Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi,
I am new to the forum as my daughter was only diagnosed with Austistic Spectrum Disorder last summer, after a year and a half of assessments. We applied for PIP last April (I am her appointee) and have just been sent a letter saying she will not receive it, despite never going out alone and not being able to cope with communication with people other than her immediate family, and that is limited. She scored 4 points for 'engaging with other people face to face' and 4 points for 'planning and following journeys'. Zero points for everything else, despite a face to face assessment where I explained that she goes out on average once a week, sometimes less, and is always accompanied. She has lots of sensitivities, particularly with food.
Has anyone else experienced this? I am preparing an appeal. It says on the covering letter ' I realise you have a disability or health condition and receiving this decision isn't the news you were hoping for'. It's a joke.
suggest you try checklegalaid.service.gov.uk/legal-aid-available
u18s don;t require financial check
also try the links on the bottom of that page such as
www.lawcentres.org.uk/.../welfare-benefits-upper-tribunal-service
as there is a lawcentre service in the London and South East that deals with Upper Tribunal cases
The disability rights UK website and their handbook to benefits is very useful.
Are you a member of a professional body or trade union, some offer support via their members legal services, as do some home insurance policies