Our local authority, like many others, act as appointees for people with learning difficulties who can't manage their own affairs. I have an appeal for one such client turned down on the PCA. Its the first time I've had a PCA appeal and I'm worried about how it fits in to the mental health assessment. Does anyone have any experiences of taking this type of case?

Rewind! That should read "the first time I've had a PCA appeal where learning disability features as the illness"

If you have done mental illness or physical illnes appeals then treat it just the same, the descriptor headings are " Mental Disabilities" not mental illness or special needs etc. So deal with it in the normal way.
1. Do any exemptions or special circumstances apply (Regs 10& 27)

2. what descriptors apply.

3.Have they any physical problems that may score points so the mental & physical points can be combined

4. Make sure that you apply the old wording of the Regs & descriptors in line with "Howker" where applicable.

For evidence are they getting DLA it will mean alternative evidence is available from the DWP, also if they have passed a previous PCA get a copy of the report and IB113 their GP will have submitted.

Hope this helps good luck