Concerns about ESA assessment

Hello

I was put in the support group last year from IB. A couple of months ago I received another assessment form. Despite filling in the ESA50 form and submitting a strong supporting letter from my gp I have been called in for an assessment by ATOS. I am very isolated and probably will not have anyone accompanying me.

It is causing me much angiush, not least as I suffer with very bad social anxiety and tend to clam up when placed in stressful situations and faced with strangers. I am particularly concerned I will 'freeze' on the day and not be able to explain myself properly and that this will be used against me.

Can anyone suggest anything I can do in advance to minimize any problems?

I am sorry that this process is proving so difficult and stressful for you. It is difficult to know what to suggest, you could try contacting MIND for support but I don't know if they would be able to provide someone to accompany you to the assessment. Other than that, you should familiarise yourself with what to expect and make as many notes as you feel necessary to jog your memory when you are actually face-to-face with the Healthcare Practitioner.

ESA Medical – What to expect

Hi sgb2000, I know exactly how you are feeling at this moment. I am in the same boat as you and have been so anxious that I arrived at the doctor's surgery without appointment as I was feeling so bad. The doctor has given me something for this extreme anxiety.
I am also taking up one of the suggestions from one of the experts here to ask ATOS for another date to give me a chance to have my friend with me but not sure whether ATOS will agree as I have not found the courage to call them yet and my assessment date is next week.
Maybe this is also the way to do it for you?
Whichever way you choose, good luck on the day.

Thanks Gordon for the reminder.
I am thinking of asking ATOS for a later date when my friend can be with me but do you know how far from the original date I can ask ATOS to put back? The date I have in mind is about 6 weeks from the original date they gave. I did stated in the completed forms that my friend who will accompany me to any assessment is available until the beginning of June and they have given me a mid June appointment and now she will not be available to accompany me until end of July.
If end of July is not possible, then I will have no choice but to let ESA go as I know I will not be able to cope going alone.

I do have a concern about the DLA - refusal to go to a medical will result in the three possible outcomes - place on SG, WRAG or lose ESA altogether. My question is would this then affect the DLA payment to me, at present I have higher mobility and lower care component.

Forgot to mention :
My DLA is indefinitely