your MP.

You are extremely likely to win on appeal and it will be backdated.

I'm so sorry, PIP is a bastard. Flowers

RandomMess · 07/09/2021 22:19

Yep you have to appeal.

The whole system is ridiculous Thanks

serialname · 07/09/2021 22:22

Don't do anything rash tonight. Things are easier to deal with in daylight. Ring Samaritans, or family or friend if you need to tonight, then follow advice from previous posters about CAB and mandatory reconsideration tomorrow. There are people who can help.

Babyroobs · 07/09/2021 22:51

Ring PIP and ask for the report. then look at where you should have scored points and didn't. Gather medical evidence to support what you say you cannot do. Get help with the MR from CAB or similar. The key really is backing things up with medical evidence.

MercyBooth · 07/09/2021 22:59

Im so sorry to hear this. Please appeal it Flowers

user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:15

Thank you all for taking the time to post, I really appreciate it.

I stayed up all night to write the letter for reconsideration and collect evidence.

I'm thinking of making a complaint about the woman who wrote the report as it's nonsensical.

Just patiently waiting for 10+ weeks now whilst being down over £600.

I dread to think how many people this has happened to.

OP posts:
AlexaShutUp · 08/09/2021 11:18

I'm so sorry, OP. This is terrible and you are not the only one in this situation - sadly, many people are being wrong assessed. Please seek professional advice to help you challenge this. Contacting your local MP is also a good idea.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 08/09/2021 11:20

The only way to get it is to appeal. They’ve designed the system (purposefully) so people are denied, with the expectation that many will fail to appeal. You have to fight.

MatildaIThink · 08/09/2021 11:24

@user874326686

Thank you all for taking the time to post, I really appreciate it.

I stayed up all night to write the letter for reconsideration and collect evidence.

I'm thinking of making a complaint about the woman who wrote the report as it's nonsensical.

Just patiently waiting for 10+ weeks now whilst being down over £600.

I dread to think how many people this has happened to.

Something like 75% of all refusals are overturned on mandatory reconsideration, of the 25% ish that are not, more are overturned on full appeal.

The assessments are too simplistic, the people who do them underqualified. I totally agree that there needs to be some kind of assessment, but it also needs to work properly.

user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:26

*Something like 75% of all refusals are overturned on mandatory reconsideration, of the 25% ish that are not, more are overturned on full appeal.

The assessments are too simplistic, the people who do them underqualified. I totally agree that there needs to be some kind of assessment, but it also needs to work properly.*

Really? Shock

No way!

I am grateful that one of the things I can do is write eloquently.
What about people who can't? System is awful.

OP posts:
PhoboPhobia · 08/09/2021 11:27

Really sorry you’re having to deal with this bullshit on top of what all if your health issues. I hope they get it sorted soon Flowers

lemmein · 08/09/2021 11:30

It's appalling OP, I really feel for you - how anyone can support this shit I'll never know 😕

You will win at a tribunal, no doubt, and it will get backdated - but it takes ages to get that far, it's a disgusting system. Don't really know what to say because I know the hard road you've got ahead of you, just wanted to express my support, it shouldn't be happening Thanks

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/09/2021 11:30

It's awful OP, I scored 0 points despite already having a blue badge Confused

Best of luck appealing x

user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:32

The funny thing is she described my mental health as stable. It isn't but if it was this is the best way to stop that stability by taking £600+ away 🙄

OP posts:
MatildaIThink · 08/09/2021 11:32

@user874326686

*Something like 75% of all refusals are overturned on mandatory reconsideration, of the 25% ish that are not, more are overturned on full appeal.

The assessments are too simplistic, the people who do them underqualified. I totally agree that there needs to be some kind of assessment, but it also needs to work properly.*

Really? Shock

No way!

I am grateful that one of the things I can do is write eloquently.
What about people who can't? System is awful.

I have just had a look at the figures again, it is now about 20% are overturned on appeal, the 75% figure was from the early days of PIP. Still, in your case, considering that you were awarded the enhanced rate before I doubt it is reasonable to find you are suddenly fully able so you should be fine.

Have a look through the report, a lot of the issues come down to the way the answers are taken down. You can always speak to Citizens Advice, or a disability charity, and they are very good at helping you though the appeals. If you have a genuine case, which from what you have said you do, you will be able to win the mandatory reconsideration.

user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:33

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

It's awful OP, I scored 0 points despite already having a blue badge Confused

Best of luck appealing x

I'm sorry to hear this.

Did you manage to get it overturned?

OP posts:
user874326686 · 08/09/2021 11:33

@lemmein @PhoboPhobia

Thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated xx

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/09/2021 11:34

I am grateful that one of the things I can do is write eloquently.
What about people who can't? System is awful

I had an expert in PIP forms from the CAB fill out my form, I was still refused it. Makes no difference of you can write well or not. Utter bastards.

MatildaIThink · 08/09/2021 11:34

Just to clarify, only 20% are now overturned on appeal, but the amount overturned on mandatory reconsideration is still high, but no longer published.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 08/09/2021 11:35

Did you manage to get it overturned?

No I didn't, I asked for a mandatory reconsideration which came back the same. I was too stressed and upset to go to a tribunal.

WithASpider · 08/09/2021 11:39

PIP is horrendous. My DM is Deaf and partially sighted. Her report was full of lies!
She got her decision overturned with Mandatory Reconsideration. She's far from the only one I know of that this has happened to either. I swear they employ assessors without any common sense at all.
We're waiting on DD1's decision (ASD) and I've had to prepare her for a probable initial rejection.

Please appeal, they rely on people accepting the first decision.