ESA Tribunal Success

Hi, everyone. I want to say a BIG thank you to all at B&W – moderators and fellow members who have so generously shared their experience, knowledge and advice with me.

After waiting nine months, I finally had my tribunal hearing. I was in for just 20 minutes and, after a very short wait, was told I had been awarded 18 points so I am now in the WRAG. It's a huge relief to finally get the decision that should have been made nine months ago!!!

My impression is that the panel had already pretty-much made up their minds from my written appeal statement which was very detailed and carefully structured. Plus I'd asked a good friend to write a supporting letter describing the change in me (and my lifestyle) he had witnessed with the onset of my illness. This friend also accompanied me as a potential 'witness'.

I was all geared up to make all sorts of important points but, as it turned out, the questioning was quite straightforward. I think they just wanted to get 'from the horse's mouth' confirmation of various items so they could award enough points to give me ESA.

The information, support and encouragement I have received from B&W made this whole process so much less frightening and so much easier to endure. It was great to know others had been through the same outrageous, ramshackle system and got a fair result in the end. Now I have added to that statistic of 40% winning their appeals.

Good luck to everyone still going through the mill. (Of course I'm now expecting to be summoned for another ATOS interview to start the cycle again, but I'm now a 'veteran' and feel very well prepared for it.)

Congrats, you must be feeling over the moon. I'm appealing at the moment, so waiting to get all the paperwork from the DWP.
best wishes
AnneK