I appreciate you may not have knowledge of how the Northern Ireland systems but a best guess type answer would be appreciated
My friend applied for PIP went through the process and now wants to lgo to Tribunal. When she contacted the Social Security people they give her the Tribunals tel number and said they couldn’t help her any more but when she rang an answering service announced that the Tribunal was closed until further notice due to the present situation What should do. The individual has a severe mental condition
I'm sorry I don't have any knowledge of the Northern Ireland system, so I tried to do a bit of searching. I see the system is a little different from the UK and if I am reading it correctly if you want to appeal a PIP decision after you have put in for a Mandatory Reconsideration you have to go through the Appeals Service. There is nothing on the website that indicates what is happening at the current time. There is however an email that you can use and I would get your friend/or you on their behalf to at least log that they want to put in an appeal. (I would also follow up with a letter even though they are not open for business) I would then also write to the social security people to say this is what you have done so it is part of your friend's records. That's the best I can suggest at the current time.
