Any PIP experts in the building?

Someone's got to ask... What's PIP? (So obviously, I'm no expert. Sorry )

 

Can CAB help ?

Benefits

 

PIP. Personal Independance Payment. This is a benefit paid to qualifying disabled people. It repaces the former Disability Living Allowance.
Possbly due in part to the massive fiddling of claimants and the DWP. Department of Works and Pensions. PIP introduced by Ian Duncan Smith. It include the reexamination of claimants. The new examinations are conducted by non medical qualified individuals.

Under the former scheme, Disability Living Allowance, which included care allowance, lower and higher mobility allowance. I personally had been granted, High Rate Mobility Allowance for LIFE. Due to my age, at the time of the change over. I was allowed to retain my benefit for life and not be subjected to further medical check ups.

Many well diserving people were turned down by the new examination farce. Many appealed and won. My daughter Amanda, had been granted Life benefit, but due to her younger age, she was marked down and lost the higher rate. This also meant that a Motability car she had recently aquired and costing her financial contribution for, was taken away. Despite loads of medical evidence supplied by consultants confirming her condition. Suggesting she should appeal. She said that that she had no more fight left in her. Yet a woman we know, who has now mobility problems, can travel on public transport etc. She appealed and took some social worker along with her and won her appeal.

There is plenty of info on the web. Just search. PIP. GOV. UK

 

PS. The woman mentioned above is just 50. Has free travel card etc.

 

Have dealings and a titchy bit of knowledge due to handling things for my brother, but not enough to advise you, sorry FC.

Currently searching for my brother's last PIP assessment so that I can renew his Blue Badge but it's gone awol seemingly!! (Obviously hasn't got a mobility problem )

 

Good luck, FC. I hope you win your appeal.
Anything to do with IDS is bound to be to our detriment. That barsteward stole 6 years of my pension and to top it off, I'm informed that I won't get a complete one, as I'm missing......6 years of contributions. You couldn't make it up

 

Expect you will have seen this CAB info sheet, but what about the firms who specialise in helpng with such PIP dealings, though think you would need a good recommendation to find the right one.
Getting evidence to support your PIP claim

As for your original problems with the Neurologist /Hospital, there could still be a claim /action if you can find the right firm /person.
As we all know there are a lot of cowboys in that field, but my oldest mates daugher and her husband both experienced in general law , but both now specialise in such compenstion claims and know that they do their work as you would hope.
Sadly not located in your area, but again worth seeing whos in your area and how good they are.
That said, last month contacted two local solicitors for a new will, but neither even bothered to reply !

 

Hi FC.

The system under which we live, is far from perfect. Time and time again it proves that the genuine individuals are the ones that always come of worst. If I may quote my own case.

In the early 90's I decided to apply for Disability living allowance/mobility benefit. I applied dirct to DWP. A medical was arranged. What a farce. The lead doctor was a RNVR, and had no respect for ethnic doctors. I turned up for the medical. Stripped off and posed . Answered many questions that to me, had little or no reference to my being here. Then scantily clothed I was confronted with climbing a wide ornate flight of stairs. Whether or not the good Lord was looking down on me, I don't know. I found myself hanging onto the bannister rail and eventually giving up. The humiliation of being observed by office staff, didn't help. Back to the exam room. Getting dressed, I could hear everything. Obviously the junior doctor was pleading on my behalf. Then came the blast. 'But the bloodyt man is putting all his weight on his bad leg' I came out. Seething. For your information Mister. This bloody man hasn't got a bad leg. My problem is, and I hope you will try it sometime. My problem is. It's like walking about with a broom stick shoved up my backside, and evety movement the base of my skull is prodded.

In time. I received notification thet my application had failed. Thankfully my knowlege of law said otherwise. Despite the governments legal system. The wording of this document, contradicted itself many times. I appealed. Day of the appeal hearing. Lass comes out. Mr. Allen. So sorry but the representantive from the secretary of states office has gone down with the flu. Would you like to trschedule. NO. So I entered the zone. A consultant physician and a consultant surgeon plus a barrister (in a wheelchair). These gentlemen were private practitioners. Strange but I miss judged the medics. The physician proved to be my saviour. Having to perform etc and then to stand across the room. The physician asked, Valerie, my wife. How long has your husband had such a curved spine. Her reply was. He used to be 6.0ft and as straigt as a die. He used to be a policeman. I won the day.

FC. t hereare ways of honestly beating this system. Sad to say. Taking your case to the local MP. Sometimes it works, but there is so much brown nosing going on. The press. the media thrive on cases like this. Give it a go.

 

Mandatory reconsiderations rarely succeed as the DWP just say 'no' to everybody these days in the hope that you will slink away. The C.A.B are fabulous for this sort of thing and have dedicated team members well versed in all the rules etc. They will help you so much.
In the meantime may I suggest you have a look at the SCOPE website. They offer fantastic support and have experts there to ask questions of.
The first time the DWP stopped my PIP I slunk away due to embarassment despite being far less well than at my previous assessment. They refused my mandatory reconsideration and I was advised by a nurse to take it to appeal which I did. I won. The judge didnt even call me to attend the hearing and stated she considered the situation to be too urgent and ruled in my favour. I despise the DWP. They have zero empathy and no thought for the damage they do to people long term.
I wish you all the best and hope you sort things out.