ESA reassessment - home visit request plus timing

Thanks. From what you said earlier, though, I'd probably need to try speaking to my GP first to find out if a stronger letter could be written, before even having a chance of success. This could be challenging because my GP is part time, plus leaving the practice next month. And also the added uncertainty of knowing when I'll be assessed and if I'll have support from a friend (which feels vital, even for a home assessment), on top of getting hold of any new medical evidence and sending that in (I'm housebound much of the time) and dealing with the MP - who truly has a terrible reputation! - might prove more stressful than just going in person for the assessment and dealing with the physical repercussions. At least my health problems will be very obvious if I've done something to make myself unwell (ie attended an appointment away from home). Since writing my first message, to you I have found that one of my close friends is available on the original date suggested and could take me to the test centre (including physically help me walk from the car, if necessary), but her work commitments (and those of other friends) mean that there is a real chance that any rescheduling - eg for a home assessment - would leave me without such support.

Do you know if it is possible for test centres to make the adaptions as I've requested (ie ability for me to lie down for much/ all of my assessment and the opportunity to take breaks)? I would be incapable of sitting upright on a chair for any assessment. I would also need my friend to park close by the premises as well as potentially help me walk (I have a disabled parking badge, but am concerned about the description 'on street parking is available' on an adjoining road, rather than designated parking in terms of how far away we might need to park. For my PIP assessment, I had written about these needs all over my form (corroborated in medical evidence) plus had brought my own mat and cushions to lie on, on floor propped against the wall, and the assessor (and her supervisor) got really stressed about me doing this, hunted (without success) for more 'accessible' rooms, plus spent a lot of time and energy accusing me, incorrectly, of not letting them know about needing to lie down and making me more unwell and incapable of participating in the assessment (whereas in fact it was them who were lying about having read my assessment form). They also said my friend couldn't speak on my behalf when I was too exhausted to speak for myself. I don't want to repeat this debacle. It traumatised me and made me very unwell for some time, so any advice on how to avoid a repeat of this would be welcome.

Best wishes.

Ok. Thanks again, Gordon.

Rang Health Assessment Advisory Service this morning and asked why my GP's request for me to have a home assessment was denied. Was told need more detail from the GP about why I need a home assessment and was given a fax number to send any supplementary letter to. (Felt like a bit of a stock answer - he looked my case up and replied within a minute or two) Have left a message with the GP practice, asking if the GP can ring me to discuss both this, and my dilemma about whether or not to even try to fight for the home visit. Not sure if my GP will have time before the assessment date. but have a couple more questions for you in the meant time:

If it is agreed to change the appointment to a home visit, would this be classed as the only date change I'd be granted? I am concerned that I might not have support from any of my friends on any date the agency might choose and so have the dilemma about whether or not the negative physical impact to me from trying to travel to the assessment centre and back, bad as it will be, is potentially easier for me to cope with than an experience of an unpleasant assessor in my own home without me having psychological support (including prompting - I get brain fog) I need.

And the other question is have you noticed a pattern in success of ESA home assessments versus assessment centre assessments? Both my GP and OT are completely confident I'd win any appeal for ESA because I am not well enough to work, but I really don't want to go through a tribunal if I can help it - especially since the tribunal venue is likely to be even further away for me to travel to than the test centre, and I am thinking that if I manage to convince the agency that I need a home visit (which I do), that it will be perhaps easier to convince them that I am currently unable to work. Is that what you've noticed?

Any feedback welcome. Best wishes.

Thanks, Gordon. That's helpful to know. My GP has just rang. She will write another letter for me and get someone to fax it across in the next couple of days. She was angry on my behalf but also said that she has recently had the experience of writing a letter in support of someone else specifically regarding their need for a home assessment and it still got declined, with the feedback not enough detail, despite how clear her explanation was. So I won't assume this will work. But worth trying. I'll keep you posted!