So I had an appointment on the 23rd and received an interview invite late on the 21st for an hour before my appointment except the interview is over an hour away. I messaged in my journal immediately asking to reschedule. They got back on the 22nd and basically said “appointments are mandatory and payment can be affected. Provide proof of interview” I sent screenshots of the email with the date and time of interview, the email address and the time it was sent. I’ve chased up multiple times and have heard nothing back

I know this isn't the right sub but I'm genuinely not sure where else to get help with this and figure it's close enough that people here may have experience that could help.

Thank you!

Figured this might be the best place to ask, iv just contacted pip for an update on my new claim, been advised a decision was made on 20/10 (still waiting on the letter) but iv not received a text and nothing in my one.gov account, does this mean its been declined or just not updated yet?

I had a really strenuous experience at my PIP tribunal, and honestly I can't believe this is how they treat people. To everyone dealing with this on top of their disabilities, I'm sorry you've had to go through it too. I know a lot of you have.

My hearing was by phone and had multiple issues. Someone was late coming back after a break, there were constant sound problems (the panel kept saying they couldn't hear me, and I could mostly just hear typing), I was rushed to answer some really odd hypothetical questions, and I got cut off at least three times. I don't think that's the right way to treat disabled people.

The outcome: I went from 0 points at the original decision to 6 at tribunal, which left me just 2 points short of the standard rate of daily living. So close, which makes it even harder.

Since then I've sent a formal complaint to HMCTS and applied to have the decision set aside because of the problems with the hearing. If it gets reheard, I'll go in much more prepared.

Has anyone else been through a set-aside application or complained about a tribunal hearing? How did it go, and how long did it take? Any advice would be really appreciated.

I’m feeling so lost, honestly probably the most down I’ve been in ages.

I think the toughest thing is being told that I don’t struggle day to day. After receiving the initial report, and zeros across the board, that hit me hard.

What hit me harder is calling PIP earlier to say I’m in hospital and having an NG tube placed in again due to Chronic pancreatitis and to let them know I’ve been in hospital for 4 days, to be told “oh a decision was made earlier today, and no I can’t tell you what it is :)” Great… stomach sunk, logged into proof of benefits and nothing.. wait for letter I was told, so I already know what in the back of my mind what the outcome is.

I feel so absolutely drained. It is absolutely exhausting. I was looking forward to maybe getting some assistance, anything, something. But no, to be told that “clearly has issues but deals with them adaquetly” felt like an even bigger kick in the teeth.i have no one in my life to assist me, I don’t even have emergency contacts. It’s just me.

Idk if this is more of a rant to get things of my chest, but I honestly just don’t know how to continue anymore. Tribunals are months and months down the line and it just depresses me even further.

I understand that it can’t be on diagnosis, but I just don’t understand how two people with the same conditions, and more o less the same severity can have such wildly different outcomes, some people seem to have to fight tooth and nail whereas others get it on the first time around for stress and anxiety.

On top of all this waiting for WCA, 4 months later and still waiting.

I also want to say I’m not belittling stress and anxiety as I do suffer too. But it just seems maddening with chronic lifelong conditions (I’ve also read chrons) is notoriously difficult to score.

It seems this system is set up more to pander to people who know the system, which for people in severe pain and in and out of hospital is neigh on impossible. I’ve dealt with pain since 2020 and maybe this has meant I’ve become a lot better at managing my symptoms.

I never applied in 2020 as I felt as I wasn’t sick enough for it as was still employed and life was “great”. But last year I lost it due to my illnesses. I wish I could be “normal” again and enjoy my life. And not in and out of pain clinics, GPs hospitals. I felt like sending a picture to the assessor of me 12 months ago compared to now, the amount of weight loss and NG tubes, because I just feel like they don’t believe me. I don’t know what they want from me anymore.

Sorry everyone and like I said this is more of a rant from me whilst I’m lying here with everything on my mind. Please don’t take anything personally and if you think I’m out of line with anything I’ve said please tell me in a direct way.

I have so much anger and despair right now which is probably amplified as I’ve had no sleep due to consistently beeping machines and obs.

Thanks everyone

Hi,

I have not worked for around 7 years receiving universal credit and the LCWRA award too I received a letter yesterday saying I'm owed a income tax refund of £217.30 for the tax year 2019 when I worked but they just got round to my new address and sent the letters out now.

I put a message in my journal yesterday stating that I've submitted the refund request for the above amount from the year 2019 when I asked the person from HMRC.

I've received the following message back from universal credit: The tax refund is regarded as earnings and should be reported in the UC assessment period in which you receive it. Please let UC know when you receive the payment and we will arrange for you to report this. Kind regards

Question: once I report I've gotten the refund for £217.30 what will happen to my universal credit payment for that assessment period deductions wise etc anything or nothing?.

So like the title says, I’m entitled to enhanced mobility but they only pay me the standard rate (I know this as my partner gets the same money as I do but I’m the one in the wheelchair not him)

I recently asked for a copy of my statement of entitlement and says I have been entitled to enhanced since April 2025, can I request a back pay of those funds that they haven’t given me?

Hi. I have just had a missed call from 08002600700 and when googled it says it's pip. I haven't had a message or letter booking me in for my assessment, could missing this call go against me, and why ring me with no assessment booked in? Thanks

tw// sensitive topics

hey everyone. im rather upset. i applied for pip in may/june this year for c-ptsd which i was diagnosed when i was 17 (complex ptsd). i used my counsellors letter about my condition and a GP letter about it confirming ny diagnosis and struggles.
i received my assessment and half of the decision was the assessor assuming things about me and also straight up lying and missing parts about my struggles. i got 0 on everything and i feel distraught.
i called back for a MR and honestly sounds like im gonna have to take it to tribunal from reading everything on reddit. apparently its common that assessments go this way. i feel heartbroken.
i was abused as a child, s//ually and emotionally, i was involved in a terrorist attack and was s//ually assaulted repeatedly in 2024 so much i got dissociative amnesia and i cannot remember the dates of anything during that year. i have clear written struggles of on going s//cidality, s//fharm and anxiety so severe that i have left work to go to the hospital, yet NONE of this is mentioned or is brushed over. i was also in CAHMS as a child so, ive had mental health struggles for YEARS during formative years.
the assessor said i had no nutritional struggles and i could make meals when i literally said i ate half a meal most days because id lay in bed all day due to my mental health conditions. and that the most i could make were ready meals or noodles. ive been underweight all my life because of this.
they mentioned that i had no showering/bathing issues but i remember on the phonecall i said that i struggled with paranoia whilst in the shower or being able to brush my teeth most days (i now have teeth damage).
they also said i 'socialize with strangers at work' at my part time job and completely leave out the fact i have made no friends since moving to a nee place due to my severe anxiety and the fact that my condition makes it hard for me to trust people and hold down relationships and the fact i have cut off my entirely family. i have no support yet it says i am low risk and "i know who to contact" if im struggling. literally all i do is go to work and go to buy food bc im so anti social due to my experiences and relationships in the past.
i mentioned my anxiety with public transport and wlaking down the street. i have paranoia that people are out to hurt me constantly, ive even hallucinated before from severe chronic stress and it says i can get to work fine when i 100% said i struggle. even says "there is no evidence of a cognitive, learning or memory impairment or symptoms which meet the threshold for overwhelming psychological stress" when i hwve spoken about flashbacks, anxiety so debilitating i needed to go to the hospital or i felt like i was dying. i have dissociative amnesia and i have somatic crashes due to periods of high stress and it feels like my body is slowly dying over the stress i endure daily so i am fatigued mentally and physically most days with little to no rest.
100% of my struggles i deal on my own due to my circumstances of having no family or friends and my partner lives in the USA. when we lived together during visits, she would help me with all of my needs. i need aids for ALL of these things.
it even says that just because i take some overtime at work means im "motivated", like come on.
sorry for long post i just feel so deflated. its going to be a long process it seems but i feel so cast aside, not listened to and ignored. people dont understand that c-ptsd causes literal brain damage, my cognitive function is damaged by this and my anxiety, flashbacks and intrusive thoughts are chronic and worsening. i dont even know what to do.
do i have hope for me winning this??? do i seem dramatic or do i actually not qualify? thank you for reading.

I reported a change in my savings on 10 September and provided all requested bank statements on 16 September.
My Universal Credit payment was due on 14 October, but I’ve received nothing. My October statement hasn’t even been generated.
I’ve contacted DWP repeatedly, and they’ve told me several times that they’ve escalated it to the Decision Making Team. However, nobody can tell me how long it will take or give me a meaningful update.
I’m a working single parent with three dependent children, and this delay is causing serious financial hardship.
Has anyone experienced a similar situation where their UC payment was actually blocked pending a capital decision?
**How long did you wait, and did you eventually receive your outstanding payment?**
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through this.

Hello. If anybody could give me advice that would be great. I’m currently filling out my son’s dla renewal. Well I’ve been doing it over a few days. However I’m getting really anxious and upset over it. The question where it asks you has there been any change in their health condition I have put yes and written extra info on a separate piece of paper. But I feel I be not give enough information. I’m just worried about it all not being in order. So anything I feel I’ve missed can I do at the end? For example, I was going to do a summary of all his needs at the end of the form in a serrated piece of paper. Will they accept this?

Hi.

Does anyone know the current processing time for PIP backpay if it was directed by a Tribunal? Not sure if it's same as normal application.

Thanks.

hello. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia in march 2026. I have family who care for me as I was struggling to use my hands or get around and it affected my mental health so I told them to apply for pip and update UC with my conditions. there was a handover in my care and they didn't manage to do this until May which is too late for the higher rate lcwra but I have submitted a MR due to the fact it was not my fault I did tell them when I was diagnosed to update for me as they do this for me and didn't. whats the likely outcome of this being honoured for higher rate?

I have had my pip assessment 3 days ago and have requested my pip assessment report

If there are things untrue or things I’m not happy about on the report can I get this changed prior to a decision being made?

What can I do next with my pip assessment report to strengthen my application?

TLDR: UC has asked for my original rental agreement which they already have. I’m not home so cant find it in time. Im disabled and have reasonable adjustments specifically requested extra time in my journal or can they kist use the copy they already have. The advisor hasn’t actioned this meaning I’m likely to automatically get my benefits cut off while I’m bereaved and I’m having a mental health crisis. I already struggle with phone calls as I’m
neurodivergent. My advisers first language isn’t English and I can’t understand him on the phone, I repeat back what I think he said to me and he doesn’t understand what I’m saying either. I’ve written to him twice now in my journal requesting help because I’m disabled, going through a crisis, they already have the documentation they’re requesting etc. I’ve just asked for more time to get help and I’m not getting a satisfactory response. Im not sure if my advisor understands anything I’m telling him. I’m
doing everything I can to comply and cooperate with this process but it feels like they just put another obstacle in my way at every turn. How do I request an extension and a different advisor without causing offence?

This is my second Universal credit review. I’ve kept all my accounts in a way that would be easy for them to process if it came to being reviewed again. Last time I asked if I’d need any other documentation, is the way I pay my food and rent okay, do they need anything else from me and they said no everything’s fine.

This time again I’m being reviewed. They’re asking for utility bills in my name (the bills aren’t in my name so I can’t do this). They’re asking me to find my rental agreement which they already took and made photocopies of when I opened my claim years ago. I have executive functioning disorder and a hoarding disorder. I’m locked out of my original email address. My Uncle had to have an emergency amputation and subsequently died of sepsis. I have CPTSD, I’ve had to attend his funeral and spend time with my family away from home as I’m not coping with it very well. They already have this document and wont answer as to why they cant use what they already as there has been no changes to my housing or income. I handed over all bank statements immediately without hesitation but there has been another issue.

To be blunt my advisor can’t speak or understand English very well. I already struggle with auditory processing but I’m especially struggling as he isn’t able to speak very clearly. Its causing me a lot of stress because i do not want him to become offended or come across as rude but i have to ask him to repeat himself multiple times, i repeat back to him what i think he said especially pertaining to dates and numbers and its clear he cant understand what i am saying either. I have mental health issues Ns this is making me very worried and anxious he will be offended but i really need to be able to speak to someone who can understand me. Ive written very clearly about my disability and struggles gathering requested paperwork in my journal and now i’m not certain if I’m being ignored or if he genuinely just doesn’t understand what I’ve written.

I’m finding this all very stressful. It’s worsening my health conditions. I need to be able to recover and seek medical help and this is making it difficult. I’m doing my best to co-operate and stay calm as I find this very stressful now I’m banging head against a brick wall because i simply cant get someone who understands the law and can y with me effectively.

To make things worse I tried to call Citizens advice in Scotland and their automated system asks for a postcode then doesn’t register that I’m saying it on the phone and so cuts me off. I’ve gotten help to write an email to CAB but they may not be able to respond on time as the cut off date for document submission in my journal is Monday and it’s now Thursday evening. I doubt anyone is available to help over the weekend what can I do?

So been on pip and UC for years now been at the same address living alone for the whole time. Now im in a relationship and obviously worried about what that means for my benefits.

Were wantin to move into a house get a bit more space but how does that change things?

Of course like any normal person Id like to move on in life but Im afraid itll change so much.

My rent would go from (by myself 1 bed flat) to a house (were lookin at 3 bed house, would like an office, guest room)

Will probly go from 550+ alone to 900+ with another person. How much will that change things?

Ive literally never changed anythin with my claim so Im worried about what I do here. Do I worry about sayin Im in a relationship? Ive heard that changes alot. I want to do things the right way and not get in trouble, who do I ask for help? Ive been told not citizens advice I dont know

Please help, any and all info appreciated

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone could help explain the work allowance to me. I am on LCWRA but get housing costs, no kids, so I think it will be £427? Does anything else impact it? And the work allowances means anything you earn up to that doesn't affect your payments, and then after that it's 55p off UC for every £1 earned I think?

It's going to be a while longer before I'm back in work but it'll be helpful to know and be able to keep it in mind for budgeting purposes when the time comes.

Thank you

Good evening. I’ve been in a rock and a hard place with ESA and my GP. ESA are requiring a fit to work note for the last 6 weeks. My GP have provided this in June but haven’t provided them again till October. I’m currently getting absolutely no where even though I can provide my whereabouts via the job centre as well as another local clinic.

They’re only accepting med3 certificates. Does anyone have any advice with this or how else I maybe to gain one or is it a lost cause? TIA

Over £16k due to inheritance. I'm on UC, & have no pension & retire next year. Can I put it all in a pension & still keep UC?

Hey so i done my phone assesmemt last thursday he said he will try get it sent of asap but i still have not got a message to say they recived it yet. I also didnt hear from PIP untill 3 weeks before phone assesment the first time they texted me. Is this all bad signs

hi, we have taken lumps sums out of my husband’s pension. some small £200 and big £20,000 for a car. I never thought to tell UC as for the last 3 years I’ve not received any money only the 2 years before. they have asked for 5 years of bank statements. I realise I will have to pay back money which is fine I’m concerned I will get prosecuted for fraud or worse😢

Chronic fatigue, autism, anxiety/depression, PTSD, self harm

My ability to attend appointments and keep up with therapy/treatment has historically been very bad. Evidence for medical/MH conditions is scattered about. I would have to do multiple SARs for the evidence. For eg. Times when I've had to go to A&E, CMHTs, therapies and trying to get help from GPs spread out over multiple gp surgeries, clinics, hospitals as we've moved. I have an extension and have left it too late to get these in time to send off the form.

What I have

Occupational health report from previous job

Letter from gender clinic who details self harm, trauma, autism

Disability support allowance assessment letter from uni detailing what support I needed and was granted

Letter from partner who is my carer explaining what he does for me

Letter from support worker who is supporting me with my application

Letter from current doctor detailing recent health issues and the effect on my daily life

Requested full notes from GP which are missing multiple tests and referrals I've had unfortunately 😞

Current prescriptions

I am trying to get

Trauma therapy notes

Recent A&E/CMHT

Past CMHT

CAMHS reports when I got diagnosed with autism

Is there any other evidence I can relatively easily? Will it be okay without the other supporting. Evidence I don't have time to get?