Assessment anxiety

I received a letter from the DWP a few days ago explaining that I would be required to attend an assessment. Since receiving this letter I have been very anxious about going to the assessment because I simply cannot leave the house without experiencing extreme distress/panic attacks. I have been able to get someone to come with me for support but I am compounded with fear in anticipation of the whole event, even sitting in the waiting area will be a problem as I fear being attacked by other people and my natural response is to run and hide. I also bite my tongue a lot when I'm anxious and have even bitten the end of my tongue off previously when I was having a very big panic attack, I am worried I will start biting it during my assessment and will look stupid in front of the assessor.

I have not really left the house since 1999, and I haven't seen a dentist since 2000. I have got no friends or social life. I cut my hair myself. Over the last 12 years I have only seen one psychiatrist and that was in 2004, so all of my evidence about my condition will come from the GP I see most regularly but I fear it will be another GP (there are 3 others at the surgery I go to) who doesn't know my situation and circumstances very well who will fill all the forms in and they will not be as understanding of my problems as my preferred GP.

I am frightened of being taken off of Income Support, which I have been receiving fortnightly for many years, it has become part of the routine I am so used to, and it will upset me so much if it's taken away, I don't know what I will do. I have read so many horrible stories about sick and ill people like me losing their benefits and being put on JSA, it is worrying me so much, I can't sleep at night thinking about it. I also find it very hard to get myself across and I think it will look like I am lying or being deceitful because when I'm anxious I can't think straight at all, as well as not being good at getting myself across.

If you are unable or would find it extremely difficult to attend a medical assessment because of your anxiety/agoraphobia, you can always ask for a domiciliary assessment. The means that the assessment can be carried out at home, but you will need to have compelling evidence from your GP because Atos are extremely reluctant to undertake domiciliary medical assessments.

If you are not able to have a domiciliary assessment you can always ask for a taxi to take you to the medical assessment centre, you have a right (which you intend) to be accompanied by a friend or relative, and under the terms of the Equality Act 2010, you can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made to enable your attendance. This could include a facility for waiting in a separate room and/or to have the first available appointment on the day of the assessment. See paragraphs 20 - 22 of:-

The Equality Act 2010.

See also:-

The Transfer Process.

ESA Medical – What to expect.