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Solicitor won't take my case
- Paula
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6 years 10 months ago #191472 by Paula
Solicitor won't take my case was created by Paula
Apologies if this has been done before. I'm out of my depth with DWP inertia. A friend will pay, but all legal firms I tried say they won't do benefit cases.
Atos lady came to the house without warning on 21 April. Didn't come in. Offered to make new date. I wrote to Atos to confirm.
Letter soon followed cancelling 14 years' DLA & refusing PIP application. 'Because you did not go to your assessment'.
Am in a wheelchair, using a machine to breathe. Can't pay bills. Frightened. Will soon be homeless.
DWP say my PIP claim is a low priority. Still quoting '6-8 more weeks' for a decision. Atos & DWP blame each other. Say DLA can't be reinstated.
Mental & physical health deteriorating under stress. Living a nightmare. Too afraid to sleep & very angry for myself & all the other people suffering like this.
I've tried advice groups, MP, newspapers & charities.
Now solicitors won't help even if paid.
I can't give all details here, but there's written proof of everything.
If anybody can suggest other ideas I'd be grateful. Thank you for reading. Paula
Atos lady came to the house without warning on 21 April. Didn't come in. Offered to make new date. I wrote to Atos to confirm.
Letter soon followed cancelling 14 years' DLA & refusing PIP application. 'Because you did not go to your assessment'.
Am in a wheelchair, using a machine to breathe. Can't pay bills. Frightened. Will soon be homeless.
DWP say my PIP claim is a low priority. Still quoting '6-8 more weeks' for a decision. Atos & DWP blame each other. Say DLA can't be reinstated.
Mental & physical health deteriorating under stress. Living a nightmare. Too afraid to sleep & very angry for myself & all the other people suffering like this.
I've tried advice groups, MP, newspapers & charities.
Now solicitors won't help even if paid.
I can't give all details here, but there's written proof of everything.
If anybody can suggest other ideas I'd be grateful. Thank you for reading. Paula
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- Gordon
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6 years 10 months ago #191481 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic Solicitor won't take my case
Paula
I'm not entirely surprised that you have not found anybody to help you, benefit law is a specialised area and most solicitors have no experience in this area.
Perhaps the first thing to look at is whether you need this help or not.
From your post your initial PIP claim and as a consequence your DLA was stopped for failing to attend an assessment. However you still have a claim for PIP in operation so I assume that a new one was started, likely starting the day after the previous claim ended.
Can you explain what happened at this point?
This is important, your DLA will only have a chance of being reinstated if you can show that the PIP claim was closed in error, if the closure of the original PIP claim was upheld and a new claim was started on your behalf then the DLA will not be put back into payment.
If your claim was closed, have you requested a Mandatory Reconsideration of the Decision?
Where are you in the PIP Process, have you received notice of a new assessment?
If you still want to find assistance then there are two things to look at;
Do an internet search for "welfare advice" with your postcode. town or county. Welfare Rights staff are best placed to help you as they are used to dealing with the DWP on a daily basis.
The following is a list of Legal Aid providers
www.gov.uk/government/publications/direc...-legal-aid-providers
Gordon
I'm not entirely surprised that you have not found anybody to help you, benefit law is a specialised area and most solicitors have no experience in this area.
Perhaps the first thing to look at is whether you need this help or not.
From your post your initial PIP claim and as a consequence your DLA was stopped for failing to attend an assessment. However you still have a claim for PIP in operation so I assume that a new one was started, likely starting the day after the previous claim ended.
Can you explain what happened at this point?
This is important, your DLA will only have a chance of being reinstated if you can show that the PIP claim was closed in error, if the closure of the original PIP claim was upheld and a new claim was started on your behalf then the DLA will not be put back into payment.
If your claim was closed, have you requested a Mandatory Reconsideration of the Decision?
Where are you in the PIP Process, have you received notice of a new assessment?
If you still want to find assistance then there are two things to look at;
Do an internet search for "welfare advice" with your postcode. town or county. Welfare Rights staff are best placed to help you as they are used to dealing with the DWP on a daily basis.
The following is a list of Legal Aid providers
www.gov.uk/government/publications/direc...-legal-aid-providers
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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