PIP assessment after State Pension age

Thank you BIS, I have started doing some of your training and looking at the appeal guidance - wow there is a lot to consider! Mum would be so overwhelmed with it all! When I submitted her appeal I did put my details down as the appointee and they must have accepted this as they've sent the appeal papers to the branch that made the decision and have given us a reference number. Hopefully once we have the medical records through that might give PIP some indication Mum has not miraculously improved! It's just so hard to provide "evidence" with this kind of condition apart from a brain scan, it comes down to the assessor taking your examples of the different challenges as truthful and at face value. I think it's going to need to be me managing everything as I've been with Mum every step of the way from her first discovering the brain tumour and speaking to all the specialists etc., and I'm the one who helps her out with all the things she needs support with and explains things to her. I wish we'd have know about the paper-based assessment request before (this is in addition to the "review" form?) as that would have been much more suitable. I will post again when I have some more information but really hoping it doesn't get to the tribunal stage as Mum will be terrified

Thank you slim, I hope they don't treat you the way they have my Mum when it comes to your reassessment! My partner's Mum is also in receipt of PIP and a similar age and had a telephone assessment no issues, but she is 100% mentally and can explain what medical conditions she has and what medication etc., I think Mum was just really anxious of saying something "wrong" and she's not able to explain what goes on in her head! Mum's just outside of Belfast so it may be worth thinking about contacting an MLA that's a good point - again think it would be me co-ordinating this! Will definitely get the Doctor/Consultant letter as well - she is due another scan soon. Thanks!

Thank you naanaa, that's a good point I will ask Mum about that. She's recently got a new phone so not sure if that info will be saved (that's another example of the challenges she has - I've been going through everything with her to set the phone up and she's really struggled getting her head round it). Please keep your fingers crossed for us!

Hi everyone - just to update you, the appeal went to the "decision making" PIP office and they have upheld their decision to award Mum 0 points. A stack of paperwork has arrived and it's hard to make head or tail of it, but it looks like it's going to Tribunal now. I have got Mum's medical notes now but again it's a big stack and she is struggling to find what might be relevant, am I working off badly taken photos she's sent me!

I think we're going to need a solicitor that helps with PIP appeals as it has gone beyond what I can manage to help her with and the amount of paperwork is overwhelming. I've looked at the resources here for tribunals and filling in the forms, but again it's overwhelming and I don't want to mess this up for Mum!

I can see that there's some glaring issues with the process they have gone through (for example, in the DfC's response letter they called her by the wrong name at one point, so it's obviously a "cut and paste job".) I think a solicitor will be able to highlight these assessment flaws better than me, as DfC aren't listening to us.

So my question is... do any forum members have any recommendations for solicitors who deal with PIP appeals? I am going round in circles on the Law Society page trying to find one. Sorry if this isn't appropriate to ask this question here? Also, not sure if I need to start a new "topic" for this question? Apologies if so.

Thank you!

Try Kester Disability rights. They work on a percentage only of backpay they get you, and you've got the rest of that and all of the award going forward if they win for you. My expert friend checked them out a while back, spoke on the phone, and was convinced they are Ok. I first heard of them from a very satisfied claimant on here years ago.
best wishes, do keep us posted,
Denby