What will happen at the hearing?
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I have been sent a date for the hearing - I can't go!
If you can't go on the date they give you, contact the tribunal centre and ask for another date. Don't put it off or just do nothing about it - they are usually extremely helpful. You may have to explain why you can't go.
It is a good idea to follow up the phone call with a letter and to keep a copy - that way, if anything goes wrong, you can prove you told them.
When you go into the room (it looks like a big, empty office) there will be a big table in front of you. You (and anyone who goes with you) will sit at one side of the table and the panel will sit on the other side.
The person that sits in the middle of the panel is the Chair. They are a solicitor who should know a lot about benefits. They are a bit like the judge, but the other two members of the panel have to agree to the decision too. The panel should introduce themselves and explain what will happen.
Remember the panel do not work for the DWP. They are independent, and they are here to see that you get the benefit if you can show you are entitled to it.
Usually the three members of the panel will be nice and easy to talk to, and will just want to get a full picture of your disability and the help you need.
However, you might be unlucky and get a hostile panel member, or just one having a bad day. If they seem aggressive, try to keep calm. Don't take it personally. Try to stick to what you wanted to say, and answer their questions fully. It is ok to tell them that you feel they are acting a bit aggressively towards you - they might not realise that it is upsetting you, and they might stop if you tell them.
The DWP have a right to send somebody to your appeal to explain why they made their decision. Don't worry about this though. If they do send someone, they are usually nice and non-confrontational. It will not be the person that made the original decision about your claim.
Your hearing might be postponed
In some areas, hearings are often postponed. Hopefully this won't happen to you, but it is possible that you will arrive to find that you have had a wasted journey.
Remember it is YOUR appeal. You can have a break whenever you want. If you get upset and need a few moments to compose yourself - just ask for a short break. However, don't go too far. If you ask for too many breaks, you might annoy the panel and you'll be dragging it out for yourself too.
If you do get some DLA or AA already and are asking for a higher rate, you can stop the hearing completely at any time. This will also stop your appeal. If you do this, the Tribunal will not be able to take away the benefit you get at the moment. It is only a good idea to do this if you think that the hearing is going so badly that the panel may think you should get less benefit than you currently get.
At the end of the hearing
The panel will usually make the decision that day. You will be asked to go to the waiting room while the panel discuss your case. This usually takes between 10-30 minutes. You will then be asked back into the room and told the decision. They will give you a written outline of their decision as well.
Sometimes the panel will not be able to make a decision quickly. If this happens, they will post it to you instead. It should arrive within a week.
How do I stay calm?
Staying calm isn't easy, particularly in very stressful situations, like waiting for your appeal hearing.
Many people find that the best way of reducing stress immediately is to concentrate on their breathing. Take several long, deep breaths. If you can, breathe in through your nose. Try to take the air into your stomach (you should feel your stomach rising). And then slowly breathe out through your mouth. It might help to close your eyes and picture nothing, others like to imagine a scene they find calming. Some people prefer to keep their eyes open and to watch other people. If you do this try to concentrate on details. It doesn't matter what you look at or think about - the aim is to slow down your thoughts.
Some people also find it useful to clench and then relax their fists, arms, and jaw; and to frown and then relax, or raise their eyebrows and then relax them. If you get stressed a lot, you can reduce your stress long-term by trying to do this every day.
If you are getting stressed because of the number of things you have to remember - write a list (or get someone to write a list for you). As soon as it is down on paper, you don't have to remember it. This can be instantly calming.
