PIP Appeal

[Finglas-Boy]

Just learned my appeal against DWP denying me PIP been allowed by tribunal. If anyone thinks my experience of this could help in some way, give me a shout.

BW; 🇮🇪

[Hidden]

Great news Finglas-Boy. I am really pleased for you.

Lottie x

[Finglas-Boy in reply to Hidden]

Thank you LottiesWeb. Was a real workout. One panel member was. Dr who clearly thought he was God. Disability "expert" was a nightmare. Tribunal wS being observed by a High Court Judge. Adviser was "show- boating coz my appeal was recorded & filmed.

[Hidden in reply to Finglas-Boy]

Goodness, sounds terrifying. The process you have to go through to get benefits is absolutely terrible. You did really well Finglas-Boy.

Lottie x

[Finglas-Boy in reply to Hidden]

X 🇮🇪

[DMM218]

Great - if on ESA u will also get extra money so get in touch with them to inform.

[Finglas-Boy in reply to DMM218]

Thanx DMC218. Was a stressful hearing but Judge was great. I'll get in touch as you say. BW; FB;. 🇮🇪

[Hidden]

Wow that's great news. Well done and thanks for letting us know. I have heard that around half of appeals succeed. I do know they have target to meet in rejecting a certain number of claims. I just think sometimes they get to the end of the day, haven't met their targets so turn down the next few claims arbitrarily.

One of my sisters is in the ESA support group (I know it's different from PIP). She was originally put in the Work Group despite being crippled with osteoarthritis. When she went to the Jobcentre for her interview, they took one look at her and said no way can you work and said they didn't need to see her again.

She appealed and within 5 minutes it was clear the decision was going to be overturned which it was. The next assessment came and they decided to do a paper decision without seeing her. They promptly put her in the Work Group again.. A few days later she got a call from the DWP telling her they have put her straight back into the Support Group.

It's ridiculous the hoops they make you jump through to claim any benefit you are clearly entitled to isn't it?

I am really pleased for you and no one deserves it more than you do. x

[Finglas-Boy in reply to Hidden]

Hi lilaclil, about 64% of claimants opting to appeal as a Litigant in Person have their appeals allowed. Private sesame the companies - Atoc, IAS, Maxima, etc. Are seeking to fail an applicant @ Assessment because that's when bonuses are paid to Assessors. Assessment is the point of payment from the DWP so they need an assessment to proceed otherwise no assessment = No pay! With all Benits/bonuses/etc. an Assessor gets paid close to £60k pa. So it's a serious path the DWP are following not only to cut disability benefits but also to massage unemployment stats.

[coolpolitealex]

Yes and the bloody stress is needed like a hole in the head, but I realise that there has to be assessment's it's just that the whole thing is so stressful and done so often and apart from them shifting the goalpost's there would be no need for these extra stressful episodes. I hope you feel a whole lot better Finglas now that that is out of the way best Alex

[Finglas-Boy in reply to coolpolitealex]

As I've just said cool politealex, the point of payment for an assessment company is that assessment. Whether it's done @ an examination centre or a claimants home is irrelevant. They're not bothered about the claim they just need the assessment to take place.

[jaxtra07]

I was on ESA but after assessment was deemed fit to work. So I am now on JSA and having to look for work every day. Who would employ a 63 yr old woman with COPD Emphysema, back problems, depression and recently diagnosed with heart arrhythmia and heart failure. I have appealed and waiting for hearing just to get ESA again.

[Finglas-Boy in reply to jaxtra07]

It's a means of crunching the unemployment stats, jaxtra07. When the monthly unemployment figures are praised for falling, consider how many folk attending the Jobcentre are on the sick, students, pregnant, on work expience or on one govt scheme or another. They're all unemployed but aren't considered as such for the monthly returns.

[Bea61 in reply to jaxtra07]

Hi jaxtra07..sorry to hear that you have to seek employment at 63 with all your chronic conditions...I may be joining you..as cannot see i will be able to tolerate my work situation any longer...apart from the constant pain and soreness, my energy levels are @ 0 -this JSA system is failing people who are too ill to work and am sure making people more ill,anxious and depressed ...i hope you are having a better day..gentle hugs...