Recoded Home Assessment No show Assesser

Five anguishing days of little sleep and food, since receiving a letter for a recorded ESA assessment at home. My assessor did not turn up. I saw a miss call from an unknown number two minutes after the assessment was due to start. As I was still in bed after being forced to take a sleeping take a sleeping tablet at 6 am, I didn’t hear the call because I had my phone muted.

The issue now is what to do. I’d already reside myself to the fact that I am unlikely to be awarded the support group again. After staying up until 3am reading the WCA handbook. It seems a claimant with depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia, that takes no medication, because it can’t be tolerated. Is unlikely to be awarded any points. if you are able to use the TV remote, make a simple meal, go to the pharmacy, see family or go shopping on your own occasionally. Have any intelligence due to being educated and previously worked. It seemed unlikely I’d receive an award again. They don’t Understand anguish you go through to achieve some of those tasks.

I’d emailed them the day after receiving the letter to say, I still hadn’t attended my long-term therapy, for which I’d provided a letter as FME, in May. They replied saying that that was irrelevant to the assessment and they would not cancel it. I am now concerned that the assessment was cancelled and they could say that was due to my contact. Also, I’ve heard the horror stories of people reporting they were home but the assessor said they were out.

I’m now not sure what to do. If I call them, I know I will be very anxious and could have a panic attack. Also, i don’t want to give them any ammo to use against me that I am able to communicate with unfamiliar people and cope with unexpected change.

Can anyone someone please suggesting what would be the best thing to do in this situation? Should I email them to say the assessor did not attend?

I’m feeling quite desperate at the whole situation. What they don’t seem to understand is that this process only makes people more unwell. I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t awarded the support group again. Those fleeting suicidal thoughts, could be coming closer to home.

Thanks

Hello Morena,

It is true what BIS says about the horror stories, of course you are likely to read about them because people need help resolving them.
You need to report the non-attendence of the assessor. It does happen, it is unacceptable and they need to be informed. The phone call is unlikely to be as bad as you are imagining. Do you have coping techniques to help you stay calm?

Thanks for your replies. I sent an email yesterday. The person that can help make the call, can’t until tomorrow. Likely get their response by then too. Normally takes two days. It was postponed once before due to not having the recording equipment. On that occasion I was notified in advance. Maybe it was for the same reason.
No, don’t really have any coping techniques to help me stay calm. I sometimes try the breathing technique to aid sleep or reduce anxiety but it doesn’t really work. Thanks for asking.