Forced to attend PIP f2f with agoraphobia?

Hello again Gordon,

Outrageously, but not unexpectedly, ATOS are not budging on forcing me to attend this F2F - next Thursday at 9am.

A week is not enough to prepare myself for that trauma, so is it possible to abandon this particular claim for now and start a new claim in a month or two, giving me more time to gather extra evidence and involve more outside support (welfare rights, MP, etc), to prepare another claim in the full knowledge I'm now going to have a fight on my hands? My MP is a high-profile shadow cabinet member for one thing, so I doubt my recent letter and email have even been looked at yet.

Is there any obstacle or time limit to my beginning a fresh PIP claim if I drop this one? Will I still be paid the remaining DLA until the end of my award (May 27th)?

Thanks in advance.

OK thanks Gordon. Do we need to let them know if I decide to drop the claim, or can I just not turn up without any repercussions?

They aren't offering me any courtesy, so I don't see why I should offer them any if I can avoid it.

Thanks, I'll probably do that, then.

Are you under the care of a community mental health team or community psychiatrist for your SA and agoraphobia? I've found that a letter from a psych dr has more clout/impact than a GP.