PIP Telephone Tribunal Hearing - 17/06/2023

Dear JackieO, just sending sympathy and hoping your poor husband is recovering. It shouldn't be such a two-edged sword that he is lucky to have a wife with such skills, yet seems to be penalised for it.
At our daughter's face to face tribunal before covid, the "disability" woman kept on and on AND on about how daughter could cook a piece of fish in the microwave. The chair did not really pull her up. As I understand it using a microwave does not count as cooking a meal anyway. What's more the strange panel member never mentioned ability, or in this case inability, to peel a potato due to grip issues to accompany the mythical fish. Or how you would get rid of the smell!!!
Denby

We had a similar lack of understanding from the "Disability Expert" at my Husband's tribunal several years ago. The person ran past us at a fair speed on the way to the tribunal from the car park. When we returned to the car afterward we discovered he was parked in the disabled bay next to ours.

Thank you all so much for your support, which I have found invaluable in this awful process.

I am so sad and disappointed to read about other peoples similar experiences; and am actually shocked that people are put through, what I see is akin to a 'trial', which breaks my heart as a mental health professional and public servant for all of my working life.

There is some good news though, that my husband received his Decision Notice, which stated that his appeal has been 'Allowed'.

He is entitled to the daily living component at the standard rate backdated to June of last year and scored 10 points (2 points for each) for: Preparing food, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing and undressing and engaging with other people face to face. He also scored 10 points for: planning and following journeys, which gives him a standard rate award for the mobility component.

The award is given until June 2027, which is a total of 5 years including the backdated year.

Whilst I am extremely grateful for the award and acknowlegment of my husband's difficulties, there remain so many areas that I feel have not been given points for. However, I realised that I could look at the DWP training protocols for the HP's and I am once again astounded at how seemingly contradictory and narrow the descriptors are.

I am also surprised on the Tribunal letter to see that the First Tier Agency representative (The disability specialist) attended the hearing on behalf of the Respondent (DWP), as at the beginning of the hearing, he was introduced as being totally independent of the DWP.

I understand that as the Tribunal allowed the award, that my husband will have to reapply at the end of the 5 years, rather than have a review, which perhaps is not such a bad thing, as I will be far more prepared for the process then.

So now we wait for the DWP's response and acknowledgment of the Tribunal outcome. Does anyone have an idea how long this might be please?

I thank you all again and wish you all a smooth journey on this road.

Warm wishes,

JackieO

Hi BIS,

Thank you so much for your good wishes and invaluable advice once again.

As you say, we can now have a break from an incredibly challenging experience.

I wish only equally successful results for people in similar positions.

Take care and warm wishes,

JackieO