Mary is the single parent of 4 dependent children living in a housing association house.
She has physical and mental health problems and was in receipt of the standard rate of both components of PIP and ESA (support) with a severe disability premium.Following a PIP health assessment conducted by telephone, her PIP was terminated in January 2022 and her ESA was reduced by the loss of the severe disability premium. The result was a reduction of £151 to the client’s weekly income. The loss of income and the stress it caused impacted heavily on the client’s mental health which plummeted again when her mandatory reconsideration request was unsuccessful.
Citizens Advice submitted an appeal on the client’s behalf and arranged a video link hearing with support as the client felt unable to cope in a formal unsupported setting.Following the tribunal hearing on 13/9/23, the client was notified that her appeal was allowed. The standard rate of both components of PIP were awarded and her benefits backdated to January 2022.The client’s ongoing annual benefit award will be increased by £8912, her backdated award amounts to £14397.
She is very much looking forward to being able to to treat her children to the things she feels they have been deprived of for the last 18 months.
