Tribunal and Appointee

We are still waiting for a decision about our daughters DLA to PIP award. Not holding any hope or my breath may I add. Anyhow I have been reading through the next stages so if it comes to it I am prepared for MR or Tribunal. Can I ask though that as my daughters appointee if it did go to tribunal do I have the right to answer questions for her due to her communication difficulties associated with her Autism as she would be find it very difficult to answer questions and communicate effectively. It never occurred to me till I read someone else's recent post about someone else speaking at a tribunal.

Hi

You can accompany her to the appeal hearing and speak but she will be spoken to by the panel members and you must give her a chance to speak before jumping in. If she is struggling you could advocate for her and say that it is all in the evidence on the form and you are her parent, helper, etc.
Did she have a face to face appointment for her claim? Are you worried because that did not go well or are they doing a paper assessment?

Hi Foss she should of had a F2F on the 4th November. When I contacted Atos to confirm that she would be able to go but would be unable to answer questions due to her communication difficulties and as her appointee could I. This lead to Atos saying no but DWP saying yes. Her communication difficulties were all listed and explained in her PIP2 along with supporting evidence form her consultant and Health Education Plan. The only way to get her out and about is with earphones and her Nintendo DS. She really is unable to communicate with strangers due to her Autism. Eventually when I rang Atos back they apologised and said they had cancelled the F2F and that they had more than enough evidence to carry out a paper based assessment. I have had a letter from DWP apologising for the time it is taking to make a decision and that all reports were back. I have requested a copy of the HP report but just want to have all my ducks in a row.