Nicole De Rafael Disability Appeal Win Gives Hope to Others

SUCCESSFUL APPEAL - Nicole De Rafael was stripped of her benefits in 2017 but it took her two years and legal support before the DWP admitted she should actually have the maximum allowance.

From the Daily Mirror. 

A mum who suffers from heart diseases and diabetes was left in tears as she battled to get back the benefits she was wrongly stripped of.

Nicole De Rafael, 50, saw her income support reduced to nothing after she was moved onto Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - and incorrectly scored zero on a health assessment.

The mum, whose daughter Lexi is her primary carer, was left having to appeal the decision and she said the "hugely stressful" experience only made her more ill.

But, with Legal Aid support, she took the case to Tribunal eventually winning her benefits back and now says she wants to give "others the courage to fight".

Research from the Department for Work and Pensions shows just 9% of claims are appealed, but almost two out of every appeal (65%) succeed.

But that doesn't mean it was an easy process.

“This has been a hugely stressful time that has only made me more ill," Nicole, who is from Fulham, said.

Image: Nicole De Rafael wins her appeal. 

ABC Note: The number of sucessful appeals has been rising. We were given a figure of over 81% of appeals that have been sucessful. Well done Nicole.