Recording ESA Interview

I have read the letter on this site regarding requesting that the interview be recorded, however, I am trying to work out the pros and cons of this. So if the interview is recorded:

1. it is evidence of what is said which could help any appeal (pro)

2. it is also evidence for ATOS if anything is incorrectly said by the claimant albeit by mistake (con)

3. it may show the ATOS interviewer that you are seriously prepared and that they should follow guidelines and procedures to the letter (pro)

4. it puts it more on a professional footing and detracts from the friendly rapport that the interviewer is trying to create (I see this as a pro)

5. It adds pressure on the already stressed claimant to be very careful with each and every word they say so that it is not misinterpreted (con).

6. It could detract from the actual evidence and information supplied in the questionnaire if a slip of the tongue is made (con)

7. It might delay the interview time, possibly by a number of weeks, therefore allowing even more preparation and resulting in your current benefit entitlement being paid, for example, you may be put in the workgroup activity section resulting in a lower amount of money being paid than if you were put in the support group - this would be less than the current amount that you receive on IB, therefore delaying the time by requesting a recorded interview means you are guaranteed more money by receiving the same amount of IB until the decision is made (pro)


Any thoughts/views/comments please.

You seem to have thought of the pros and cons and summed them up fairly accurately. Only you can decide whether or not to have the interview recorded.

However, one of your points does need correcting. If you are awarded ESA then the transitional protection means that you will not get less money than on IB.

What will I be paid?

Thank you - that begs the next question "how long is the transitional period"?!

Thank you - is that the same for ESA(IB) ? This is very confusing.