My daughter made a successful ESA appeal on Friday and was awarded 18 points instead of the 0 she was previously awarded. I would like to thank this site for the assistance the manuals and other comments provided to make this possible.

We were told that the DWP could appeal, but if not then I assume she will be eligible for some back dated benefit?

What we are now wondering is what happens next? Is it likely that she will shortly receive another brown envelope and go round the loop again, or will she get some respite for a few months? I'm not sure what the timescales are given that there has been just over 7 months between the original assessment and this tribunal.

I'd also like to make some observations about our experience of the tribunal process itself on the day.

We didn't actually give any additional evidence; the questioning explored in a lot more depth most of the areas that we thought the original assessment had skimmed over. I did try to add some at the end but was immediately cut short by the judge saying he didn't need to hear anything else from me. I thought about challenging this but bit my lip as I somehow had a feeling that we might have a good result. It only took about 20 minutes.

Whilst we were waiting in the car park of the hotel it was being held at we noticed someone walking around with a mobile to his ear. We noticed him and he noticed us; turned out to be the doctor on our panel!

The room layout was very formal, almost confrontational in layout, one long table down one side with the two panel members behind it, with us sitting behind another long table down the other side of the room and a large space between the two tables. I'd like to know who is responsible for setting these rooms out.

Sorry, bit of a long post! Thankyou once again.

I am glad that the tribunal found in your daughter's favour. As long as DWP do not appeal to the Upper Tribunal on a point of law (which is unlikely) your daughter will get back pay eventually - but I'm afraid that, like everything else, this is taking a long time at the moment!

As it took 7 months for the tribunal, it is possible that the reassessment will start again quite soon - but let's hope that this doesn't happen and your daughter gets to relax for a while.

Hi there Steve,

Congratulations on the positive outcome. Tribunal process sounds similar to mine- not really any way for me to speak/give evidence, but they asked very appropriate,detailed questions, unlike the 'medical'. I do hope you daughter can have a rest from all this for a while. If it's any comfort, I have not had a retest at all for(maybe because I was waiting for Tribunal for 18 months!). All the best to your daughter, and she is blessed to have your support.