Phone assessment following ESA50

Proteus

Hi, 

This morning  I got a letter to tell me I have a phone assessment in the next couple of weeks for my ongoing ESA claim. I wanted to ask about it as the past assessments for PIP and ESA over the years have been face-to-face and I'm a little concerned, while I'm glad I don't have to trek to one they won't 'see' my issues so I don't know if this phone assessment is a good thing or what to expect for it.

Would be grateful for any insight people might have with these.

poppy123456

It will be the same as your past face to face assessments but through telephone instead. The only difference being that they won’t obviously be able to see you.

Most assessments are by telephone. If
you’d rather face to face you can change it for one of those instead but you maybe waiting longer for an appointment to become available. 

They will want to know how your conditions affect you on a typical day. Try not to answer any questions with just a yes or no and try to give as much detail as possible. The assessment can last anything up to about 120 minutes. You can also have someone with you and put the phone into loud speaker if you want to. 

chucky1

How long have you been waiting for your assessment 

Proteus

chucky1 said:

How long have you been waiting for your assessment 

Just a few days short of 3 months since I sent back the ESA50

Proteus

poppy123456 said:

It will be the same as your past face to face assessments but through telephone instead. The only difference being that they won’t obviously be able to see you.

Most assessments are by telephone. If
you’d rather face to face you can change it for one of those instead but you maybe waiting longer for an appointment to become available. 

They will want to know how your conditions affect you on a typical day. Try not to answer any questions with just a yes or no and try to give as much detail as possible. The assessment can last anything up to about 120 minutes. You can also have someone with you and put the phone into loud speaker if you want to. 

Thanks, as I say all my past assessments have been face-to-face, I guess covid has a hand in that. I plan to be as detailed as possible, the written form took another 50k words to fill out properly not including the medical letters and assessments 

Jimm_Alumni

Hi @Proteus, I actually find the face-to-face meetings more stressful. I suppose it might be because I have a less-apparent and more variable disability which makes me worry if I don't "look disabled enough" they'll assess me as doing better than I am. I think though with over the phone they assess you with what you tell them. You just have to be clear and explain well how your conditions affect you, more of a "tell, don't show". 

I know how anxiety-inducing they can be, so do let us know if you've any further questions!