Phone call update 😁

Well, today has been an anxious day!! If you saw my previous post you will know that I had a message from my son that someone was trying to get hold of me in relation to his PIP appeal, after calling DWP several times and getting nowhere I was getting so fed up. One woman cut me off telling me I was being rude and she wasn't going to stand for it when I kept saying "I know I am not his appointee, but I am his representative for the appeal, please check your system!" One person tried to put me through to the appeals team and I got cut off. Another said you can't be put through you have to call yourself. She then gave me a number which turned out to be the number for the tribunal service and I called them, also drawing a blank...

I tried DWP again and eventually got a helpful man who actually tried to resolve the issue. He gave me the number for the appeals team, which is apparently contracted out and not directly part of the DWP.

Anyway, I rang the number and a very defensive woman answered saying this was an internal number and the team didn't take direct calls. I was so frustrated. This was four hours of my time and I was on the verge of screaming. Initially she said I needed to call the helpline and ask to be put through. But I must have been persuasive because eventually she looked at the system and must have seen that what I was saying about someone trying to call me was correct. She emailed them there and then and got a response whilst we were still talking saying the person would call me back.

So...I then took a call from a really nice lady who was looking at the appeal and was seeking clarification on a number of points. She said she'd seen the appeal, made lots of notes, and was minded to award but needed to go through a few things. She had clearly looked at the evidence we had sent in. She had compared the LCWRA assessment and the PIP assessment and saw how different they were. She had seen my long report on all the errors in the PIP assessment report. She has also seen the supporting letter from the ADHD clinic. And, obviously had seen the information we sent in for the appeal. She went through quite a few of the elements of the assessment and she actually listened to the answers.

Anyway, at the end she said they would award enhanced rate for daily living and standard for mobility. I said 'YES!!! We accept!' That is what we thought he should be entitled to from the start and what we had based the tribunal appeal on.

Oh my, I can't describe what a relief it was, especially after such an anxious day. I rang my son immediately and he was, well as chuffed as he ever gets! 🤣

I am so pleased, so relieved, and just so grateful for the advice, help and support from everyone on here. I feel you have been a big part of the journey and the reason we have been successful.

I am still a little anxious until we get the official letter and the money arrives in my son's bank account, but, honestly what a journey. Look forward to going through it all again in a few years time!!

I suppose the moral is...don't give up. Fight for what you are entitled to. Follow the guidance on here and stick with it!!

A very relieved Anji 😀

Thanks BIS,

I really couldn't have done it without all the help on here and most especially the encouragement of other members, and the sense that people are genuinely rooting for you to get a good result.

I got the sense that the person looking at the appeal was a bit stunned that they had relied so heavily on the assessment report, and she gave me the capita number to ring and complain about it.

I think it finally reached someone who thought they wouldn't have much to defend at a tribunal.

Thanks again

That’s brilliant news Anji, I’m so pleased for you both!

Hello Anji,

Well done - so pleased for you and your son!

Best wishes,

Wendy