can anybody help me as i dont know which way to turn. i had been waiting 14 months for an ESA assesment to be put into a group. i have arthritus and need a new knee which they wont do yet because im only 46. ive had one operation but its just deteriorating. i cant walk more than 150m and thats with a crutch. i had to give up my job which i loved because of this. i failed my assessment and i was fuming as they had blatantly lied and missed out vital info. i did what i had to do for a mandatory reconsideration but they wouldnt change their mind so ive had to appeal. then only last week i was failed my PIP medical and the same reason again lies and missed info. ive lost 500 pounds a month and my husband isnt on a great wage. we were just about keeping ourselves afloat before i lost PIP. after we pay the mortgage and other bills theres no money for food. how can they say im fit for work when i cant even walk to the bus stop to get to the job centre. im now back on anti depressants and having panic attacks and hardly any sleep because of the stress. sorry to ramble but im at the end of my tether.
My advice is to get your MP and GP involved which is exactly what I had to do 4 months ago. I have now been reinstated thank God and treated with more respect above all. It is seriously a nightmare dealing with the DWP. Added to what we are dealing with already. The DWP actually apologised verbally and by letter. Wishing you the best of luck
Hi sorry i cant advice you but just wanted to say im so sorry and angry for you and your hubby. This is the way they treat previously hard workers through no fault of their own find themselfes incapable of work, genuine case, its appauling it really is. i
Its storys like this that make my blood boil. No wonder your at the end of your tether!
Sue
Thankyou Susan. It's hard to believe that you support yourself and your family and don't ask for anything then when you do need a bit help they shut the door in your face. I've never been so unsure of what to do x
I can feel for you. I've paid an enormous amount of tax and NIC in my working life and now that we are both retired (she 72 me 67) I had hoped for some peace and a reasonable weekly income. With the loss of my DLA, which then caused the loss of my Pension Credit which then caused the loss of all of my Council Tax Support we are now £266 a week down on our income.
That's the equivalent of my State Pension of £198 a week and my wife's of £62 a week being stopped permanently.
That's absolutely awful. How do these people expect you to live on what you get? I hope you're appealing against your decision. Why shouldn't we get some help when needed? We haven't sat on our backsides expecting everybody else to keep us. We are now in debt because of all this just trying not to lose our home. It devastates so many families. X
Hi choochie70,
I don't have any words of wisdom regarding your benefits, but, with regard to your finances. Have you contacted your mortgage company to ask for a mortgage holiday? If you are struggling to pay the mortgage but have been a regular payer up to now they may suspend payments for 3-6 months, that would help temporally. Go to the CAB and talk over your debts and they will sort out a reasonable budget between you and your debtors. Don't be afraid to ask for help as your situation is not your "fault", you may be pleasantly surprised at what can be achieved if you ask for help and understanding.
Best wishes, mike.
Thanks, from what I have been told by the DWP - there are no appeal rights when they make the decision to cancel the DLA award for the reason they did. It is much the same as when they require you to send in information within 30 days failing which the benefit award will be terminated, if you miss that deadline and the award is cancelled there are no appeal rights to get it re-opened.
In my case the only option forward was to claim Attendance Allowance. However that benefit is on hold awaiting the final proposals by the government to close it down to all new claimants.
Wow that's un believable. It's gets me so angry. The people making these decisions don't have to worry as they have their wage every month. Let's just hope they never have to rely on the dwp for help because they'll be screwed. I hope your situation improves somehow x
Hi Choochie
From what you have said I would assume you have fallen foul of the PIP discriptors. If you have told the assessor you can walk 150 meters with an aid (a crutch) then you will score only 4 points. To claim standard mobility you need to score at least 8 points which you get if tick the box "Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres."
Did you claim daily living? If so how did you score. Also do you suffer with any Mental Illness such as depression which might require someone to travel with you when you venture out?
Somehow it seems to happen that when an MP claims a benefit (DLA/PIP) in particular, it glides through the system without any problem and the award made just happens to be always acceptable to the claimant.. Although I don't know for certain, but I doubt very much that they will be called for a grilling at a face to face assessment!
I was only getting g the daily living component. Believe it or not I scored 0 points for my assessment. I have suffered with depression on n off for many years and just about had it under control but since all this it's reared it's ugly head again. Suffering bad anxiety attacks n hardlyany sleep. My husband went with me as I can't get there under my own steam. X
Sorry misread the last part. I don't go out on my own as I need someone to drive me as I can't walk far.
I also wonder how many MP's/Lords or Ladies who were/are in receipt of DLA have had a smooth transition to PIP without any drama, no face to face assessment etc?
I also wonder how many have NOT applied or can't see themselves coping with an application for the transition?
Probably all of them!
Hi Choochie
Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, Mental Health suffers seem to have been a particular target under welfare reform.
Have you asked for a Mandatory Reconsideration? That is the first stage in the appeal process.
When claiming PIP/ESA for depression and anxiety you have basically show that it is affecting you daily. By that I mean you need ‘prompting’ to wash, take medication, dress, prepare meals, eat and look after your finances.
If you have told them things are “under control” the assessor could take that as you don’t need daily assistance any longer. A lot of claimant make the mistake of thinking that because they have a diagnosis that is enough.
However, it doesn’t work that way. The general rule is the condition is ‘severe’ and you require help with personal care or mobility (in PIP). In ESA you have to show that your condition gives you limited capacity for work.
Depression can be severe and can qualify claimants for both ESA/PIP. I don’t know your individual circumstances but never tell an assessor that you have things under control.
If you are going to appeal, then you have to ask for a MR within 30 days starting from the date on the letter informing you of the DWP’s decision. In the MR you have to challenge the assessor’s conclusions with your own evidence.
If the MR fails (they generally do) you have to make an appeal to a Benefit’s Tribunal. Best to contact the Citizen’s Advice.
Generally, you can’t make a new claim for benefit within 6 months of the old one ending. The only exclusion is if your condition has significantly got worse. You would need evidence for this from your Doctor.
I actually claimed esa and pip because of my mobility issues due to arthritis. My mental health wasn't really am issue then. It's only now with all the stress of having them refused that it's become an issue again. I don't understand how they can give me them both to start with then even though my condition has deteriorated they refuse after assessment. I have Cab on Wednesday so fingers crossed x
Best of luck
I am reeling too today as my PIPS has been refused after shoulder surgery which means I cannot drive, cannot cut up my meat, need help dressing etc ! When I was awarded back in May for two years on the enhanced rate for PIPS. The reason I had a reassessment is due to notifying them of my surgery which means things have been harder the ironic thing is that I have been put in the support group from ESA when they refused me two days after surgery due to the assessment they did back in August a month before surgery last year. As they have given me 7 points for the PIPS I am wondering if I have any hope of getting reinstated. I have had Fibromyalgia for 8 years and a frozen shoulder for 4 years and have two sons to look after. I am really upset that this has happened . Any advice very welcome
Hi no wonder your reeling, i would be too. So things have gotten harder yet they refused you PIP! 
Fibromyalgis for 8 years too, what on earth is going on hear, im going before i swear, had enough of reading how most of us being treated hear. You must appeal and appeal. Hope someone can advice you further
Sue x