Mack59 in reply to Tia-01

Hi Tia-01, My Brain damage was'nt even mentioned and the Nurse did'nt touch me for physical ( I have long term Arthritis, osteo arthritis and osteo porosis, Fibro myalgia and a two year old Hip replacement ) yet she stated I had good leg and hip movements...I'm glad I had close friend with me as by the time the Trauma of interview was over i could'nt remember what I'd said or what she Nurse said ( she spent nearly all of the interview typing on noisy keyboard and staring at screen ) I'm so glad my friend phoned DWP and requested a copy of Nurses written report and the Decision reasons. Another friend who had assesment a few weeks before and also lost her PIP did'nt know you could get DWP to sent copy of report and decision, turned out she had same Nurse and when we compared copies they were uncannily similar, almost identical ( she does'nt have a TBI or hip replacement ) My Neuro Psychologist wrote an excellent supportive letter (which i was told arrived two days too late to be used at the appeals court hearing in late August) But in my reply to Dennydjhaz i explained what then happened re:appeal hearing...Jeezo this is hard going and me not good with computers ( only got laptop for my photography, my friend helps me when it does things i can't understand...phew ) The whole process of having to explain ourselves (justify our existance) to strangers, DWP etc is extremely distressing after spending ones "existance" doing so ( me 26 years before diagnosis of Brain Damage and 47 years before getting any Neuro professional help ) I spent my teenage years asking/begging for help as I Knew I was'nt right in the head ( even after suicide attempts ) I got no help or and understanding ( I forgot to say in 1970 when I awoke from Coma and got home from hospital, my parents were given a piece of paper stating I had "No Neurological Defecit", they thought that meant my Brain was "Normal and undamaged".... That bit of paper was rammed into me whenever I had Mental problems or asked for help until 1996, so have learned to deal with my condition with No help or Understanding ) Sorry for long reply, I have to keep scrolling back to remember what I'm replying to, and correcting numerous spelling/correct use of language mistakes, also I hope this does come across as a poor me thing as I've never felt like that, as a child I was brought up as a miracle of life and to be forever grateful for it.... After diagosis ( Atrophy Right Frontal Lobe ) I was put on Incapacity benefit ( never high rate ) until the CAB got involved and got me on PIP and ESA ( can't remember how CAB got involved) I duly was awarded PIP and ESA 3 years ago. now 3 assesments later ( all won on appeal ) they telling me the been underpaying ESA since 2013 !?? More visits to the Lifesaving and Wonderful CAB team and now awaiting DWP response...One last thing, good grief, My many and various Doctors have all said that I am my own worst enemy as when I go to Doc's ( rarely as not much point ) I present myself as washed n relatively well dressed ( whole life jeans n T shirt long hair and always boots, hehe ) and also an obviously intelligent literate person and therefore am kinda now just an 59 year old ex Biker/Hippy type...strangely thats basically what the assesment Nurse said ( not the Biker/Hippy bit) My friends, Band and sense of humour is what sustains me now and of course awaiting another DWP assesment calling in the New year ( they keep telling me I'll be left alone for 2/3 years but i've been harrassed every year since getting PIP/ESA ) well they gotta keep you on yer toes, just in case Your not getting the correct (not enough ) financial help to which YOU ARE entitled to... Which part of TBI don't they get, it's irreversable and life is hard enough without the DWP political dogma pushing people over the precarious life cliff edge....Keep up the fight and don't let the Barstewards, (ahem) get you down....I wish you well with your situation and glad you have the CAB with you both...Blimey i'm sitting in the dark better get some lights on before the Sneaky Depression Creeps in and Envelopes me, hehe...PHEW...Rod