ESA85A request

Dear Gordon,

I wonder if you might be able to put my mind at ease.

I suffer from severe anxiety and agorophobia. On my last ESA50 form I asked to be contacted by letter as I get anxious using the telephone and therefore only answer it to people I know.

Fortunately I received a letter 2 days ago telling me I had been put in the support group - all down to your guides - thank you.

With support from my carer, we rang DWP and I spoke to a member of staff who gave me the 18 month recommendation before another review, but then told me that she was not able to send me the report and transferred me to another office (in Belfast). The man I then had to speak to said that he would send me the report straightaway.

My question is - is this just an administrative thing or am I somehow "redflagged" and was transferred to a specialist office? The lady I first spoke to did say that she usually has to ring a few offices until someone answers.

I apologise for sounding stupid (and perhaps a little paranoid) but I am really fretting about having to speak to 2 different people at 2 different offices.

Thank you in advance,

Susie

Thank you Gordon,

I feel that I really want to say a huge thank you to both you and to everyone else who posts on this site. I was blessed in that I did not even need to have a face to face. Obviously, I answered the questions as best I could, but it was the ESA guide on this site that pointed me in the direction of submitting additional evidence. I believe it really helped my claim.

To support others going through this process I included: a letter from my GP requesting a home visit; 2 letters from 2 different support workers; my care plan and a letter from mental health services.

Sure, I only have a "suggested" award until July 2020 but I am accepting of that.

I hope the above is useful.

Good luck to others on this forum.

Susie