Tribunal Hearing ( HELP needed please )

Hello everyone,
this is the first time I have posted an appeal for help from the forum.
I applied for DLA in August 2010 and was refused, I appealed against the decision and followed the procedure for making the appeal as a consequence I have been waiting ten months for a date for my Tribunal interview.
I am 63 years old and was diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Enphysema ) in 1997, I was able to manage my condition with the help of my doctor, specialist nurse practitioner and medication. I was also able to do a part time job.
This all changed for me in November 2009 when I came down with Swine Flu. I was so ill that I had to resign from my job ( I was unable to return to work so couldn't even serve my notice period ) and found the simplest of tasks, such as walking,getting dressed, making a meal impossible. I can do it but I get severe breathing problems and gripping pains around the centre of my back, I also sweat so much when I try to do any task at all. I can walk only a short distance with the help of a walking stick but I am in such severe discomfort, I have to keep stopping to catch my breath.
I applied to my City Council for a Blue parking badge and attended an interview with one of the council's representatives, as a result I was awarded the Blue badge, this has helped me immensely as at least I can park nearer to my objective, although I am still gasping for breath every step I take.
I am divorced and live on my own,I do receive help from a friend ( she works full time ) who will help me to bathe twice a week and wash my hair for me, she occasionally prepares a meal for me but usually I have to rely on microwave meals. I have had to stop going out to do things that I used to enjoy doing as I feel very vunerable when I go out as, I can't walk far and have to keep stopping to get my breath. I feel that I could be a target for muggers and have had to re-think my whole lifestyle for example: I carry my debit card in one pocket with a small amount of money and a mobile phone and my car/house keys in my other pocket, I carry a small shoulder bag which mainly contains my inhaler and tissues. I used to love going to the cinema and meeting friends for meals but now I am getting too frightened to venture out alone, has this happened to anyone else or am I just being silly.
Can anyone give me any help or tips for attending the Tribunal, I will be representing myself as I'm the one it's happening to.

I'll leave one of my fellow mods to answer the query about tribunals, because I'm not so hot on that, but I'd like to address your fear of going out.

Some years ago, I remember reading about an American police force that reduced muggings by going out and spotting the victims before the muggers did. The thing is that you can often spot a victim.

I used to teach martial arts. The most important thing you could teach anyone was to walk down the street confidently.

Go for a walk with a friend watching you at a distance. Get them to give you feedback.

When you walk, do you have your hands in your pockets, or are they available to defend yourself? Are you scurrying or striding? (OK, the emphysema affects that, but there's still more than one way to walk.) Are you walking head-up, aware of your surroundings? If you see something, do you glance furtively around, looking anxious, or do you turn confidently around, openly looking to see who's there?

Go for a walk with a friend and try to spot potential victims. How do they compare with you?

Think about going to a self-defence class. Nothing fancy. Not a club where they promise to take you up to black belt and beyond, just a basic class/group for a few weeks. (I've done all the advanced stuff - great fun if you've got a few decades to get into it, but unnecessary for someone to stay safe walking home.)

Also, get the local crime figures. Are there any muggings locally? How many relative to the population? You may find the figures quite reassuring.

I know this isn't strictly B&W stuff, but I hate to think of someone not feeling safe going out.

Oops, forgot to mention - have you looked at our guides to appeals under Help for claimants (in orange box on left of page)? There's stuff about things like putting your case as to how much difficulty you have walking.

Hi,

We cannot offer individual advice on DLA claims but see the guides in the members only area DLA Resources and see DLA Appeals.

Good luck.

Pat

Thank you so much for replying to my post. I take onboard your advice about joining a self defence class, but my problem is that I would be unable to actively participate in anything physical as I find just walking a few steps extremely difficult and I start gasping for breath. I am generally hanging onto my walking stick and trying to get air into my lungs. I also have found that some people try to be kind and ask me if I need any help, the problem is that, I can't talk and breathe at the same time and I start to panic. I have tried to look confident when I walk out doors but my condition reduces me to a very anxious state. This is really affecting my life and I don't know what to do about it.

Thank you, I will have a look at what you suggested.