ESA reassessment and WCA appointment

Hi Gordon,

Thank you for the response and info.

In terms of the physical examination, am I allowed my family member, who'll be accompanying me to come into the area with the bed (assuming that's where it would be)?

Regards

Hello,

I was supposed to have my WCA tomorrow, but I got a call late this afternoon to say that they haven’t received my file in time, so they have had to cancel. I’ve been so anxious about the assessment, but I just cried when I heard the message because it took so much energy and time to prepare for it, and I can’t deal with the thought of knowing that it’s still hanging over me. I had even asked a family member if they could get the day off work to come with me.

I don’t know what to do now. I tried to look on the forum and I saw a post that said I should put something in writing to the DWP encase they think I was the person who missed the appointment. Can I ask please, what do I put in the letter, just that the appointment was cancelled and why? Also, do I send it as normal or as a complaint, and if I do will that adversely affect their decision? Do you have the address for me to send it too, please?

Also, I filled in the ESA50 around spring time 2018 and included my medical evidence at the time, but when I got the assessment appointment through I gathered new additional medical evidence. For example, I tried a new treatment after I sent back the forms, but didn’t respond to treatment and they sent a clinic letter to my consultant telling them that. My GP also updated his medical evidence to reflect my suicide attempt at Xmas etc, as he was the medical professional I first sought medical attention from. I was going to take this on the day with me, but now the appointment has been cancelled, can I send this to the DWP as additional evidence? Or should I just hold on to it till the next appointment?

Sorry for dropping so many questions on you, I just feel so overwhelmed.

Regards

Hi,

Could I get some advice, please? I was sent an appointment for a WCA assessment back in January, it was only a weeks’ notice and I needed my sister to go with me, which is something I did specify on the ESA50, so I rearranged it for February. My sister took the time off work, we both prepared for the appointment and then less than 24 hours before they cancelled it, which I wrote in a previous post. I sent in a complaint to Maximus and they said they would investigate.

Recently, I received a new appointment for 1st April. But I couldn’t do that day, so I rang to rearrange. They said I had to have the WCA by this date or the file would go back, and then the DWP would write to me for a reason why I couldn’t attend. So, I asked if they had any appointments at the assessment centre closest to me (the appointment for 1st April was at an assessment centre further away and they didn't have anymore appointments before that date). So, my rescheduled appointment was going to be for the last week of March. Again my sister took the time off work as she had been saving the last of her holidays for this appointment. But today I received a letter to say it had been cancelled again. When I called no one could say for sure why it had been cancelled, just that maybe a doctor wasn’t available that day or they were short staffed or something to do with the audio equipment etc. Nor could they tell me when I was likely to receive the next appointment. I’ve been quite upset since and it has impacted on my mental health.

Towards the end of the conversation, I asked when the appointment comes through and if the day isn’t suitable if I could change it. They said I wouldn’t be able to because I’ve rescheduled before, which is frustrating because had they not cancelled I would have had the WCA already and wouldn’t need to reschedule again. I guess my worry is that I need my sister to accompany me and she needs notice to give to her work and things are uncertain at her work, which could make taking the time off from April onwards more difficult. I feel so stressed and worried. I know the replacement appointment hasn’t come through yet, but if it isn’t suitable, what do I do?

Regards