Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello All
I am just wondering if the following scenario is familiar to anybody.
My son, who is in his mid 30's was awarded PIP at a tribunal during January 2015 (He got 10 points from the tribunal judge, a big improvement on the 0 points he received from Atos about 6 months before). This was a three year award to run until March 2018 (one year was backdated). He was summoned in May 2017 to attend one of these review things with Atos Healthcare (!!). He received a letter this Saturday informing him that the PIP payment had stopped on the 4th August 2017 as he only scored 2 points (about 7 months before the tribunal judge has allowed this to be payed to).
My questions are
1) Are the DWP able to disregard the tribunal judges ruling (to be payed up to March 2018)
2) Has anybody had this happen to them.
3) He is not going to appeal again because is was horrible for him last time round.
Is there any advice that can be given
Kind regards
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
It's a depressing and all-too-common story. I won't add to what Nellie-Mod has recommended - but I'll just say that the whole system, in my experience, is rigged to make people give up in frustration and desperation. The Atos assessments are biased and unfair. People are marked down for all sorts of things. I'd say he should persist with a further appeal. I've known people who've refused to give up and have won through in the end. Of course, though, it involves further distress. It's grossly unfair.
I wish you and your son luck with whatever you decide.
Tom
PS Actually, I will just add one thing. If you or your son use Facebook, there's an excellent group who give a lot of very good advice. You'll find them on Facebook by searching for 'A1 ESA/DLA/PIP Benefit Help and Advice.'