Citizens Advice Bromsgrove and Redditch help clients to prepare their cases for appeal and when resources allow, assist with gathering evidence and preparing statements for clients to take to tribunal. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to go with clients to tribunal hearings. If you would like some help to prepare for your tribunal:

• Please get in touch as soon as you can.
• When you make contact a generalist adviser will take the details and pass this to a caseworker.
• Cases can take several months to be given a hearing date and we review cases in date order. Therefore you will not hear from us straight away.
• In the meantime, start to gather evidence to support your case such as any recent letters from your medical practitioner regarding each condition you have. If your condition varies, start making notes to show this.
• We will get in touch with you and depending on our resources, either help you to prepare a statement to use at your appeal or we will give you information about the tribunal process so you can prepare yourself.
• You do not need to have representation at the tribunal – the process is designed so that people can explain their case themselves. The Tribunal Panel will be asking questions about your health problems and how these problems affect how you manage daily activities. This is to establish the facts and they will then apply the law to see if you meet the benefit requirements.
• You can ask a friend or family member to go with you for moral support.

The following provide further information:

• Making an appeal against a DWP benefit decision
• Making a Personal Independence Payment appeal
• Making a Disability Living Allowance appeal
• Making an appeal against a Universal Credit decision
• Government guidance available

Contact us if you need help and advice