Tribunal & Legal Challenges - Flawed PIP Assessment

Hello,

I have just been sent a Tribunal date hearing for 20 November. I'm surprised as the hearing is in person and I expected (due to backlogs and Covid) it to be a telephone hearing.

Due to short notice I won't have my mum available to come with me, mainly for emotional support. Will this be a disadvantage to me? If so can I call and ask for an alternative date?

Otherwise I'm now nervous and a bit unsure of what to expect. I'm comfortable with my evidence which I've sent to the Tribunal.

Am I allowed to take in my own evidence and read from my statement? Or will that look bad? I've listed each descriptor on there and explained again in my own words how I believe I meet the threshold for more points. The DWP have awarded zero points on the vast majority of descriptors I'm challenging. Anyway, I just think it will help me if I can refer to my statement or at least read it before answering the Tribunal's questions.

What sort of things will be asked? Will it be the same strange and sometimes illogical questions the DWP ask? For eg, can you use a knife and fork? Answer Yes, but my conditions mean I can't eat without pain or vomiting, or I won't eat anything besides snacks for the majority of each month.

I hope this makes sense!
Any advice or tips would be great as I'm feeling nervous about the in person hearing.

Thank you to both of you. I will think about possibly postponing the date, but may go ahead now that you've said it's ok to read from the witness statement/evidence I've already sent to the Tribunal.

I actually have a question re the Mobility elements of PIP.

I had a brief session with a benefits advisor in the summer and she told me that the number of steps I take only count if I walk outside the house. Is this true? Because my conditions mean I can't go outside or walk without significant pain for the majority of the month. I've already told the DWP that, consistently, yet they have chosen point 2d and said I can walk for 50 metres.

Any clarity on this would be great, thank you