pip tribunals?

[Ginge2001]

hi so I’m just wanting to know if anyone who has endometriosis and tried applying for pip has got it? I have appealed mine and they have denied it again. I currently have 6 out of 8 points but seem to be getting worse and my organs in my stomach are all stuck together. So of course I’m in a lot more pain and stuggling more now then I did in November 2023 when I applied for it. And leading to the pain has caused me to loose my job. I just wanna know if I was to take it to a tribunal would they base it off my 1st phone call appointment I had with them. Or is it just easier to reapply, as I have read that they don’t take in to consideration that you can get worse?

[Kirsty360]

Hi Ginge2001,PIP is an awful process to work through.

Don't quote me on figures, but I know there is a higher percent on turnover at tribunals if you take an advocate like the CAB and evidence from consultants it is more likely to be given.

I didn't try to apply on the grounds of endo as I know they're ruthless. I had to appeal a decision as an amputee and a brain cancer/epilepsy. Can't begin to imagine how they'd score my endo. Just a sidenote though, the panel can actually remove any points you've been given overall.

I would say get some further advice from Citizens Advice or an Endo page. Best of luck 🤞🏻

[Giraffegreen]

So definitely go to CAB the tribunal will base information of your initial assessment and ask you to answer any questions put to you based on what your health was like then not now. It's worth asking CAB about it because I was in a similar boat and there is a term for asking to submit additional evidence, in theory you should tell them anyway if a condition gets worse anyway, but those guys will point you in the right direction. You can lose points but that's quite rare so don't be too scared of that. I went to tribunal and won.

[Inonge1 in reply to Giraffegreen]

Hi,

The term is called Mandatory Reconsideration.

[Giraffegreen in reply to Inonge1]

No sorry, it's like a super session (something like that anyway) it's where you can apply with further information to PIP

[Inonge1 in reply to Giraffegreen]

Oh ok. Best of luck

[Honeybeehappy]

Hi there. I would strongly recommend you get help with this. Whilst not for Endo, I can tell you the experience that my husband went through - he appealed his PIP decline with the help of a free welfare rights solicitor (based in Glasgow) who took us through the journey of going to tribunal after the first appeal was rejected . The tribunal panel was very supportive and not scary where the questions were very reasonable and fair to ask. They upheld the case in my husband’s favour and the award was backdated to the original PIP application date, 2 years previously. Don’t do this yourself. My husband has now moved to ADP (that’s PIP in Scotland) and the process seemed to be more human. Make sure your case is robust, that you can articulate how your endo impacts you on most days (not now and again). Locate the points descriptors that they use to score you both for daily living abd moving around. Clearly set out the significance of living with your endo and how you experience the impact of this, and articulate how it affects / limits daily living and/or moving around. PIP is strict and because there are people who are possibly not being honest, along with wanting to limit the public purse, the system makes it very difficult for those who really need the help of this benefit. Don’t reapply. Go to tribunal. Good luck and keep pressing. 👍

[Queen_Erica]

They will have sent you an online link to upload evidence for the tribunal. Add any and all new evidence to that - consultant letters, prescriptions, a personal statement from you or a close loved one explaining the impact day to day and concentrating on the criteria they give for the points.

We applied for my daughter (18 yr old) in November 2023 and got zero points as I didn’t know I needed to prove her condition beyond belief. I uploaded all of the above evidence prior to the date that PIP would be re-reviewing everything (not for endo but for another condition that similarly they don’t seem to like to acknowledge) and got a phone call from PIP last week to say they wanted to award enhanced rather than take to tribunal, which we obviously accepted.

I appreciate that we were ‘lucky’ although she very much ticks all the boxes - the guy said the onus is on us to prove the day to day effect beyond doubt, and the new evidence I sent in covered this. A lot of this was evidence of a worsening in her condition since the initial application so absolutely send in everything you have, recent included. Make sure that you are covering the criteria as they will only tick each box if you have given sufficient evidence - in my daughter’s case a lot of this was via the statement, in which I also included the emotional and social impact created by her condition.

It is an extremely intrusive process and was emotionally draining (hence I wrote her statement explaining the impact in detail and told her to just forget it for now and I would deal with it as she just couldn’t cope with the stress) - if you have a loved one who is close and understands the daily struggle then you can appoint them as a representative and they can take over for you, or I have heard the CAB are a good option and can do this instead.

We were terrified about a ‘tribunal’ and were shocked and relieved to get the call, but it can be done - I guess it depends on who re-assesses the evidence and any new evidence you send in. I have read that the tribunal are more open to evidence than PIP and will really listen so I feel they might be kinder but don’t thankfully have experience of this process now.

Although my daughter’s condition wasn’t endo, I have been suffering from endo for years along with other conditions so have been considering also applying due to my deteriorating lifestyle, but haven’t yet had the energy or strength of mind. I find it easier to fight passionately for a loved one rather than self-advocate after years of medical gas-lighting from the NHS.

I wish you all love and strength in this battle - and it does feel like a battle, it is one of the most horrible intrusive things to experience - all my internal scans, countless doctors ramming things inside me for a rummage, laparoscopies and hysterectomy were nothing in comparison to having to describe how basically dysfunctional and underperforming as a human the condition makes you. Awful awful dehumanising process having to prove how broken you have become.

Sincere good luck 🤞 and ❤️ to you.

[Melon365]

Hi Ginge2001

I have had three PIP tribunals for Endometriosis and they all ruled in my favour. It is hard but its worth it.

If you do appeal you should reply to what the DWP said in your decision. Talk about why they are wrong and which score you should get and why.

[RJane83]

I have endo , 2 autoimmune diseases and I’m one blood thinners for life as keep having pulmonary embolisms and they don’t know why ( just adding this started way before COVID and jabs ) and I wasn’t awarded pip was one point off - I’m waiting for another diagnosis following tests and then I’ll reapply - I’ll be honest cause I had to give up my nursing job but I help my husband part time I needed to being something to feel useful it didn’t help me

I hope you can get some help

[TeaLeaves]

My first tribunal pre-endometriosis diagnosis plus other health conditions I was awarded 6 points by the end of it but no PIP. A few years later with more medical evidence, diagnosed endometriosis, fibromyalgia and everything DWP could possibly want further information about; I got awarded 0 points. Got in contact with CAB and even had a representative put in place. It went to another tribunal, awarded 0 points and definitely no PIP.

6 points in 2019 to 0 in 2024; nothing has improved, my work days have been decreased yet they decided the 6 points I got then are irrelevant, as well as the sheer amount of medical evidence I now have.

I wrote to the judge and they refused for it to go to Upper Tribunal. The fact I work is used against me time and time again. Now I'm in the process of appealing to them to override the judge's words.

This is to put in perspective how difficult it is to get PIP and my second claim that is now somewhat a battle has been ongoing since 2022.

Good luck.