What to do can't work or claim benefits

[Marianne22]

I've been on medication for depression and anxiety for 8 years.

I have dyslexia and an autism diagnosis.

I'm currently on a waiting list to be assessed for dyspraxia and something to do with cognitive ???

I know people CAN work with the above but I cannot.

I've tried. Day to day life is hard.

I had a PIP assessment in August and got awarded 2 points. I'm now waiting to hear back re a tribunal meeting.

There are lots of contradictions and false information in the DWP report.

I'm stuck. Husband works but it barely covers the bills.

Any advice please x

Has your husband applied for tax credits or universal credit? If he is on a low wage would get universal credit unless you have savings over £16000. And anything you have over £6000 it would be reduced.

no one can make a new claim for tax credits unless you already have an award. If you are on a low income you would need to claim universal credit.

We aren't entitled. He's on a good wage but has too many outgoings that can't be cancelled.

Ok there's nothing else then except PIP. The PIP decisions are often overturned at tribunal.

Other than going through tribunal and keeping fingers crossed I'm not sure there are other options. You'll either need to reduce outgoings or look for work you can do.

My doctor, Citizens Advice and the Autism accessor agree I should be entitled

My doctor, Citizens Advice and the Autism accessor agree I should be entitled

Did they all provide evidence for your PIP claim?

Then hopefully you will be successful at tribunal.

Not evidence specifically for the claim but I had sent my medical notes including medication mood and counselling appointments. Plus the letter stating I have autism and difficulty communicating retaining information socialising etc

The DWP decision letter says I'm diagnosed with anxiety and I'm on medication then states I have no diagnosis or mental health input.

It says I said I cannot wash dress walk prepare food but when I filled in the form I did not give examples of how I cannot do these and I ticked I can manage these. The report then says I said I have no difficulty with them.

Plus they say I'm on no medication but I have 8 years of doctors appointment notes stating the different medication I've been on.

I genuinely thought the report had been sent to me by mistake.

CAB were no help to be honest. He spent all of my appointment typing a letter for me to give to my doctor.

Have you already requested and been rejected for Mandatory Reconsideration?

Since the issue seems to be that your evidence wasn't tailored to the questions, it sounds like the CAB were writing the letter to help you explain to your doctor exactly what you're trying to evidence.

The DWP can't award points if the evidence for each point isn't in front of them, clear as day. Assessors have no discretion to apply their own judgement. It's either evidenced or it's not. Any ambiguity and it will go down as zero points.

That said, the tribunal is independent (I have no experience of that part) so your evidence may well be handled differently by them.

Are you under a social worker or the disability team at the council? They might be able to help.

Yes I have sent off the MR and I've had a letter from the tribunal and DWP response to my appeal.

The letter the Citizens Advice Advisor wrote was to explain I had been turned down for PIP.

He took 4 of the points / categories eg money handling, communication, planning routes and another and asked whether they agree or disagree and if they have any comments to make.

I had to send this to three people. It was difficult to think who to send it too as they don't know me personally and they only know what I've told them. They can't say whether it's actually true.

I chose a Doctor, the Autism Accessor and a Counsellor. I'm not sure they will respond and if they do they will have to look through their notes to see who I am and I'm not sure that's something they do.

I don't have a social worker or disability team. They say I'm high functioning. Since my diagnosis I've had one follow up appointment and that's it. I don't think any of my disabilities??? Can be cured so I don't think anyone can help???

My mums a Social Worker so luckily helps with the forms and pretty much helps me with day to day life.

Not only that she pays for medication glasses takes me to appointments does my shopping.

Without her helping financially I don't know what I'd do.

Marianne at this point you need to reduce your out goings. Does your husband have an expensive car? Are you in debt? Have you got an expensive house? If he has a good job and your not entitled to benefits what are your outgoings?

You could make a claim for ESA as well as PIP. You would need an assessment to see if you are eligible.

@IndecentFeminist

Other than going through tribunal and keeping fingers crossed I'm not sure there are other options. You'll either need to reduce outgoings or look for work you can do.

This really

It isn't a new situation and there aren't any secret options

You might or might not get pip. It's often successful at tribunal so fingers crossed.

I would focus energy on what to do day to day to either reduce outgoings or increase incomings. What kind of work could you do, do you think? Ebay selling or something else at a distance for example? Or working in environments with few people in eg garden centres? If you don't/can't work then reducing outgoings is your other main option. Who does most of the finances or is it shared?

What are your DHs outgoings? Can they be cut at all? Does he do much at home? You say your mum does your shopping, is that separate to 'family' shop?

I'm not sure they will respond and if they do they will have to look through their notes to see who I am and I'm not sure that's something they do

If you want to get PIP, I'd make it a priority to get the supporting evidence you need.

I would follow up each of the professionals you've written to with a phone call (or ask your mum to call if that's more practical), and then, if you have to leave a message, an email too after a day or two. Explain how important their input is to your case and that you're just calling to check they're able to provide a letter and to make sure they have everything they need. Then diarise it and call them again if you haven't heard anything in a week or two (depending on your tribunal date).

When you say your professionals won't remember you, I don't understand why you're not having any intervention at the moment. You say it's curable (presumably you mean the anxiety and depression?), so if you're not getting the help you need, can you go back to your GP?

Yes, why can't you apply for ESA?

RoLaren - presumably op can't claim ESA as she hasn't worked for eight years so won't have paid NI contributions in the relevant years to claim Contributions based ESA and because her husband works she would not be able to claim a means tested benefit like Universal credit as presumably he earns too much.

Sorry I should have said husband works away. He's hardly home. When he is home he does the shop.

I usually have it delivered but can't get a slot now.

I'm not sure what ESA is but I don't think I can get anything.

Husband went without a car for years but the getting a taxi 2 trains and a other taxi every time he came home or went back was expensive.

I'm not sure how old the cat is but it's a Mazda not new or flashy. I think it was £6000.

The only things we could possibly cancel is the broadband. We can't cancel our phones as we are in contract but I do need my phone really. It's an iPhone 6 so the cheapest contact I could get.

He's on a good wage but has too many outgoings that can't be cancelled

Can't or won't? You don't mention DC so it sounds like it's just you two. Do you live in an expensive area, are you running two households due to DH working away or is one of you overspending/have debts?

A couple without children should be able to live comfortably on 'a good wage'. If he always works away in the same place, is it possible for you both to move there so you only have to run one household? If he is employed, is his employer fully covering the costs of him working away?

Can you have a really good go through your budget together, to see if there is any way of cutting costs and making things balance?

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/money-help/

We have two children 8 and 10

I didn't want to mention the kids as people have said I can't be that bad if I look after children on my own. My mum will have one twice a week. Takes them to school and to appointments etc.

I've done all the budgeting tools and phoned the debt lines. They all say we can't manage on one income but I can't work I tried again over Christmas the mistakes I made were awful and the thought of getting a bus made me sick.

Who looks after them if you cannot “wash dress walk prepare food” as quoted by you earlier ?