PIP Appeal- Mental Health Conditions

Been where you are appealing for PIP at a tribunal on mental health grounds earlier this year. Wish I had been able to afford a subscription to benefits and work then. I did however win and get basic PIP mobility and daily living.

My experience is this and taught me as follows

1) take a family member or friend I took husband and Mum.
2 take a professional advisor if possible, I took a chap from the CAB.

Mum and Husband were able to speak and answer questions if I got turned around or confused the CAB chap although he didn't speak I felt his presence was extra insurance to keep the proceedings honest.

3) the panel is meant to be a person with experience in your area of disability a leagally qualified person and a.n. other.

My questions were asked mainly by the disability expert and were both searching and focused to my health not silly and general as my medical had been.

4) be aware you will be watched by the clerk and out of the ordinary behaviour may well be passed on this is standard in court proceedings.

5) take supporting info with you and copys of forms reconsideration letter etc get your advisor to carry it.

6) insure as much medical evidence as possible is sent ahead of time but do not send irrelevant stuff the important may get missed in amongst it.


I truly believe if they got rid of medicals and got the tribunal panel to decide all claims it would be easier and fairer , you are seeing intelligent trained people who are either legal experts or experts in your condition and that gave me a fair result.

Its not easy with mental health conditions , be brave its worth it .

P.S,

I meant to say they were only interested in what I had to say based on questions from my doctors submissions

The PIP appeal panel will have 3 members - a GP, the panel chairman (a lawyer) and a disability representative. The latter does not need to have any particular experience in the claimant's condition.

agreed - mine openly said they had no experience of mental health illness when asking my questions

hi mark,.
understand how anxious you must be feeling having your appeal date,,i had my appeal for pip about 5 weeks ago,,. i suffer MH,conditions so to give you a idea of what happens and questions asked maybe i can help,.
when you get there a clerk will greet you and explain what is going to hapen will also ask if you have any other evidence which you would like them to look at ,, when you get called in in my experiance the 3 members were one side of room and i was shpwn where to sit a few rows of tables to the back of room wasnt like a court room but they were higher up than where i was,sitting ,the judge or lawyer introduced me to the other panel and the dr started to question me forstly ,,as ime agrophobic alot of questions were relevant to that and my anxiety ,,was askked would i say manage to be able to go to a quiet place with company i feel safe with etc ,, as ime a parent and my son plays football was asked do i go and watch him play and go to presentations ,obviously not as i have agrophobia , i just explained i cannot do these things was very distressed through it all and have to say they were very kind to me and offerd me a break a it was getting too much for me ,,the disability woman then asked question about daily things like washing cooking toilet nneds etc ,best advice i can give you is dont feel rushed in having to answer ,take your time give alot of examples of how and when you cant manage things give lots of details ,they will see you be struggling emotionaly but be sure to tell them it affects you in daily activitires like going out tell them how dibilatating it is ,not being able to socialise ,panic attacks etc ,i got awarded standard fr both daily and activity , was awarded 10 point on the mobility as it causes me extreme psycological distress leaving my home ,the state i was in they could probably see that for themselfs ,, try not to overthink what your gonna answer it be impossible to know until you are there what there going to ask ,so just take your time to answer make sure you explain in detail best you can ,, hope it goes good for you ,do let us know how you get on ,
warm wishes ,
alison,.

Hi walker,

I hope you're ok.

How did your appeal go?

Mark