I have just spent the best part of a year going through the whole P.I.P. process, which included the application form, and the face to face assessment, which was a farce as the assessor totally twisted everything I said and made up or lied about crucial points. He said he carried out a physical examination which he didn't. The outcome of this was that I was awarded the standard rate of P.I.P. for both components even though I was on both the high rates of DLA previously. Needless to say I was very upset about this, especially about the unfair assessment which was in fact was carried out by a nurse with no specialist training or understanding of a complex illness. Also the fact that the DWP didn't contact my GP for any medical history, and relied solely on the dodgy assessment was very worrying.
Consequently, I applied for a mandatory reconsideration which is the next procedure. This was then refused by the DWP, and I then appealed to the tribunal. My post today is regarding my tribunal experience, which took place this morning.
After a year of fighting and the stress and upset this has caused, the tribunal this morning was without doubt the most horrendous experience I think I have ever gone through since my illness began about 20 years ago. The tribunal consisted of three people, a doctor, a judge, and a disability specialist in daily living. They proceeded to systematically go through my whole claim and attempted to humiliate me. They questioned me for 45 minutes on every aspect of my claim. Their questioning was aggressive and intimidating, and they constantly went back trying to trip me up in some way. After the doctor had finished questioning me, he sat for the rest of the time with a smirk on his face which was very intimidating and unsettling. They managed to make me feel a complete fool and worthless. I went into the tribunal fairly confident that I could put my case across fairly and persuade them to award me the enhanced rates after all, but I came out feeling demoralised and not knowing if I would keep my award at all. Apart from my physical disabilities I have suffered from anxiety and depression for many years. I went into this tribunal at least being able to speak coherently, but I came out stuttering, which I have never done in my life. My daughter, who is my carer and who was with me this morning, was devastated by my treatment, but was told by the judge not to speak or interrupt or prompt me at any stage as the tribunal was about me and not her. I don't hold out much hope of a successful conclusion for me, but I just wanted to at least let other people know what may be in store for them if this is in fact the normal way a tribunal operates. Has this happened to anyone else ?
Still trying to recover at this point.
Mines was ok not the best thing I’ve done and nerves were shattered but I was told right away by the judge that I won
So sorry to hear your experience was bad. After reading a lot on forums people's experiences are that whilst tough tribunals seem more empathetic. My story is much like yours in that I was on enhanced DLA but on assessment my assessor lied unventing a whole page description of an exam that didn't happen! Just been told the Standard for both I was awarded has kept the same, despite writing eight pages of clear reasoning linked to evidence, as to why I should have got additional points! Looks like I need to decide, but on principal think I will go to Appeal, though risk losing what been awarded. I only hope I don't crumble as my condition also causes me to not be able to think clearly so don't know how will stand up if interrogated! Hope your outcome is better than your experience.
It sounds the same has my tribunal which was in Birmingham. I lost my appeal for esa and now are on job seekers. The judge also said do not speak to my daughter. I was told that because I walked in sat and stood back up I could do some form of work
Hi Lyn,
Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry you have had a similar experience. The only thing I can say is keep trying for your esa as many times as it takes. Good luck.
I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I have to say this doesn't often happen. Most Tribunals are very fair whilst i have heard that a lot of them won't let others speak on their behalf. Like yourself some won't even let them prompt them. I also recently heard a story that someone went to Tribunal to try to increase their Mobility award from standard to Enhanced. They started with Enhanced daily living and standard mobility. At the end of the Tribunal they had lost what they originally had and were left with just Standard daily living. Quite shocking, really.
The Tribunal do have to pre-warn a claimant if they're considering lowering their award. The same rules apply to Tribunal as they do with MR though and that you do risk losing everything you already had. A big risk for anyone!
As you didn't have the decision today it should only be a few days before you have that letter from them telling you the decision. Hopefully for you it will be good news. If it's not then you can only appeal that decision if an error in law was made in making the decision.
Hopefully this won't happen to you. I'm sorry to hear your story and hope you have a possitive outcome and hope you're in that 65% whole have a decision in their favour.
You should have been told at the Tribunal of any benefit you will be receiving. Seemed as though you had an awful 3 some. I agree the medical assessments are no go.
Asking around it seems as though the assessment is exactly the same for everyone, even someone without a leg would be passed. Today I have written to my MP deploring the way the PIP is run and that they should try going through all the forms only to be turned down. This does have a mental effect on people.
Good Luck just keep on fighting. Next time I am going to slip in a recorder so that other people can hear what is said.
Hi Steven.
So sorry to hear you had such an awful experience. You will find on the paperwork you receive from the tribunal with what they have awarded you. A page asking if you are not happy with the outcome. And what to do if your not.
My tribunal was in June and my mum was with me. She Was my representative and they boy only allowed her to speak, but asked her many questions. I was awarded enhanced rate for both daily living and mobility. And they Informed me straight away.
As you were not given the outcome there and then. I hope you receive good news when you do hear.. fingers crossed. Good luck.
Unfortunately the only way lyn can re-apply for ESA now is for a different condition or if the existing condition has got considerably worse. That would be down to the decision maker to decide that once another claim as been made.
If they are successful and their condition has been accepted they will go back onto assessment rate. If they're found fit for work again and decide on the MR route, if this fails and they take it to Tribunal they won't be allowed to go back onto assessment rate for ESA while waiting for the Tribunal. This is because they've already had 1 Tribunal for ESA. 
This sounds totally horrendous Steven. I really hope you get a successful outcome after what you went through.
My husband is waiting to go to tribunal. I am now very concerned as he was being represented by the British Legion. I wonder now if they will allow this. My husband won't cope well with All the questions he already feels his integrity is being doubted and will become frustrated. I am now so worried for him.
Hi Julie,
Thank you for your reply. Yes I will keep my fingers crossed, not hopeful though. Thanks again.
Thanks for your reply Governor,
Good idea about the recorder. Someone should expose what actually goes on.
Thank you for your reply Denise,
Considering what happened today, I am fully expecting to lose my whole claim, although I was never at any stage warned that this could happen. Thanks again.
Hi Bobsyuncle,
I'm so sorry to hear about your husband, and I do hope that things go well for him. I feel exactly the same. My integrity has been questioned and I've been made to feel as though I've done something wrong. This whole process is very suspect. Thanks again for your kind words, and good luck to your husband.
You're welcome Steven, They really should warn you if they do take points off you. However that story i told you in my other reply, that person wasn't warned either. It really is disgraceful how they treat some people.Please do let us know the outcome.
Hi Denise,
Got my letter this morning. My appeal was refused, but thankfully my original award still stands, so no points were taken from me. Yes I am vey disappointed because they have completely ignored my serious misgivings about the lies and false statements made at the face to face assessment, but also relieved that I haven't lost the award altogether. I'm back where I started. I don't feel that it was worth the trauma that they put me through yesterday. Thanks anyway for your messages.
Steve.
Sorry this has happened to you. I went through a similar process with the tribunal and wasn't given anything. The Disability Advisor was like something out of the Gestapo and the judge was deaf, but the doctor was OK. Afterwards I went to the toilet (got active Crohn's Disease!) so I had to pass the room I'd been in and I heard raised voices when they were discussing my case, so there was obviously some disagreement going on. Still, the DA won.
I applied again straightaway, had a continuous argument with DWP/PIP over a wee or so about attending an assessment, which I refused to do because I wasn't well enough to do an 80 mile round trip. To cut a long story short (it's in the forum somewhere!) I ended up writing a formal letter of complaint because I was so angry with the whole system. A few weeks later I received a paper based assessment over the phone. They bent over backwards to give me an award, which I got and it was backdated several months.
Just goes to show, if you really fight back, you can win although you wonder if it's really worth it sometimes.
Best wishes.
Sorry, that's meant to be "a WEEK or so" 
Hi Patricia,
Thank you for your message. I'm also sorry you had a bad experience too. It seems as though this is the norm.
Got my letter this morning. My appeal was refused, but thankfully my original award still stands, so no points were taken from me. Yes I am vey disappointed because they have completely ignored my serious misgivings about the lies and false statements made at the face to face assessment, but also relieved that I haven't lost the award altogether. I'm back where I started. I don't feel that it was worth the trauma that they put me through yesterday. I probably won't pursue this any further as the stress this whole thing causes is too much, which probably what they want all along. The more people they can get off of this benefit the better for their figures no matter how it impacts the claimant. Thanks anyway for your message.
Steve.