I;m a bit scared now

I've just got a letter from the tribunals Service giving me a date for my appeal, and its in my towns County Court. I dont know why, but I've had it in my head that it would be in an office somewhere, but the thought of being in a Court building has terrified me. I'm not a work shy lazybones, just a person who has worked for 41 yrs and now finds myself poorly and not able to work. Except that ATOS dont think that. I just dont know if I have the strength to appear in court. I've never been in one ever, the nearest I've seen is JUDGE JUDY. & she shouts a lot!!!!! I know there isn't an answer to this, I just wanted to prepare others for this

Hi katykat, please try not to worry too much. The appeal will probably be held in a small room, nothing like a court room, and no cloaks or wigs!

I wont pretend it's not scary but it will be over before you know it. I couldn't believe I had answered questions solidly for half an hour when my friend told me.

The judge was friendly, the clerk was lovely and the doctor although arrogant and incredibly 'thorough', was fair.

Best wishes,
Rachel

The fact that a court has been decided as the venue means nothing. A tribunal is after all a legal court procedure. Mainly the tribunals are held in special tribunal buildings but in some areas these are incorporated into the courts system proper. I expect as the government attempts to save money by sharing buildings and resources etc this will happen more and more. It won't be a stern looking man in a wig if that's what you're thinking. Don't worry.

Hi Katy,

Don't be worried that it's to be held in a County Court building, this is pretty common.

Up until fairly recently, appeals were often held in the same building as the DWP offices, so often appellants felt that the Tribunals Service was just another section of the DWP.

The President of the Tribunals Service gave instructions that appeals shouldn't be heard in the same building as the DWP were working, even if it was dealing with an unrelated benefit to the appeal.

County Court buildings tend to have many rooms which are not court rooms.

Normally, appeals for most Social Security Tribunals are heard around a table with the tribunal members on one side, and the appellant, representative and a relative/friend on the other side.

Tribunals are very informal, and nothing like a civil or criminal court of law.

A Tribunal Judge only sits on tribunals, and unless qualified to do so, they do not sit in other jurisdictions.

Hope this is of some assurance.

Good luck with your appeal.

Pat

Its when the judge puts on his black cap that you have to worry...

Strewth, i hope he doesn't!!!! Well, i do feel a bit better now, I'm sure the DWP think that a lot of people will think like me & perhaps withdraw their appeal because they cant face it. I wish they would realise that sometimes, a claim is really genuine and stop trying to frighten us.