PIP assessment tomorrow morning - anxiety sky high

Hi everyone I'm new to Benefits and Work. Been on DLA for several years and ESA support component for just over a year so far. They sent me a form which I filled out, returned with supporting letters and I remained in the support group.

I'm really scared about my PIP assessment tomorrow. It's very early on a Saturday which I didn't know was possible?! I had a bad experience with the ESA medical which triggered my PTSD badly for a long time - I don't feel like I can cope with another experience like that.

I've been reading the guides and kept photocopies of all correspondence, etc. but my anxiety is through the roof nevertheless. On top of my severe PTSD and depression, dissociation, etc. I have very bad physical problems. On daily morphine, regularly admitted into hospital and have constant pain and exhaustion, anaemia and so on. I don't have a life anymore, just sleeping and waiting for major surgery (radical hysterectomy). I live in fear of the brown envelopes.

Any advice on managing the anxiety around the whole process and what to do after the assessment while I wait would be really helpful. Thank you so much and sorry if this isn't the right forum or I've said something wrong.., x

Hi,

Welcome to Benefits and Work

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Try not to worry too much !!

Feedback from members would suggest that PIP Assessments are a far better experience than some ATOS ESA assessments were.

You can have someone else with you if that will help.

If you haven't already done so, you could have a quick read through the section on what to expect at a PIP assessment, from Pages 64-65 onwards of our : PIP Claims Guide. (2nd Link on page)

If you suffer from anxiety, etc then The PIP Assessor should already be aware of this, so I wouldn't worry.

Once the assessment is over, there is little else for you to do.

The Assessment Report will be sent to The DWP PIP Decision Maker to make the final decision.

You don't say whether the assessment is with ATOS or Capita, or whether it is a Home Assessment or one at a PIP Assessment Centre.

Either way, here is wishing you the best of luck, and please return on Monday to let us know how it went.

bro58