Hi all , following a recent assessment at home for change in circumstance for pip.I woke up this morning to no payment of my current award standard rate not being in my account . I rang pip to be told I am no longer entitled and a letter is on its way.
To say I am upset is an understatement . I have SLE and was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia which I notified pip of as you are supposed to do. How can they stop an existing payment with no warning and then tell you that although your condition has worsened you are now entitled to nothing. THEN to wait 5 weeks with no money for a mandatory reconsideration to be assessed.The stress and anxiety this situation will cause will only add to my symptoms. I feel hopeless , how are we supposed to function and fight this horrible system to be judged by non professionals .
Written by
tinkslupus
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
This stinks, and I’m afraid you are not the first or the last.
I had some money removed because the assessor decided I’d “improved”, and had a reduced personal care instead of the full amount ( which I’d had since DLA days and am worse than then). However, I was informed and my benefit reduced immediately, so I knew what was happening.
I went for the Mandatory Reassessment and the original decision was upheld.
My complete mistake was not insisting on the aid of the Welfare Rights Officer at my local council, but the mistake of whoever I contacted had been to just say nothing had changed from the original assessment when I moved from DLA to PIP. It’s no great help that that person is being checked on for competence. I had been awarded the PIP for a couple of years, but they decided to reassess earlier.
A WRO has now completed a very good submission, with a shedload of extra evidence, to go to Tribunal. However, there’s no date for that and I’m told by WRO that it could easily be the end of this year.
Is there a WRO at your council who might help? I’ve found them extremely good and they don’t seem to be under the same pressure as CAB.
I’m sorry, this is long winded, all about me, and I do have some of my PIP, albeit less than before. Is there any chance you could at least complain that DWP had not kept you informed to allow you to budget accordingly?
Then, get a WRO if your council has them, and discuss going for a Tribunal.
I’d get thrown off the forum if I wrote down exactly what I’m thinking. I’m so very very sorry you are facing all this stress. The system is rotten.
Thank you for your reply Lupiknits it's been a great help . I will contact the local council and cab also to help with the mandatory reconsideration and if it goes to tribunal . Your right it stinks and I am so angry that they can do this and your judged in this way I didn't ask to have Lupus or Fibro ans to live one day to the next in pain and limiting what I can and can't do and your whole world being turned upside down . I will fight this decision I was awarded standard rate till 2021 and because I'm honest and informed them of a change ( not to gain extra money) I am now penalised and get nothing , how can this be ??. I wish you the very best of luck with your tribunal and keep us posted on how it goes .
I can’t believe the way these people treat us individuals who have serious health issues. Hang on in there appeal and complain, they are trying to keep the number of claimants down. It is a mine field and they do not understand the health issues that impact our lives. My sister who has MS (40 years) was recently reassessed and was told that her benefits were being reduced. She got very anxious over this but her husband helped her fight her cause, in fact she has had a knee replacement and an operation on her face for neuralgia so she has detioriated health wise.
She went to an assessment centre, no toilets available and she has bladder problems, they had to drive to a Coffee shop, buy a coffee to use the facilities and then drive round the assessment centre car park to try and find a space. She said the experience was a nightmare.
Eventually weeks later they changed their decision, her doctors were shocked by the situation, supporting her wherever they could. It caused her a great deal of stress.
Mew53 it's unbelievable what stress and anxiety they put on people with serious health issues , your poor sister , We live on a limited budget because of my illness and now I don't know how will manage to get by , but I am determined to fight this all the way .
I'm pleased your sister award was overturned but she should have never had to go through this in the first place .
So sorry to hear you are going through this! As if our illness isn’t hard enough it is even worse being judged by it & having to justify it. The system is so unfair.
Really hope you managed to get this sorted. Sending you all the love.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Tribunal pip
PIP request reconsideration 
PIP - Personal Independence Payments - a short introduction
Pip claim
No to mandatory reconsideration, what a surprise 
