Has anyone been to an appeal tribunal for disability allowance,

[biddy75]

[pinknosedcat]

Yes, several.benefitsandwork.co.uk will help if you get their downloads on dla. Plus get your self an advocate. There are voluntary organisations who provide advocacy services for people who need help with this type of thing and in my experience they are usually better than CAB. Hope this helps.

[biddy75 in reply to pinknosedcat]

U have to pay for the downloads

[pinknosedcat in reply to biddy75]

What exactly do you want to Know?

[biddy75 in reply to pinknosedcat]

Questions they ask and how to answer them

[pinknosedcat in reply to biddy75]

ok, i can help you if you want. I still strongly advise getting an advocate as well or if you have a carer take them with you. let me know if you want help and if so please tell me what you medical condition is and roughly how it affects you. If you don't want to do this publicly you can PM me using the envelope symbol at the top of the page and find my screen name pinknosedcat in the list. My real name is Heather and my cat died last year so really I should change it to Chiuahuagirl :-).

[Kerryjess]

I have been to several. First if all, do not be fooled by their assertion that it is a "user friendly" situation. It is quite intimidating to have at least 3 professionals on the other side ofthe table from you- it us a formal situation.

You need to be absolutely sure of all the information you wrote in your form, as they will quiz you about it quite rigorously. They will listen carefully to your answers and often will pick up on your answer to another member of the panel.

Advice? Make sure you do not go alone as it is quite stressful. If you can, do as someone else said and take an advocate with you.

If you are getting tired or confused, say so. They will probably ask you to describe a typical day for you and what you can and cannot do.

Take done notes with you and refer to them/ tell the panel you can't remember all the details about dates etc

Know your medical history as they may ask about procedures- when: why etc. Do not talk more than you have to- just answer the question. ( you may find they pick up on something else!)

Do not assume that they will have contacted any of the medical/ professional people you have listed on your form- in 8 years I have never had any indication that they have EVER done so! Know who you gave seen and what the outcome was.

Do not be afraid to disagree with statements if you think they have got it wrong. They seem to try to trip people up. Just stay calm and state / re-state your case.

Try to get some of the professionals you have seen to write exactly what is wrong with you and/ or how you are affected on a day to day basis.

If you cannot take an advocate, take a friend or family member with you and state at the beginning that you want them to speak. They will not be allowed to interrupt when you are being questioned but they will be given an opportunity to speak- make sure they are clear that the purpose is to state exactly how your condition affects you daily in both public and private life.

There may be someone from the DWP there also who can question you. In my experience, The panel is comprised of a doctor, an occupational therapist and a lawyer- each of them will ask questions relating to their particular field.

Do not play down your symptoms, but make sure all you claim is accurate and you can back it up with evidence from your daily experience. Be very clear about the number of times you are up during the night if that is relevant, and how many nights this occurs and for roughly how long- what help you need etc. If the person with you cares for you, make sure your answers are identical- they will test you out!

Ask on advance for a copy if the report submitted by the doctor who came out to interview you at home. Read it carefully and nite anything you disagree with and why. Write your objections down and submit this to the panel before you go in- you can tell the person who meets you at reception that you want to do this. In my case, the visiting dr said my lumbar issues were mild- she totally disregarded the info I gave that I was due surgery but just didn't gave confirmation- in fact I went in to have 3 discs fused, decompression surgery, metalwork inserted to stabilise the spine just 3 weeks after that visit!

Remember that you may NEED help but don't necessarily have anyone to give that help.

After you have been questioned, they may give you their result after you have been asked to wait outside for 10 min or so. They may tell you the decision will be posted out to you.

Lastly, if the appeal doesn't give you the result you think you should have, you have the opportunity to take it one step further and you will be given information about how to do that- but remember there is always a time element to that.

Sorry for such a long answer but I know how scared I was the first time I had to go to one of these interviews( I've been to 3!) I hope this info is of some use to you and wish you all the best at your interview.

[biddy75 in reply to Kerryjess]

Thanks Kerryjess, in so nervous

[Kerryjess]

Hi Biddy. I hope I didn't add to your nervousness by what I wrote on my post. I didn't mean to! Anyone would be nervous going to something like this which is why it is important to have someone with you who can see if you are getting tired or emotionally drained by the questioning and can ask for a break for you. I don't know what your medical condition is but just make sure you know exactly what it is, side effects of meds for it and what your doctors have said. Take care, and if you want to know anything specific feel free to ask or message me. Xo

[louiseamos]

Hi biddy75.. just saw your message..how did you get on..I was on DLA..but stopped myself has went back to work part time..then few week later tryed to get couldn't..now trying for I l a .has a lady come..knew not getting it although my go gave her a letter saying I am disabled.. l am 38.. worked since 14.. I should be able....makes me mad...and waiting spine surgery. how did you get on

[biddy75]

Hey Louise, mines in 2weeks, in hoping to go back to work, that shouldn't make any difference to getting dla, in nervous as i am very forgetful

[purpledm10]

Hi Biddy

Theres no need to be nervous and I'm sure you wont forget your disability or how it affects you

I attended for my appeal last september and I have to agree with KerryJess it was intimidating. It was actually held in the local magistrates court, i felt like a criminal and we struggled to get the wheelchair in properly so that didn't get off to a good start. I was asked all sorts of questions, some that i didn't see the significance of, but hey there you go. i did feel that i was cross examined but i remained calm and simply told them how my daily life is. I won my appeal and the original decision for the mobility element was overturned. i did not get the personal care element but i didn't need nor want that as i've remained independent with personal care. i was told of the decision 10 minutes after the original hearing.

Good luck