Telephone (re-)assessment on the 4th February

hughie1

The letter I have been dreading. Well, that and the reassessment form back in August. I was hoping as it has been so long they had just forgotten about me or something.

My last assessment was end of 2016. They disallowed it. It wasn't until 2 years later that I finally got it to a tribunal and had the decision overruled. This was the most stressful period of my life. What if they get it wrong again? I can't go through this again. 

I am so nervous I am going to fail this interview like I did last time. I am worried I will overstate what I am capable of. I do not do well at these things. The guy who assessed me last time clearly did not understand mental health disorders and on his report just completely focused on the things I was kind of tricked in to saying I was capable of doing. 

My condition is OCD. It is my life, basically.

Questions:
1. Can I reschedule the appointment? It is too soon. I just don't feel ready for it.
2. I need to change the number they are calling me on. How do I do that?
3. After the interview, when will I know the outcome? How long does it normally take?
4. Do the people at DWP go purely based of what the assessors report says or will they look at all the evidence I sent in also?
5. I feel like my whole life and future is riding on this interview. I am too anxious. What can I do?

For a bit more background on my case please see the following link - Why am I being re-assessed now if a tribunal said do not? — Scope | Disability forum

hughie1

FYI:

I am on old-style ESA. Income-based. Support group.

poppy123456

Agree with woodbine, if you cancel this one then you'll only have to face more waiting for the next one. It's not going to go away so my advice would be to keep this appointment and get it done and dusted so to speak. 

I know exactly how you feel because I always feel exactly the same way for every assessment I've had. The stats for those placed into the support group are reasonable high so hopefully you'll be one of them. 

Do you have someone that can be with you during the assessment? You will be able to put your phone onto loud speaker. 

poppy123456

Timescales for WCA for ESA are up to 12 weeks, you were correct woodbine. 

hughie1

poppy123456 said:

Timescales for WCA for ESA are up to 12 weeks, you were correct woodbine. 

I'll be notified by phone or post? 

poppy123456

You will be sent a decision letter in the post.