PIP Appeal - Further Evidence Letters

Good morning all, I hope all is as well as possible with you. What I'm here for is for suggestions and advice on how letters should be written when those that know us well provide letters as further evidence for PIP appeals at the tribunal stage.

I submitted my appeal online yesterday and was told that I can send in further evidence such as letters from those that are close to us. Having been rejected 3 times since major brain surgery in 2017 (incidental finding of a very large bifurcal MCA aneurysm) and stroke last year, I could do with knowing what the heck helps as evidence.

On 18 December my job of 34 years ends - dismissal because of ill-health. I am waiting, waiting, waiting for decision about my application for Medical Retirement (rejected twice so far) and I am not eligible for ESA as, even though I've fully contributed National Insurance for 40 years, there was a shortfall in 2018/2019. I paid the shortfall of £307.65 in February this year, but that makes no difference. So, as things stand, I will have zero income after 18 December, which has led to me appealing PIP instead of just accepting their rejection as I have done in the past. Mainly down to the lack of energy I've had, which is just one of the issues I have on a daily basis.

In short, my issues are cognitive function issues, fatigue, concentration on one thing at a time, confusion, lots of effort required in everything I do. When fatigued I lose my speech and go blank or speak gobbledegook. Since stroke those issues have been added to and I also have hemisensory issues down my right hand side. A "graunchy", stiff and painful spine, neck, shoulder, right arm and hand. Awkwardness, clumsiness. I have episodes that I have put down to migraines (without the pain though usually), loss of sight in right eye, numb face, mouth, tongue, hand, sometimes arm and leg and very slurred speech/wrong words and confusion. My sons and partner worry each time I have such an episode that I am having a stroke again. My neurophysio told me to get medics out to see me when this happens. With Covid situation I have not yet done that.

Any advice on how best those evidence letters should be written will be hugely appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you BIS.

I received an unexpected phone call on Friday from an independent assessor, who had read through my appeal form and evidence and he disagreed with the scores I'd been given by the PIP people. After answering further questions from him, I was relieved to be rung back within half and hour with an offer of Standard for both Daily Living and Mobility. My scores changed from 5 and 0 to 10 and 8. I accepted the offer even though he told me I could still go to the tribunal.

So I now feel less worried as I rapidly approach my end of employment of 34 years (dismissal because of ill-health). I am still waiting for the result of my application for Medical Retirement. I am definitely not eligible for ESA even though I have made 40 years of full NI contributions. Thank goodness for the PIP appeal result.

Good luck to the rest of you.