Nov 2009, I decided to apply for WTC - Working Tax Credit & settled for April 2010 as the start date. Unfortunately, on the night of 8 Jan 2010, I sustained a TBI due to an unprovoked assault of which I have no recollection save 5-10 mins of that evening. Following the assault after which I spent the rest of that night in the hospital, I was also visited by the Police totally unable to answer any of the questions. I couldn’t walk for four days, there were eventually several visits over the next three months to receive treatment from an Acupuncturist. Plus, on returning home several more visits to my GP, another to see a Neurologist & put on a waiting list to see a Neuropsychologist. By April 2012, I had my first appt to see a Consultant Neuropsychologist. & so began 5 yrs of Trauma Therapy. I was fortunate indeed that my Consultant was indeed hugely passionate about her job.
I eventually applied for Working Tax Credit in April 2012. A few yrs later, the System then changed. I vaguely remember the phone call telling me my circumstances had changed. Nope, I said, I still have a brain injury, that's for life I'm afraid! I paid back their ’overpayment’ of over £927.00. In 2016, I applied for PIP which went to Tribunal in Aug 2017 at which I was refused PIP on the grounds of amongst other things:
‘..I was well educated, I spoke well, I was articulate, worked for myself, did my own books, I drove, but I wasn't disabled enough!’
Consequently, I went on to receive ESA & then Universal Credit. I had further medical tests & in order to have those, agreed to voluntarily give up my Drivers Licence.
I was deemed ‘Fit for Work’ which was eventually overturned by the Secretary of State because the DWP had lied about me not attending one of their meetings.
Hoop-jumping, all extremely exhausting, I eventually decided to reapply for PIP in 2020, believing it would be less stressful the second time around! After all, I had friends helping me & to supply more information & an advocate from FB4J for my next PIP Assessment. I was wrong, it was probably equally stressful! This time the assessment was by telephone, the Assessor, my Advocate & myself in different parts of the country! I was refused a second time, including the mandatory reconsideration.
My Consultant then recommended me someone else. Working for the CA(B) she helps peeps with head injury apply for all the right benefits. She was indeed brilliant! Turns out I was eligible for New Style ESA for which I am now in receipt. And, probably the best news of all is that after speaking with the Decision Maker during the last week of January, she told me I had been awarded the Standard rate of PIP! I could obviously appeal & then the next day, the Decision Maker rang me to ask me a few questions. She’d also spoken with my Consultant to clarify a few medical details as to my condition and she told me she had a ‘much better understanding’ & also because it is a ‘hidden disability’ she had decided to overturn her original decision. In view of all this, she was awarding me the Enhanced rate for both components of PIP! In early February, I received a letter dated 29 January 2021 to that effect.
It’s been a very long journey and although I’ve wanted to give up several times, I’ve held out including carrying on working despite being told by quite a few well-meaning friends & others that I would probably be awarded PIP if I didn’t work. The DWP state you can work if you’re in receipt of PIP.
I would hope in the future that others in a similar position will be treated more respectfully.
Thank you for reading 😎
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