At war with DWP

[vwvanman]

Apparently its been a long time since my last post , it only seems like yesterday , Well the wife was awarded Lifetime DLA , but according to DWP this will end on the 8th sept 2020 after a telephone PIP assessment and they have assessed she is okay , not one question about memory , the assessment reads like they were talking to someone else , after 19years we really need this aggravation and hassle . rant over .

[sospan]

Yep, my wife went through a telephone assessment for PIP recently, despite having 5 significant concussions in 3 years, needing surgery on her shoulder, hip and knee and various other symptoms she scored 0 points on every thing !

[cat3]

Stef, does your local council have a Welfare Rights dept. ?

They were an amazing help to me by compiling an appeal and accompanying me to the tribunal where the appeal won hands down. x

[Marnie22]

Hi. The Scope helpline are very good with this sort of thing. Their number is 0808 800 3333.

I wish you all the best in your endeavours. 🙄🌸

[Anthonymd]

Accept nothing. Appeal, then appeal again. This is how they have designed the system...

[Pairofboots]

I was awarded indefinite DLA, under PIP that doesn't exist, I was originally down graded on my level of benefit. I went to mandatory reconsideration, no budging them, took them to appeal. Week before the tribunal the DWP changed their mind, and awarded me the equivalent of what I got on DLA.

Since that award, I have heard that they have introduced, what they are calling, a light touch review, for those whose condition is unlikely to improve.

My PIP was originally meant to be reviewed this year, but I had to get proof of award, which states that it lasts until 2021. Whether that is covid related that they have stretched it out, I don't know.

Sadly you have to jump through the same hoops as you would have originally. Remember PC counts for nothing.

[vwvanman]

Thanks everyone who replied all very helpful, after all we struggled through this was a painful reminder.

[MBG23]

Do you have a benefits adviser? The lady who has helped me with my husbands case has been incredible. They rejected our application for PIP and the appeal because "he sounded fine on the phone"! We have been to court over it and he has been awarded the enhanced element for both parts of PIP. Apparently, this happens to 98% of people following a brain injury 😡 Don't give up, keep fighting. It is not the DWP that you face in court... I hope this finds you, I am sorry it's 6 months late.

[ored13 in reply to MBG23]

I'm a bit late on this one. But I think we are soon to go through this process. My husband is in receipt of PIP already because of a previous issue...what a battle that was...not court etc but it was a very very stressful process. At least I was able to work. I won't be able to when he comes home. I'm terrified of the process to come. I don't know whether we should upset the apple cart of whether we should leave things as they are. He has less capacity to work even mor so now. But the thought of going through all that again makes my blood run cold.

[Pairofboots]

Good rant! I was the same as your wife re DLA, PIP, I was down graded, had to go through the appeals process, before it got to tribunal they admitted they got it wrong.

I read on hear that someone had a similar experience to get the award. They then sued for undue anxiety and distress, DWP didn't oppose it. So the court found for the claimant. The DWP refused to pay costs and fine, so the claimant got the high court sheriff's to enforce.

I will bear that in mind for next time.

[Plenty]

I originally had an assessment at home for pip.

The assessor made me sound like the healthiest person on planet earth. And I got zero points.

I appealed and the court awarded me pip.

But of course when my pip is up for review, will they just send the “zero point” awarding assessor again?