first time WCA very scared...help!!!

Hi, I have my very first work capability assessment tomorrow and I am very nervous. I am in receipt of PIP but my support worker does the review assessments over the phone for me so I have been lucky enough so far not to have needed to attend the dreaded Atos/IAS medicals as of yet, but the WCA refused to do this assessment over the phone with the support worker so I need to attend eek!!!! I have looked at your guides which are brilliant by the way, they helped me change my PIP award to higher rate care (huge big thanks & thumbs up for that) but I am very nervous about this face to face.


Can I please ask your advice on if it is okay to take notes at the assessment with you? I have severe anxiety and in these tense type situations I get so nervous and can't talk or think properly. I usually communicate with a prepared written letter at things like GP/hospital app's, so I was just wondering if you can do this here? I have already written some details about my condition and how it affects me and I have included some of the questions from your guides but I just wanted to check that's ok or would they not be too happy with that? I have severe anxiety, borderline personality disorder and IBS, so face to face things like this are my worst nightmare so writing things down in advance makes it just that bit more bearable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks, Layla

aww thank you so much for your advice and very quick reply, just in time before my assessment in 3 hours times eek!!!! Very nervous but the edge has been taken off slightly as I can take my notes with me, thank you

Ok I had the dreaded WCA yesterday and it went better than I thought I think lol It's a new assessment place in Glasgow and the waiting room was very busy (just to let people know what to expect if they go here) it's a weird ticket queue system, you first get called to a booth to check your letter/id then wait till the HP calls you. If you have similar anxiety to me then be prepared for the overwhelming number of people waiting in the huge waiting area, myself and the support worker managed to get seats away in the corner up the back, slightly less gold fish in a bowl situation, however the building is glass so everyone outside can see you which is lovely...not!!! lol


The nurse was nicer than I thought they were going to be, she only asked certain questions from the form, and only mental health. She also let the support worker help me answer some questions as they were a bit uncomfortable and at the end she said don't worry everything is fine on her side, but it is the DWP that make the final decision. I really wanted to believe her but their reputation isn't the best, especially with the truth so ill try stay hopeful but realistic.


Can you please tell me if I can request a copy of this medical assessment? If so how do I request it as I am on universal credit? Sorry also would you please be able to tell me roughly how long the decision will take, it wasn't too long a waiting time for the assessment, it was just over 5 weeks. Thanks so much for your help and support so far, your advice has really helped me with all my benefit issues, I am so grateful for this site, Layla