I should not feel the need to write this. This should not have to be highlighted as an amazing good news story, but it should be a basic standard expected of all assessment centres, of all assessors and of everyone's experiences with claiming employment and support allowance.
I filled in my ESA50 and supplied relevant medical information as requested. I received an assessment appointment through the post. As there is no longer the option on the ESA50 to detail any reasonable adjustment for an appointment, this appointment wasn't suitable so I had to ring to ask for my three adjustments to be met. These were noted and met with a new, more suitable appointment time.
I arrived at the time stated and made myself known to the reception staff. My second question of "is my medical going to be recorded?" was met with, yes, I have your audio consent form next on the papers to sign.
I was told there would be a 20 minute delay because they were running late. At about 15 minutes in I was approached by a lady who said that I had been allocated to a male assessor and that she noted from my claim that I requested a female assessor. This would not be a problem she stated, but I may have to wait a little while longer once re-allocated.
I was called in after half an hour waiting. My assessment was recorded. I felt listened to, I felt that my assessor was knowledgeable enough in my impairment to provide a decent medical report by the way she was interacting with me.
After about half an hour the assessmnet was over and I was promptly given a copy of the CD recording.
About 3 weeks later I spent the day in panic because I had recieved a strange payment. Usually this means that my claim had stopped, and as this was what I was expecting this is what I had assumed. As it was a saturday I had no way of knowing what the payment was..
until I got the post and the news that I am in the support group, and that the money was backdated premiums for being there.
somethings things go right..
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