PIP Tribunal

Finally had my appointment for my PIP tribunal. And feel scared to death. I took on board all Cabbie's sage active. She is brilliant at things like this and her telling of witnessing a tribunal really helped me at the time.

The solicitor who the Brain Charity got me has done all she can paperwork wise and can't come with me. But will be speaking to her the day before.

I have asked at the Brain Charity if the lady who has been helping me can come with me or someone from the Brain Charity. Will have to wait and see if anyone can.

Have asked a friend if she can go with me incase no one from the Brain Charity as she has experience of tribunals. I don't want to ask my daughter as she's at work the day of the tribunal.

So just have to wait and see if anyone can go with me.

Also had a video appointment for the universal credit health assessment. I phoned and asked if I can have a face to face appointment. And they said yes and will send me an appointment.

After my PIP assessment via phone I don't trust phone or video appointments for anything as important as this.

When I applied for universal credit I had my appointment at the job centre. My caseworker was lovely and after seeing my mobility problems and talking to me said phone appointments from now on as she didn't want me struggling to come in again.

Why is it the universal credit staff treat you like a human being and with kindness . When the PIP people don't see you in person and you are only a name and dismiss you as if you don't exist.

I was born disabled so have struggled all my life. Had pains in my legs since childhood and fallen a lot plus all my other problems. Also put down to growing pains and clumsy child.

Only got my diagnosis last year and it's rare condition. My neurologist hasn't any other patients with it. Only way I am learning about why my body has done and is doing the things it does in talking on Facebook with others with it . Plus found out in 2020 I was also born with a hole in my heart . I am 65.

What annoys me is PIP forms are yes or no answers then you write on the next page if you tick yes and explain how you have to do things . But I don't believe they read it. The phone assessment was a farce I knew she hadn't listened to me and getting a copy of her report showed that as every paragraph multiple errors. Took me 2 days to mark up every mistake and write an email to my solicitor pointing out the mistakes.

What gets me they gave me zero on everything. Would they give zero to a blind person or someone in a wheelchair just because they can go out. Of course not that is discrimination. I am in constant pain with my legs and left arm . And pain every few days in my right . I use a walking stick and have done since I was 29. To go out as a family because I had a baby and 4 year old went out in a wheelchair . My late husband was brilliant. He said we alter our way of life to suit you. I had limb jerks from 1988 until 3 years ago and only because my neurologist put me on Clonazepam after 32 years and 4 months of seizures within 2 weeks my limbs where still. Still in constant pain and have host of other problems.

I went to a tribunal in the 90's with my husband it was DLA in those days. I felt like a criminal. Six people only one talked it was awful. But thanks to Cabbie know it's only 3 people this time but still terrified.

PIP had my completed forms 12th April last year took months before they turned me down same with MRN. I was lead to believe they should have contacted my GP, neurologist and cardiologist before the MRN but they didn't I checked .

So now just wait and see what happens on the 29th August.