Hi guys, I wonder if any of you have had to go to a tribunal having been declined mobility aspect of PIP? I was awarded 8 points originally but after my review I only had 4 and they stopped the mobility payments. I did the mandatory reconsideration and they've stuck by their decision.
I'm finding the thought of a tribunal stressful because if I can't articulate my pain and problems when walking to the DWP, how can I explain it to a judge? Our condition means it's so unpredictable and varying on different days to try and describe it to them is so difficult.
I'm also worrying about the evidence I need to collect because although I have hospital letters on my condition overall, most of them are focused on the deformities in my hands and when I have spoken about walking difficulties with my consultant, it's rarely written down on my letters. I see a physiotherapist who I don't get reports from but even she said there's not much that they can do for foot problems and sent me to orthotics to get specialist insoles made pre-covid. If I'm going to request letters I don't really know what I'm asking for? It just makes me want to give up trying.
Any advice, guidance or personal experiences would be really appreciated 🙏🏼
Written by
SarahJane926
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I wonder do you have bad Raynaud’s in your feet? I get highest rate for daily living from early last year but only standard for mobility. I accepted this as such a fight to get it all on two mandatory reconsiderations.
My main problems are Scleroderma gut so bathroom adapted and have systems make me fairly homebound now.
However the mobility component it is the minor deformities in my feet and Raynaud’s make walking far much harder now. Got v large Morton’s neuroma finally acknowledged by ultrasound so getting first steroid injections into feet on Monday after a surgeon refused to remove on grounds of scleroderma vascularity. I didn’t have all this in writing though so asked my rheumatologist to add to my diagnoses list and they increased my points from 4 to 10/11. Now Raynaud’s so bad in feet with neuromas that I lose all sensation and goes pure white have to get home asap and warm up feet in warm bath takes ages for blood to return - scared I’ll get frostbite lose toes now and this despite all measures ie boots, thermal insoles etc.
If your probs anything like mine then I’d push for the Raynaud’s as they know that this can affect both feet and hands if you have photos send these in as evidence. This helped me get standard rate mobility and blue badge as I have infusions for my Raynaud’s. Also got mini bunions and skin tightening now so often get corns and so on but other leg pain harder to evidence with scleroderma and my RA/ Lupus burnt out mostly affecting hands with minor deformities now all scleroderma - which most pip people never heard of. Best of luck - it shouldn’t be such a battle when we have these diagnosed rheumatic conditions - but I know it is.
If you contact your local citizens advice bureau they will take you through the process and go with you to represent you at the tribunal. There is no fee for this.
Have a read on the Benefits & Work website - all the info you will ever need about disability benefits and no, I don't take commisison, but have used them myself a number of times.
To join, there's a fee of around £16 - the last code I was sent was '6234' but it may be out of date this week.
They have various online 'tools' to help you such as below, an 'appeal creator form' to help you focus on the areas you and they both agree and areas you disagree.
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.
RA is a threat to my career
GP Appointment to discuss my RA
My RA story...so far.
PIP received my letter yesterday 
He doesn't understand my RA
