PIP assessment, social and general anxiety

oasis63

I've got to attend a face to face Pip assessment in two weeks and I'm literally shaking at the prospect. I've only ever had to complete the forms before so for someone with social anxiety and GAD this is not only highly embarrassing but very scary too and I don't know what to do.

The only time I do anything socially is when I've had a few drinks first to calm myself or if I attend a physical activity like football or golf and even then I always arrive on the last minute so I don't have to stand around talking because it's so anxiety producing.

Is there anything I can do to avoid a face to face assessment? Anyone else got experience of this? To say I'm petrified is an understatement

SheffieldMan1976

If you're worried, you should contact them and tell them, under reasonable adjustments they should let you do a remote online or phone meeting, I'll spare you my long drawn out rant about reasonable adjustments being a copout.

ChrisR777

I would have all assessments done face to face, any exemptions granted on a case by case basis. In my opinion, there's far too much "oh, I don't like to" carry on theses days, folk thinking the rules shouldn't apply to them, and maybe it wouldn't be a fun experience.

Mary_Scope

Hi @oasis63, you can request a telephone assessment as long as you have evidence of why it's not possible for you to attend face to face 😊

oasis63

I will ask them but I'm unsure as to whether it not social anxiety is a good enough reason because the impression I've always had is that they find it more acceptable if you have a physical disability

oasis63

I understand what you're saying. Hopefully they'll empathise with my case

Rachel_Scope

Hopefully they'll allow you to do a phone assessment @oasis63. Will you let us know?