Won my appeal today, stressful but successful!

I have my appeal this week and I am going crazy worrying about it. I am Bi-polar and had DLA for 8 years. It was stopped at the end of April because I didn't send the PIP forms back on time, despite the fact the award was until the end of July.

I am meeting the CAB rep before it but haven't met him before, so that's un-nerving me for a start.

I tend to chatter away like a budgie when I'm nervous, which I don't want to do, it could give a false impression of how I really feel.. I have a 3 page report from my psychiatrist stating I that I cant deal with money and budgeting, have trouble with social interactions and dealing with people face to face, struggling to manage my therapy forgetting to take pills and lack the motivation to cook for myself due to anxiety and depressive episodes that can last a week at a time. I also have issues with alcohol when I'm depressed. Do you think I should mention that?

Thanks

Thanks for the quick reply Gordon.

I wasn't very clear, sorry. I had my DLA stopped early because I didn't return the PIP forms on time. They were however send back about a month later.and I was awarded 0 points which was very distressing, I felt like I was being made out as a liar. and it made me feel suicidal.

The CAB did a mandatory reconsideration for me but as they offered no new information it was refused and still had 0 points. I didn't have the psychiatric report until after the mandatory reconsideration. I send it to DWP and they grudgingly awarded 3 points on the documents that came with my appeal. I'm not sure what that is called when they do that as the mandatory reconsideration had been done.

The alcohol has been an issue for some time and I did mention it in the PIP application. I also have a sheet given to me by my psychiatrist recently to summarise my treatment and what we are going to tackle moving forwards.he mentions alcohol as being an issue as well as compulsive hoarding and relationship difficulties.

On another note I had a message on my phone a few days ago from DWP saying I was to apply for PIP by calling them back, quite bizarre.

Hi m,

Have a read through : ThisTopic

bro58

Hi,

I had my appeal and went from 0 to 13 points for care. Been such a stressful year and the appeal was very difficult for me and my relative. Spent much of the time in tears, the panel were lovely but I found it very hard to cope with the questions.

So relieved thats over, award is from 1st July 2015 for 2 years. Does ot mean I need to do the whole thing again in July if they send the renewal a year in advance?

The CAB rep was fantastic, despite my initial fears. I am going back to them to get further advice about other issues in a couple of weeks.

I have some questions around the end of DLA and the start of the award. My DLA award from my previous appeal was until 27th July 2015 but the DLA said they would stop it on April 28th 2015 because I hadnt called to start a claim. . However I called the DWP on the 28th April( I know, close to the wire} to start the PIP claim and the pack was sent out. My DLA was stopped on that date, I stupidly thought it would get reinstated once the claim was started but it never was.

My award today is from 1st July 2015 until 30th June 2017. What happens to the period 28th April untril 1st July 2015? I need this period covered for tax credit purposes more than anything.

Lastly thank you for all the useful info on your site and your support.