Public perception

I never cease to be dismayed and frustrated by the amount of misinformation in the media about benefits, but I have to say I was taken aback by something a client told me yesterday.

My client had a disability living allowance appeal for her son, to try to increase his low care to mid care. She was not successful and came to me afterwards for advice. Looking at the paperwork I feel the decision to leave it at low care was correct.

During the course of the interview my client said she nearly did not bother to lodge an appeal as she has heard that “tribunal judges get paid more for each case they turn down that they do for each case they allow”.

I thought I had heard all the stories currently doing the rounds, but that one was certainly a new one for me…

I knew there had to be a rational explanation for my very poor success rate at appeals.

Not heard that one before either. 

Our team is certainly taking the food off the table of tribunal judge’s in Edinburgh then! 

Mairi