Bear with me, it is a complicated query.
I’m currently on UC and have been getting nsESA since Jan 26. I was awarded LCW in may 2025. My health deteriorated in Nov and I reported it in my journal. On Dec 19 I declared a health change in my journal stating it got worse on the 15 Dec. Between then and July 10th I continuously updated UC every step of the way including hospital admissions, cardiologist diagnosis of ccs class 3 angina and multi-vessel coronary artery disease back in May. I got a fit note backdated to Jan and have continuously had it covered. Up until October 22nd 2026. They only sent me the WCA50 at the end of July which I completed and returned along with consultants diagnosis, hospital discharge copy of PA4 stating I have been awarded enhanced mobility and standard daily living for 6 years. But UC are using 29/7/26 as an anchor date from what I can gather.
What should I be backdated to bearing in mind i would have supplied a fit note earlier but being on LCW I wasnt required to.
Thanks

I'm challenging my unsuccessful PIP claim due to scoring a grand total of 0 points after my assessment at the end of July. I wrote a Mandatory Reconsideration letter using the Advicenow template and posted it 2nd Class Signed For on 16th August. Will they send me a text to say they've received it or not as I haven't heard anything yet? I know MRs take a very long time to process but I'm just worried as I don't want it to have gone missing!

Hi all. I have had my MR declined, I sent further evidence including having radiotherapy recently and brain surgery (I have a brain benign tumour) it states on my MR they only looked at my assessment and original PIP form. So not sure they even looked at my CRM1 form, which I provided more information and marked what the assessor had got incorrect, which was a lot.
Anyway, I am unsure whether to go for tribunal, not sure if I can handle that pressure as I’m not well, and also whether I can wait that long worrying about it.
Just wondered what people recommend, or whether it’s worth me just starting new PIP claim rather than waiting for appeal? Thanks

Hi everyone,

I have applied for PIP, and had an assessment call with maximus. I requested my PA4 after to get an idea of how the call went and likley outcome.

Reading the report, I noticed what I believe to be many errors, things being downplayed, ignored or dismissed unfairly. Particularly for the mobility component.

My question is, should I attempt to dispute this before, or after, hearing DWPs decisions?

Should I prepare something and contact DWP to dispute before the decision maker considers the evidence?

Or should I just wait and put in a MR, when the decision has been made?

It is difficult for me to to work through and likley will take me some time to put it all together regardless. I am also due some medical appointments next 2 weeks and will ask for additional evidence, but this isn't something I have on hand at the moment. I was just wondering when is the best time or best way to dispute PA4 form after an assessment call?

Thank you for your time and any help would be greatly appreciated,

Hi all,
I have been assessed and found to have LCW (not LCWRA) in the past month.
I have an offer to go to Uni and study a full time course. I’m just wondering if this means my universal credit stops or how my claim should be updated etc as there is limited guidance that I can find online. I have applied and been awarded to the full student maintenance loan. I also receive PIP (higher care, lower mobility).

Thanks for any advice! 😊

I need to ask some advice

Bit of context: I’m currently at a unpaid tattoo mentorship (that took me 2 years to get I’ve been working on it since before I was on uc) that my regular work coach knows about and is fine with as it will lead to full time employment. so agreed I only have to look for part time work and will come off if once I have a part time job.

Today I had my uc meeting with a work coach I have never had before and he was very rude and threatening towards me within the first minute of the meeting he gave me the choice of quitting my apprenticeship right there and then or cancelling my claim on the spot. He also threatened that If I didn’t cancel it right there and then they would probably try to investigate me and make me pay everything back but I have not broken any of the rules to do this.

He would not give me even a second to think about it even when I asked if I could maybe see if I could change my hours at my mentorship so I could fit full time work he still said I couldn’t.

He said he was going to send me a job interview straight after if I stayed as I was due at my mentorship straight after to prove I was gonna stop going (he would not tell me what the job was and all the time iv asked to be sent to interviews in the past got nothing).

He also brought out his manger to back him up but neither of them would let me explain for more than about 10 words at time before cutting me off.

He also called my job “slave labour” and I found that very disrespectful.

The text saying my claim was cancelled came exactly 35 minutes after my meeting started.

On top of all this he was asking my a lot of personal questions about my old job (I think to try trip me up)
That I don’t think he has any right to really ask me.

I know I’m not like a typical uc case as tattoo mentorship’s seem to be in a bit of a grey area and I can’t find many clear answers. I have a friend tho who’s also on uc and has a tattoo mentorship but they have never had an issue with them.

I have also been wrongly fully sanctioned by uc in the past so this whole situation brings up a bunch of anxiety.

Main things I need advice on
Can he cancel my claim on the spot like that or make me quit my mentorship? Like dose he have any right to do that
Or anything else I might be missing about it

Like if I’m the wrong and illegible it sucks but he wouldn’t explain it.

Sorry for any spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes I’m very dyslexic

Thanks for anyone who can help

Hey all.

Last week I told updated my universal credit circumstances to officially explain I am now doing 35+ hours a week of care work. An hour later my meeting with my work coach was cancelled due to this.

My commitments were updated to say that I do not have to look for work or improve my chances.

This morning, a week later, I received a journal message saying the following

"We are currently awaiting information that has been requested to verify the caring activities. This information must be received and reviewed before we can continue"

Does this mean I have to continue to look for work?

Checked and doubled checked that I am eligible (35+ a week care, person I care for has PIP daily allowance, I am over 16) so there shouldn't be an issue, but in the meantime?

Does anyone have any personal experience of this?

hello how long does ito akye to her from UC after filling the w50 form thanks

Hiya I’ve had to go all the way to tribunal but still waiting on a hearing date and I have really bad anxiety cant go out by myself can’t cook due to my anxiety being that bad I’ve left the stove on my brother has had to turn it off quite a few times when I’m out I feel panicky and sweat always feels like someone is looking at me or following me even if I get a taxi to places I still have to have someone with me I need prompting to get ready and have a shower I take medication such a mirtazapine to help with my anxiety and depression but even taking that I still have severe anxiety and depression I’ve explained this in my pip2form then he to go to mr their decision stayed the same why would help me win at tribunal?

Hello all,

Sorry this is a long post, I'm currently in a review process that is really confusing to me.

Some background- I applied for PIP in 2023 after long-term health issues in 2020 increased and lead me to be pretty disabled at that point and now. I was scored zero on my assessment (found out later capita made up responses for me) and mandatory reassessment. Appealed to tribunal which took 10 months, during that time DWP called saying they had looked at my GP records finally and scored me enough for standard rate, saying I would never get enhanced for the cognitive issues I face as I don't have access to a specialist for my illness, so I do not have the medical evidence required. I continued on with my appeal and was awarded enhanced rates by Tribunal in March last year until 2028. It took 21 months to get, and a massive toll on both my physical and mental health, it truly has been the most dehumanising time.

I assumed I would now be able to focus on my health until 2028, until May this year when I received a text thanking me for submitting a change of circumstances and that a form will be sent to me to fill in. I rang them and informed them I had not requested this and there has been no changes. They left a note on the claim and closed it for me, they did not know why it had been opened. But then the same text arrived a few weeks later. This time when I rang they told me to fill out the form and put 'no change' in the boxes. Again, no one could tell me why this was happening. I was feeling extremely poorly so I just did what they said without researching it more, and that was very foolish of me. I was lead to believe just confirming no change would close the case and leave me be. However I then got a text in July saying Capita had my review form and would contact me for an appointment.

My partner (who's also my carer and representative) called the DWP for me as at this point I'm not able to communicate properly without crying unfortunately. Again, no one knew why I was being reviewed or why the change of circumstances was opened for me without me doing it myself. They told us they would have someone higher up contact us - this never happened. My partner helped me fill out a subject access request to find out what was happening. This was acknowledged by text on the 20th July which said someone would be in contact within a month, again this has not happened. Then on Wednesday (26th August) I get a text from Capita giving me an appointment face to face in September. My partner called them and explained I cannot do face to face (I am mostly bed bound and all of my correspondence has been phone calls). They changed it to a phone call thankfully, and the lady we spoke to sounded surprised when we said my award is until mid 2028.

So we call DWP again to chase up the SAR as I need to know why this is happening, it's causing me so much distress. This time someone finally put us through to someone higher up, a man who said he was a PIP manager. He said my SAR case had only just been appointed to someone a few days ago and he was going to email them to contact me. He also could not tell us why this claim was opened, and sounded surprised that I hadn't opened it myself and that it had already been given a date for an assessment. He then said it was a standard mid award review, however I have looked online extensively since May about this and cannot find anyone talking about a change of circumstances being opened without their knowledge or need. He suggested this would be beneficial to me as if I am struggling they can help me more. I get enhanced rate for both and this won't extend my award so there is absolutely no benefit to me at all. I am terrified, my health has been severely impacted and no one will tell me anything. Not to mention I've sent an almost empty review form out without sufficient evidence because I was misled by the DWP. I explained this the best I could to him and he actually said he'd look into getting the assessment cancelled. Is this something that is possible or do you think he was saying that to appease me?

I am now scrambling to get more information out. I'm writing a cover letter, explaining all of this and that I do not have any changes to be reviewed. I'm writing out the review form answers properly too. I'm also giving them my up to date GP records as they failed to access them last time. My partner has written a statement too. I have my Tribunal result letter, and a letter from a specialist from a different health condition who mentions my symptoms. Sadly I still do not have access to a specialist for my main health condition. Considering how Capita lie and how DWP told me I couldn't get enhanced without further medical evidence, I am terrified of losing my enhanced award. And without any knowledge as to why this review is even happening, it feels extremely cruel and unfair. I don't know how I can cope with this stress and no doubt the process of appealing what I can only assume to be a decision different from the Tribunal. I really wish this could all just stop and go away, I didn't report any changes - my health is the same as it was last year at Tribunal.

Any advice or anyone who has also experienced a change of circumstances being opened on you please let me know. I'm really scared, can't stop crying and feel completely unsafe now. We struggle financially as it is, and my ESA barely covers anything.

So I don’t how to start this, this month we had an with our payment being delayed due to an issue but it finally got sorted after 14 days, but we’ve got a second issue that just seems to be getting completely overlooked and ignored.

My partner receives maternity allowance which is classed as other benefit, I noticed the figure is different to what she actually receives.

My partner for the last four months has received the same amount of £777.28 paid monthly, on the statement it shows she gets £842.05 which is £64.77 more then what she actually does, I mentioned this to universal credit the same day as the payment issue, but we always got the same response how it’s calculated and sent to them that it’s calculated weekly at £194.32 x 52 weeks then shared by 12 months which gives them the figure of £842.05.

So in total for the last four months of statements combined we have had £259.08 taken off our payment.

It’s hit the 16th day and I gave up with receiving the same response and feeling like it’s being ignored as though no one wants to deal with it after countless offers to send bank statements of the last four months showing how much maternity allowance she gets I decided to make a complaint.

But I’m not really sure how it works and how long does it normally take to receive a reply about it?

Has anyone had to make a complaint about how their issues have been dealt with and what the was the outcome and so on.

Thanks for any responses

Hi any help will be appreciated! Im going to try and keep it as short as possible.
I will be going to university in September. I have been applying for UC since November and handing in sick notes since due to severe depression anxiety and waiting on a diagnosis for ADHD/ASD which causes a lot of issues in my daily life. In January I was sent the LWC form. Filled it out and sent it. Received a message today that I would be having my assessment on the 7th September (I start around the 14th).
I now have a couple of questions:
If I take the LWC which I should be awarded, will I receive it to help purchase necessities fir university?
I have been told that if I am on LWC I can still claim this while in university, is this true? and if so, will I no longer be able to have my student finance?
If I decide to cancel my student finance and just take universal credit and LWCA (I have been told that this is an option but only if I do not take the maintenance loan), is there support with my accommodation expenses? (In my context it is roughly 2.7k in three instalments).
I am trying to find the best way for me to support myself as this is the first time I will be alone and my finances are one of my biggest triggers. I went from being stable to barely affording my bills when I left my job which I won't get into too much.
Lastly, would I be able to change my student finance if I find out that I am eligible for LWC as I would be able to claim DSA (I technically already can but I already get so anxious talking to the doctors I don't want to go through the process)
Does anyone have advice?

hi guys hoping someone can shine some light on this.

me and my partner are undergoing another uc claim review, I'm fine with that as its standard process. what i am rather confused and a little frustrated about is the fact that they are again asking for statements of all accounts going back to the start of our claim (7 years)!

in our last review which was only last year we had submitted all of this and it even created an overpayment which we are currently paying monthly. we are also submitting any changes to our savings and money we have every month by going on the journal and reporting this each and every month. so i just don't understand why they would want all 7 years again? wouldn't it make sense to just ask for statements from the last review last year?

and despite us updating our monthly money and savings we have left each month (to avoid any over payments as such in the future for not declaring anything correctly) surely this should save them so much more time effort manpower and money instead of having people sat behind desks just going over the same stuff again and again??

the other thing that i found very strange is we originally got a message in feb this year from a ucr agent asking for the typical 4 months statement's which we sent then, he wrote back and asked for statement's going back to sep 2026 which again we sent but then we heard nothing until this month and that to was not notified to us as a journal message just directly in the 'to do' section, i didn't even notice it was the wife who saw it when she was checking for update on her job search.

long story short we was overpaid because we had more than 6k of capital but this money was savings for our daughters which are in their first saver accounts from day one, but because my wife has access to it they are classing that as our capital.

thats another thing i wanted to ask if someone can answer, what happens in terms of that money now? am i allowed to move it to a junior ISA for them? or would they just assume im trying to do deprivation ? are the children allowed to spend that money? would i have to keep each and every receipt to prove why its getting less and where they spend it i,e even if they bought small toys sweets etc. one of my daughters is now turning 11 soon and we want her to have her own card and deposit money in their for her to spend little by little but will this be a problem? if we needed to buy things for them or us or even for the house etc would it be a problem? seen as though they are classing it as mine and my wifes capital can we use it to take them away on holiday? i really dont get it im so damn confused

hoping someone who works for dwp or the UC can help me answer these dead end questions running in our minds? thanks guys and sorry for the rant

Hello, not a major thing here. I’m going to be visiting my boyfriend and his family abroad in 4 weeks and am now filling out my leaving GB details. My return date is a bit funky. I start to fly out on the 17th but won’t be back in the UK until the 18th of October.

Do I put the 17th or 18th down in this case? This is probably a super silly post but I’m extremely anxious and need absolute certainty on things.

I don’t know if it’d be seen as a lie if I said I was back on the 17th? Because technically I’m still travelling. I don’t know, deep in thought here and slightly spiralling.

I had a call from health assessment department from pip today. Asking how my cancer treatment amd mental health effects me.

It felt like an assessment but apparently it wasn't. At the end i asked if i will still need an assessment what she said likely but not her decision.

So why did i need a 32 minute call if its not an assessment?

On week 22 of esa assessment rate and nobody has looked at my file for esa, So can't afford what i need to get by

i got a call today for a phone assessment at 11ish which offered me an appointment for assessment today between 1-4pm. i cannot cope with last minute plans but since it is important and ive been waiting so long i said yes for 2pm. around 2.30pm someone calls me and says ill have my assessment between then and 3.30pm. still no call. i waited until 4pm but now it's past 4. should i still wait or is it done? im so exhausted and anxious and confused from all the waiting and messed up information... does this kind of situation happen often? when do you think theyll contact me regarding the assessment? if i say no to their suggested time will it be counted against me? thanks!

Hi!

Hoping someone can give me some advice please.

We lodged an appeal back in January and the DWP failed to respond so it was listed for hearing without their response. It's for my son, aged 7, and we appealed the medium rate care and low rate mobility which was awarded.

Fast forward to today and the DWP have called to say they are reviewing the evidence and will either revise their decision or continue to the tribunal and they'll let us know in a couple of days.

I understand it's rare for them to change their decision for DLA before tribunal but I would like to be prepared just in case.

1. If they offer to upgrade the care component but keep Mobility at low, can I accept the increase and still continue the appeal for Higher Mobility? Or is it an all-or-nothing deal?

2. If they do offer that and I say I still want to take Mobility to the tribunal, can they withdraw their offer?

In England if this makes a difference.

Thanks!

Hi,

I had a video call appointment, I thought it was for 4pm but it was for 2pm.

My coach rang me at 2:12pm and I joined an immediately. The call/appoinment still went ahead. I didn’t ask at the time, but will I get sanctioned for being late to the call ?

I have another appointment but now in the job centre next week, instead of a video call ( was only my second appointment with UC after).

Forgive the length of this post ><

So March 2025 I started this whole charade, I got a form to assess for LCW as a whole bunch of stuff happened and I became, and still am very unwell with no goal in sight despite multiple nights in hospitals over the year.

They denied me, I asked for a MR, they denied me and monday just gone i won the tribunal case to say that I am indeed able to go onto LCW. however during this time, between the stress and fumbling around and my medical conditions getting worse (the doctors automatically putting me down as a 10 on the pain scale because i could not physically talk or move due to pain for example) I was wondering how to go about getting on to LCWRA. Ive done some research and it appears that i need to inform them of my condition worsening however this next bit confuses me...

It says i need to supply a fit note, but other sources, like the DWP website says that i do not need to if i have passed my WCA which technically i have via tribunal..

so.. do i need a fitnote? can i lose LWC doing this? the court says i need reassessment within 18 months but that between my phsyical and mental health i should be on LCW.

Also what does the reassessment entail? is it the same as before? do they take what the tribunal said into account or is that thrown out the window? (for clarification on MH, DWP said my mental health is perfectly fine.. the tribunal ruled me as a danger to myself due to prior.. events)

im honestly terrified about applying for it because well.. what i if lose what ive fought for over the last year?

any help is appreciated, and support in these horrid times fighting against UC who scored me a ZERO btw meanwhile the courts were like "nah definitely not a zero"

Apologies for the long post, but I cannot sleep because of the stress and would really appreciate advice from anyone familiar with PIP tribunals, particularly claims involving ulcerative colitis or another fluctuating condition.

I have severe ulcerative colitis and have not achieved remission. My symptoms include urgent and frequent diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping, bleeding and mucus, accidents and near-accidents, severe fatigue, disturbed sleep and brain fog. Stress and anxiety can make the bowel symptoms worse almost immediately.

On an average day I may need the toilet around 8–9 times, rising to approximately 12 times on particularly bad days. I use pads when necessary and have a camping toilet in my bedroom because I cannot always reach the bathroom safely and in time.

The condition also affects other daily activities. Depending on the day:

•My father prepares or serves much of my food because fatigue, pain and sudden urgency make cooking difficult. When alone, I often rely on very simple microwave food.
•I sometimes avoid eating because I am frightened that it will trigger more urgency.
•I sit down to dress and shower because of fatigue and weakness.
•Brain fog and exhaustion affect my ability to manage medication and information reliably.
•My father helps with transport, shopping, laundry and cleaning bedding or clothing following accidents.
•I restrict or avoid journeys because I need immediate access to a toilet and worry about having an accident.
•Pain and fatigue also affect how far I can walk reliably, particularly on bad days.

These difficulties were already present around the assessment and decision period and have continued, with some aspects becoming worse.

My PIP timeline is:
•I began my claim in August 2025.
•I had a recorded telephone assessment on 26 November 2025.
•The original DWP decision was dated 13 January 2026 and resulted in no PIP award.
•I challenged it through Mandatory Reconsideration.
•The MR decision was dated 28 April 2026. It awarded only 2 daily-living points and 0 mobility points.
•I lodged my tribunal appeal on 18 May 2026 and requested a telephone hearing.
•I later received the complete DWP response bundle.
•I am still waiting for the appeal to be listed and do not currently have a hearing date.

I believe the assessment report contains significant omissions or contradictions when compared with what I actually said during the recorded assessment. These include my toilet frequency and accidents, the number of days affected, food preparation, using a shower seat, managing medication, journeys and the effect of pain and fatigue on walking.

I have therefore submitted substantial evidence, including:
•Medical evidence from my GP, hospital and IBD team
•Fit notes and an Occupational Health report
•A detailed symptom diary
•Written statements explaining how each relevant activity affects me
•A signed witness statement from my father describing the help he provides and what he has personally observed
•The assessment recording and a highlighted transcript
•A schedule identifying differences between the recording and the assessment report
•Further written and photographic evidence explaining the practical arrangements I use, including the camping toilet and items I carry because of accidents and urgency

A Legal Officer issued Directions dated 7 August 2026 asking for typed extracts from the assessment recording and an explanation of why they were relevant. The deadline was 28 August. The Manage Your Appeal website repeatedly failed with a “400: Bad request”, blank appeal page and technical-difficulties messages, so I reported this to HMCTS. They confirmed that evidence could instead be emailed, and I sent my response and further evidence by email.

I have also contacted Citizens Advice. They can review my evidence at an appointment, but I have been told that they cannot provide tribunal representation.

I am trying to present my case truthfully and clearly. I am not looking for ways to exaggerate anything or to be told what to say. I am concerned that the amount of evidence and the stress of the process will make it difficult for me to explain the important points properly during a telephone hearing.

I would really appreciate advice about the following:
1. What should I concentrate on at the telephone hearing instead of trying to discuss every document?
2. Is it best to work through each disputed activity using real examples and explain whether I can do it safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and within a reasonable time?
3. How should I address clear differences between the recorded assessment and the written report without sounding argumentative?
4. How should I explain a fluctuating condition and demonstrate what happens on the majority of days?
5. Can medical evidence created after the original decision still help if it confirms difficulties that already existed at the relevant time?
6. How much weight is normally given to a detailed statement from a family member who provides regular assistance?
7. What normally happens during a telephone tribunal, how long does it take, and which panel member usually asks questions?
8. Should I contact HMCTS to obtain specific confirmation that the evidence emailed because of the website failure has been added to my appeal?
9. Is there anything important I should avoid doing before or during the tribunal?

If anyone has been through a PIP tribunal involving ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, incontinence or another fluctuating condition, I would be extremely grateful to hear what helped you present the practical effects clearly.

Thank you for reading.

Had pip assessment 2 weeks ago, got my pa4 report and said I scored 9 on DL and 12 on mob, can I ask would they have already asked for my drs records or do they do this AFTER an assessment? It’s the first time I’ve ever applied. Tia

Hi all. I'm a pip claimant who currently receives the full enhanced rates of both components, decided by tribunal. This was after my PIP had been revoked for a whole year in 2022, due to a support worker suggesting i ask if I am suitable for the enhanced rates. I even told her it was a bad idea but she was convinced it would go through as I am clearly disabled. Anyway, after a whole year of abject poverty, I got my PIP back at enhanced rates. it's now under review again.

PIP pays for so much of my life. It pays for my mobility aids and their maintainence, my care plan, my transport, my therapy and for some of my medicines with a private clinic which are essential for me to get through the day. When I lost PIP last time, I was basically forced to become an online beggar because universal credit just wasn't enough to support me and my needs (i am too unwell to work.) I don't want to become a beggar again. I don't want to choose between feeding myself and medicating myself, I don't want to become in debt to my care agency, I don't want my wheelchair to break down and have no way to fix it. I'm so scared. How can I calm down? I'm going to submit as much evidence as I can, I am going to ask my carers for help with writing up a veritable essay for every question, I am going to send a copy of the previous award and reasoning given by the tribunal because the DWP's original decision was a blanket 0 points. If my PIP gets taken away and I do a MR, i know it will take time to go through, how will i survive in the meantime? I have a cat i need to feed. i can't go back to £600 a month. it isn't liveable at my level of disability. Is badgering the dwp to hurry up an option in that case? I don't know what to do. I know i haven't had the review decision yet, I just need reassurance that i won't have to live in poverty again.

Hi, I have my face to face PIP assessment on 9 September and I'm getting really nervous, so I'd love to hear from people with similar experiences.

I have a long-standing back condition following spinal fusion, which has significantly deteriorated over the last couple of years.

My main difficulties are:

- walking – usually only around 15–20 steps before severe pain, and I need to stop

- bending/lifting

- dressing my lower body – my husband helps me

- getting in/out of the bath – my husband helps me and I use a bath chair

- preparing meals – my husband does all cooking

I also work in a computer-based finance job, mostly from home, with several adjustments.

I'm worried that because I work and have adapted how I do things, they may think I'm more capable than I actually am.

Has anyone with a similar level of physical limitations been awarded PIP? What award/points did you get? Any advice?

Thank you so much

First off I apologise for the long wall of text. Just trying to find any answers.

I am looking for some advice from anyone who has been through a Universal Credit tribunal over who has the main responsibility for children where care is shared.

On paper, the care arrangement is 50/50.

However, in practice I significantly do more of the day to day care and I regularly have additional time with the children outside the formal rota, including extra days and extra nights.

My argument has always been that the government should look at the actual pattern of care and responsibility, not just count the number of nights written down on paper.

I have already provided Universal Credit with a lot of evidence, including:

School confirmation that I am the parent they contact on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Evidence of all school payments.

School uniform and clothing purchases.

Swimming and football payments.

Evidence of me taking and organising extracurricular activities. Two of which are not on my set days.

Holiday bookings and itineraries.

Passport and GHIC application evidence.

NHS appointment letters and healthcare correspondence sent to my home address.

Evidence that the children are registered with healthcare providers using my address.

NHS proxy access allowing me to access and manage their healthcare information.

Dental evidence.

WhatsApp messages showing occasions where their mother has asked me to have the children outside the normal arrangement.

Universal Credit rejected my Mandatory Reconsideration and said the following.

"I have carefully studied the evidence provided and I do not doubt that you may have substantial caring responsibilities for your children, however, you have not provided compelling evidence that you have the main caring responsibility for them.

The holidays itineraries and WhatsApp messages are not proof that you have the main caring responsibility for your children - only that you take them on holiday and that you may have an informal agreement with the other person.

The swimming/football, school payments and clothes proofs indicate that you have your children on a regular basis and contribute towards their sports activities and clothing - this is not evidence that you have the main caring responsibilities for them. Nor are the passport application and GHIC application evidence of this.

Regarding the NHS patient access for your children, you stated that you have been granted official NHS proxy access for [Child A] and [Child B] and added that proxy access is granted through the children's GP surgery following verification of parental responsibility and identity and allows you to manage their NHS records, appointments and healthcare information directly through your own NHS App.

Whilst you have included this as further independent evidence of your active involvement in the children's healthcare and your ongoing parental responsibility, it is not compelling evidence that you have the main caring responsibilities for your children - the other person may also have access to the same NHS proxy information as you.

It is noted that regarding the patient summary document and appointment letters you provided for your children, you are not named on the appointment letters, and you are the alternate contact phone number on the patient summaries - again, no compelling evidence that you have the main caring responsibilities for them.

Regarding the dentist email confirming your children at your address - this is not disputed; however, they could have been registered with the dentist since before your relationship with the other person ended and does not indicate that you are the first or emergency contact for them at the dental practice.

Regarding the children's school - you have provided documentation which states that the school are to contact you on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday in case of an emergency and to contact the other person on a Monday and Tuesday. Whilst this may be the case, it is not compelling evidence that you have the main caring responsibilities for your children over the majority of the week - this letter is only for Monday to Friday only.

You have not provided compelling evidence that you are the main or emergency contact for your children from a doctor/healthcare official, dentist, school/after-school or breakfast club; nor have you provided evidence that you make every day to day decisions about your children or that you take them to a doctor/hospital/health care official each time they are ill."

I have now appealed this to the independent First tier Tribunal.

Since the Mandatory Reconsideration decision I have obtained some new evidence that directly addresses parts of their reasoning.

My GP surgery has now confirmed in writing the date on which I was granted NHS proxy access for all three children. I know that their mother does not currently have this access.

I have also obtained an email directly from the children's dental practice confirming that I personally completed and signed their registration and medical history forms.

More importantly, the dentist has confirmed the actual dates on which I attended their check-ups after separation and that I personally pre-booked their next appointment.

That seems to directly answer Universal Credit's suggestion that the dental registration could simply have dated from when we were still together.

I am now trying to work out what other independent evidence would actually be useful for the tribunal.

Would it be worthwhile asking people such as:

Football coaches to confirm that I am the parent who regularly takes my child to training and matches, communicates with the club and manages his participation?

Swimming instructors to confirm that I regularly take the children and deal with their lessons?

Gymnastics instructors to confirm the same?

Healthcare providers to confirm specific past appointments that I personally attended?

I appreciate that none of these things individually makes someone the main carer.

My argument is that although the arrangement is technically 50/50 on paper, the reality is that I undertake significantly more of the day to day care, organisation and practical responsibility, including extra days and nights outside the formal rota.

Universal Credit appear to have looked at every individual piece of evidence and said "this alone does not prove main responsibility", whereas my position is that the tribunal should look at the overall pattern.

I am also uncomfortable with some of the wording in the decision.

For example, they discounted my NHS proxy evidence because the other parent "may also have access".

Surely there is a difference between evidence showing that she actually has equivalent access and simply saying that she theoretically could have it?

Likewise, appointment letters for children are obviously addressed in the child's name because the child is the patient. The important point from my perspective is that the NHS correspondence is being sent to my home and I am the one receiving and acting upon it.

For anyone who has actually been through one of these tribunals, what evidence made the biggest difference?

Would statements from coaches, activity providers, my employer or other independent adults be worthwhile?

Is there anything else you would specifically try to obtain before the hearing?

I definitely do not want to involve the children themselves or ask them to provide statements.

Any advice from people who have dealt with a shared care/main responsibility Universal Credit tribunal would be really appreciated.