Emphysema

[pekingeselover]

My pip tribunal is tomorrow. I think the dwp is trying to down play the problems i have with my breathing. They stated on their reasons about my claim that a inhaler i was given is used for moderate copd, although i have sent in evidence of my condition that states i have severe emphysema(significant bullous disease)+ asthma component. I use ventolin, fostair 200/6 and spiriva respimat inhalers. I am prescribed 2 ventolin, 2 fostair and 1 spiriva per month. I have sent a cd to the tribunal from the hospital that contains xray and ct scan images. Any idea why the dwp would do this ?

[hypercat54]

I have heard a few times that they have targets to turn down so many claims. Remember it's not what illness you have but how it affects you. It doesn't matter whether you are termed moderate or severe it's solely how you are affected by it. Good luck.

[pekingeselover in reply to hypercat54]

I can be fine one minute, then get up and walk in to the kitchen to do something then out of nowhere my breathing is bad and i cant do what i intended to do, even things simple like using the cleaner, i will start to hoover, then minutes later i cant continue due to not being able to get a breath and i will have to leave it. At times i just feel exhausted and i cant do anything. I dont know if it is connected, but at times when my difficulty breathing starts i start getting real bad chest pains which last for hrs.

[hypercat54 in reply to pekingeselover]

Well make sure you tell them all this. If they ask can you hoover etc. say yes but tell them how long it takes you and what happens. One of the criteria of PIP is not just that you can do something but that you can do it in a timely and safe manner. This will get you points where just saying yes won't. If they ask how many times it happens make sure you say at least 4 days a week. Remember to base this on your worst days.

[Hidden in reply to pekingeselover]

I would advise you to answer questions in a different way. Can you hoover NO getting up and trying doesn't come into it. Trying to do it and can't is a 'no' and trying to be helpful by expanding on that is ruining your case. If there is a time when you can't do anything 'as you intended' the answer must be no. Don't try to be chatty and helpful and positive like we try to do on here, use very few words ideally just 'yes' or 'no'.Just trying to help. 🙂

[pekingeselover in reply to Hidden]

Appreciated

[Badbessie]

Sadly they do it all the time. I have a number chronic pain conditions on my assessment they said I was not in pain. Then in another part of the assessment they gave a list of various opiate based medicine that I was on regularly for chronic pain and other for breakthrough pain. Their assessment of you was very subjective ie the opinion of the assessor. However you have the results of various scans, lung function tests, x-rays etc which prove you have a severe condition which limits your ability in day to day activities. The fact that you are on three inhalers speaks for it's self. As I have said before concentrate on how the condition affects you every day. The assessment system is cruel and unfair but the only way to win is to keep hitting them with evidence.

[Bkin]

It is usual for DWP to do this. The good news is, everyone on the panel who will question you at the Tribunal are not DWP and will give you a fair hearing, all they are interested in is the truth of your situation and how it affects your daily living, just answer their questions honestly, they are much kinder than the DWP Assessor.

The panel will give you an opportunity to add anything more.

They will then decide which level of benefit they will award you.

This has been my personal experience (above) and the DWP rep didn't even bother to turn up to the Tribunal.

Best wishes for your tribunal.

[Bevvy]

As others have said PIP is NOT about what wrong with you or what medications you take. Is about how conditions affect YOU. You clearly are unable to do for example housework. Just make sure tribunal fully aware of you situation. Have notes in front of you so you don’t miss telling them anything.Hope all goes well.

[pekingeselover in reply to Bevvy]

I had three pages of things written down, but wasnt asked if there was anything i wanted to add at the end of them asking me questions

[pekingeselover]

Ive written down the things i dont agree with about what the assessor wrote,and ive written down things that will clearly explain the things i am unable to do due to both my mental and physical health. I hope the people who i have to speak to are ok and polite whilst asking me questions and dont come over as a interrogator like the assessor did. Will keep you posted when i hear the outcome, and thank you for all your comments.

[Hidden in reply to pekingeselover]

Good luck 🤞

[Spacecat1]

Did it with me until they came to visit me. I had put e everything I use down including oxygen I use when out and o then at home. When she arrived and saw the machine for oxygen and stair lift she apologised. And left. She was nice about it all. Hope all goes well

[Alberta56]

Good luck. Hope you get a nice Tribunal. Follow the advice you've had here and simply tell them the worst case scenario. 🤞🤞🤞xxx

[pekingeselover]

Tribunal over with, now the waiting game again for the decision. I have no idea how things will turn out...will update when i hear

[Ergendl]

Hope it went well for you.

[pekingeselover in reply to Ergendl]

The judge sounded ok, and the other two on the panel, hopefully get the decision in a week or so. Not sure myself how it will turn out

[Bevvy in reply to pekingeselover]

Be thinking of you. Let us know how it turns out.

[Ergendl in reply to pekingeselover]

Will keep my fingers crossed for you.

[pekingeselover]

I know the tribunal was only last friday, but the anxiety of waiting for the decision is really doing my head in