Home Visit or Office Based Assessment

Hello, I have my reassessment coming up after sending in the ESA50 form. I sent in loads of medical evidence this time and had hoped this would prevent me from having the stress of an assessment after all i went through before (zero points,completely diff report to my answers and a wait of a year for the appeal tribunal). I suffer from severe depression, anxiety and agoraphobia and my question is whether it will go against me that i havent requested a home visit? After reading that you need a GP letter to state you cannot attend because of your problems, i knew there was no point, as my GP has never been very supportive regarding this illness, despite confirmation from a Psychiatrist and Psychology services etc. When I first became ill and asked for med certs, it was an extreme uphill battle and I was accused of it all just being financial.. This despite me going from a well paying job to benefits. I didnt think to ask the Mental Health services whether they could help instead regarding the letter requesting a home visit, or even if this might be acceptable? but I fear I'm out of time now..

Hi Jb,

You should give a little thought to explaining how you were able to attend the venue despite your problems. Other than that, I can't see it being a problem.

Thank you. A friend of someone in my family is going to take me, as my local health team did not get back to me again and they are extremely hard to contact. Only, as I don't know this person myself very well, I don't really want them to be in the room with me, a party to everything, as I feel very ashamed and embarrassed at having to describe how my illness affects me day to day and the depths to which I've sunk. Would that be okay do you think for them to remain in the waiting area or car, instead of coming in the room and speaking for me? I'm thinking it will probably go against me and I feel I already made a v.bad job of filling in the form, despite the guide as I just felt so overwhelmed and confused, I couldn't think straight.

Thankyou. Yes, that's certainly true regarding honesty with our problems but in my case those close ones are mostly not bothered anyway, hence the distant friend accompanying me instead, or they tell you to pick yourself up and stop being a victim. Which doesn't really help if you mostly feel suicidal and every day is a constant struggle. It's not like it's something you 'choose' for yourself but a lot of people don't understand. Anyway... thankyou for your help. May I just ask one more thing.. Am I able to request a change of sex in healthcare assessor on the day or would this need to be done in advance and with good reason, eg only on religious grounds?