ESA renewal anxiety

Hi. I have been diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and depression 3 years ago. I was put on esa support group after much hassle and fighting. I struggled to get to the face to face assessment last time at which point i was sick during the assessment and spent most of it in tears. My condition has caused severe agoraphobia which they refused to take into account back then.
My question is now im due a renewal. I received the esa50 form in december and followed the guides on here to fill it out. I sent it off with a letter from my gp saying that if an assessment was needed then it had to be a home assessment as i cant leave the house. 2 weeks ago they rang me asking if i could come in the next day. I said i couldnt and that the letter stated i needed a home assessment. I was told he would query it and if he didnt ring me back that day to assume i was having a home assessment. Today i received a letter with an appointment for the assessment centre for the 21st. I rang the appointment desk number and told the woman the same thing that i couldnt attend the appointment and a letter was sent regarding a home assessment. She said that the letters are sent out automatically and that she would email the "business center" and they will call me either today or tomorrow. I have not had a call today but im really panicking. There is physically no way i can get to the assessment. I dont leave the house at all. What can i do? I cant afford to have them stop my benefits but i also cant handle the face to face assessment. This thing is giving me nightmares. Please please please help me. Sorry for the long winded message.

Hi if its any comfort I have been diagnosed with a generalised anxiety disorder social phobia with apparently underlying personality traits( what ever that is) I have had this to a greater or lesser degree diagnosed for twenty years but in reality it started 35 plus years ago.

I get it , its hard to do things get organised and stand up, especially when you have an illness that makes you lay down and cry.

My husband is on ESA and I am on PIP.

The Benefits people will copy in a designated person if you can find one to take charge of your claims. The designated person can then request (strongly) you get a home visit.

My advise to you is be strong take ownership but get support for the home assessment and if you have somebody who will take charge of communicating with the benefits office for you then ask them to do this for you or try the CAB. The CAB got me through a PIP appeal they are very on the ball with communication and responses.

Hi, I rang them back today. they gave me the direct number for the business center. I rang them and they said my home assessment has been refused. He gave me a later date but it still seems very unlikely that i will be able to attend. I was told on the phone that if i didnt turn up for the later appointment then my benefits would be stopped. what can i do from here? and what are the chances that my benefits will be stopped if i fail to attend this new appointment? Please Help !

Hi

Have you tried contacting your MP by email ?
Its amazing the response an MPs office gets from civil servants !!