Medical tomorrow: Terrified!

I've just been reading through the WFHRA guidebook (61 pages!) for "medical" (I use the term loosely) practitioners assessing in the medical and it's only creating more anxiety for me. When I read how [MOD EDIT] the process is! One major section that concerns me is there response to recording the interview. I have requested it be taped using this sites letter with my application but clearly they will have no intention of doing so and the hoops you have to go through to do this are outrageous. I am profoundly deaf and have a special pen that records while you write which can then be converted into text. Even if i did use this they say that none of my notes can be used in my appeal which I will undoubtedly have to go to!

Also, I have been to a medical before, by the time i got through appeal i got the later one week later saying i had to start the whole application process again! Last time they ignored all my medical notes about my hearing and instead did a test to assess my hearing ability which consisted of ( in a non sound proofed environment!) this woman standing behind me and saying 4 words, I only heard one of the words she said and I later discovered she wrote in my case that my hearing was fine, and I won on appeal! when i read that it made me cry. after all the struggles I've been through coping with the isolation and discrimination that comes with a disability to be told it doesn't exists is just insulting! Very depressing actually, like they've taken apart of my identity and my life story away.

So if anyone has any advice for me that would be amazing. I am one stressed out person. I have mental health problems to put it in their terms, and am only now getting some support for this. It feels as though the moment i start to get my life on track and get some help, they come in to halt proceedings and force me into a position which made me ill in the first place.

My biggest question is what to say i do in the day, as it seems if you say anything they say you are capable of work, if you have a bath even if it were once a week you are fully functioning and capable of self care.

I feel set up to fail basically.

Sunshine wrote: I've just been reading through the WFHRA guidebook (61 pages!) for "medical" (I use the term loosely) practitioners assessing in the medical and it's only creating more anxiety for me. When I read how [MOD EDIT] the process is! One major section that concerns me is there response to recording the interview. I have requested it be taped using this sites letter with my application but clearly they will have no intention of doing so and the hoops you have to go through to do this are outrageous. I am profoundly deaf and have a special pen that records while you write which can then be converted into text. Even if i did use this they say that none of my notes can be used in my appeal which I will undoubtedly have to go to!

Also, I have been to a medical before, by the time i got through appeal i got the later one week later saying i had to start the whole application process again! Last time they ignored all my medical notes about my hearing and instead did a test to assess my hearing ability which consisted of ( in a non sound proofed environment!) this woman standing behind me and saying 4 words, I only heard one of the words she said and I later discovered she wrote in my case that my hearing was fine, and I won on appeal! when i read that it made me cry. after all the struggles I've been through coping with the isolation and discrimination that comes with a disability to be told it doesn't exists is just insulting! Very depressing actually, like they've taken apart of my identity and my life story away.

So if anyone has any advice for me that would be amazing. I am one stressed out person. I have mental health problems to put it in their terms, and am only now getting some support for this. It feels as though the moment i start to get my life on track and get some help, they come in to halt proceedings and force me into a position which made me ill in the first place.

My biggest question is what to say i do in the day, as it seems if you say anything they say you are capable of work, if you have a bath even if it were once a week you are fully functioning and capable of self care.

I feel set up to fail basically.

Hi S,

Have you made a typo in your first line ?

WFHRA : Work Focussed Health Related Assessments were suspended over two years ago, and have not been reinstated.

Do you mean the WCA Handbook ? which is the 2nd from bottom link on this page :

ESA Claims Guides

Covert recording can be submitted as evidence at appeals, if the Tribunal deems that the recording contains important evidence, there is also nothing to stop you providing transcript extracts of the recording to The DWP DM.

I can not tell you what to say on the day of the face to face assessment.

It helps if you are aware that some of the questions are "Loaded", have a read of our :

ESA Medical – What to expect FAQ, and The WCA Handbook should also help.

Take a look at this topic from earlier today : www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?view=top...id=10&id=96754#98261

It should help if you are accompanied. (if possible)

Good luck, and please let us know how you get on.

bro58

I requested that my face to-face assessment was recorded and everything went to plan on the day. I was gven a copy of the interview on CD when left. As your special pen converts the spoken word into text, I would feel that recording using this would count as a 'reasonable adjustment' if you were challenged, although I can understand that you would rather not take the risk!

Despite the failings of the system and ATOS, many people do find that they are treated well and a reasonable decision made, so don't assume that failure is the only option!