re medical coming up

I have failed to get a home medical although they have agreed to pay for a cab, so i'm assuming they're acknowledgeing that i do have a problem as i suffer from agrophobia, panick attacks and anxiety but now i'm panicking about being able to get someone to go with me and if i do I dont really want them coming in with me in case they are ask embarrassing questions about my IBS. I've been reading on this site that everyone seems to have someone with them will i be in danger of failing the medical or have problems when i end up having to appeal, which i'm assuming i will have to especially as i'm not sure that i'll have my GP's letter with me by then.

teabag wrote: I have failed to get a home medical although they have agreed to pay for a cab, so i'm assuming they're acknowledgeing that i do have a problem as i suffer from agrophobia, panick attacks and anxiety but now i'm panicking about being able to get someone to go with me and if i do I dont really want them coming in with me in case they are ask embarrassing questions about my IBS. I've been reading on this site that everyone seems to have someone with them will i be in danger of failing the medical or have problems when i end up having to appeal, which i'm assuming i will have to especially as i'm not sure that i'll have my GP's letter with me by then.

Hi tb,

The provision of a Taxi door to door could be seen as an admission that they realise that you would have problems using public transport, so that should be a positive.

The fact that you may not have a companion with you, for whatever reason, should not stop you receiving an award of ESA, in itself. (it "COULD" have an adverse effect if it is contradictory to something that you have already stated)

If you do obtain any evidence after the face to face assessment, you could send copies of it, ASAP, to the address of the DWP Benefits Office/Centre,( FAO The ESA Decision Maker ), that is on any ESA letters from the DWP that you may have.

There will always be some delay between the ATOS assessment and The DWP Decision Maker actually making a decision. Therefore, you could send copies to The DM, with a covering letter, requesting that this fresh evidence should be taken into account also. (You could still do this even if you do obtain the evidence and take copy to the face to face).

Remember to use copies only, and put your name, NI Number and DOB at the top of any seperate pages.

See : Sending Documents to the DWP or ATOS

See also : ESA Medical – What to expect

Good luck, and please keep us updated on this topic thread .

bro58

thanku I will no doubt i'll need some more advice!!

If you do need more advice, don't be afraid to come back to this thead and ask it. It might be a good idea to bookmark this thread or mark it as a favourite so that you can easily find it in future

Hi tb,

If I could give any advice to sum up a face to face assessment, that would be to treat the assessment as starting from when you leave your home, and finishing when you have returned.

You may be observed from when you enter the bulding, and when leaving.

The ATOS HCP will also observe your actions whilst in the assessment, and they will make assumptions from these observations.

bro58

Is there anyone you could get to accompany you to the Centre but wait in the waiting room for you? Then you'd have demonstrated you needed company to travel, but would feel freer talking about the IBS.

All the best
Elaine