First WFI Appointment. Problems Attending.

xsunnysuex

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Would you be able to attend if you had someone with you even if she/he was not a friend?

I am thinking of the Red Cross.

I know it will depend on which area you are in and you may have to make a donation but contact them and see if their volunteer service would help.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/

Another possible lifeline might be your local church. The vicar/minister might know of someone who would help you out by going with you.

Both worth a try.

Thank you for trying to help. But I wouldn't be able to go with someone I don't know or trust.
Trust is a really big deal for me. After everything that's happened in my life, it's not something that comes easy to me.

xsunnysuex

HB58 wrote: »

Would your GP provide a letter outlining your difficulties? It is possible to have these WFIs carried out over the phone but it is entirely at the discretion of the advisor.

Thank you. I will ask him.

bigboybrother

xsunnysuex wrote: »

I am in the WRAG. I have just received the letter asking me to attend my first wfi appointment.
I am really scared, because I don't think I will be able to go. I suffer from depression and agrophobia. I never go out on my own. My brother who lives quite a way from me takes me to any appointments I can't avoid going to.
However, my brother works and can't always get time off to take me. My appointment is 13th May. I called my advisor and explained my situation. She has told me to see if I can get anyone else to come with me. If I can't I have to call her back a few days before my appointment.
I asked what would happen if I can't get anyone to come with me. She said she doesn't know. They will have to take it to the next stage.
My brother says he will not be able to come with me, as he has had a lot of time off work lately. What is going to happen?
I did ask the advisor if I could do the interview on the phone. But she said that would not be possible.
I'm not being awkward. I just won't be able to go on my own. My brother is the only one that I have to help me, as I live miles away from family and friends. As my brother is unable to help me this time. What will happen to me? I am so scared.

If you don't go you stand the chance of your benefits being withdrawn.

How are you going to manage getting prepared for going into work if you can't even go to the organisation that is trying to help you do that?

pmlindyloo

bigboybrother wrote: »

If you don't go you stand the chance of your benefits being withdrawn.

How are you going to manage getting prepared for going into work if you can't even go to the organisation that is trying to help you do that?

I suspect that part of the problem is that the OP does not have medical evidence. Reading the descriptors for the Support Group of ESA it would appear the the OP' s problems as stated would make her eligible for the Support Group.


However, as the OP has said herself she has previously received treatment but it did not help her and now she is effectively unable to supply acceptable proof of her problems.


Perhaps the OP needs to see her doctor and start some more treatment.

bigboybrother

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I suspect that part of the problem is that the OP does not have medical evidence. Reading the descriptors for the Support Group of ESA it would appear the the OP' s problems as stated would make her eligible for the Support Group.


However, as the OP has said herself she has previously received treatment but it did not help her and now she is effectively unable to supply acceptable proof of her problems.


Perhaps the OP needs to see her doctor and start some more treatment.

Are you suggesting that she has to go and ask for medical treatment before they will accept that she has problems?

Point 1. The next step will be compulsory medical intervention if you want a related welfare benefit.
Point 2. Since when has the option not to accept medical attention been outlawed?

You only ask for medical intervention if you are worried about a health condition, not so that it 'looks good' from a DWP/ATOS point of view.

FBaby

It seems you've been with your partner for at least 2 years. Living away or not, you have a relationship and care about each other. Surely knowing that you depend on these benefits, he would try everything to be there to take you. At worse, you could ask for another appointment at a time he can make it.

I would be furious if my partner, who seems very keen to enjoy my presence to go out and have fun couldn't make an effort to be with me for something that is essential to my survival? Or maybe he is now prepared to move in with you and support you financially?

Pippin12

You need to go to your doctor and get him to write a letter stating that as you suffer from agoraphobia you cannot attend the WFI and consequently need a telephone interview. There may be a charge for this (my GP charged me £10 to write a letter on my behalf to the DWP), but this fee might be well worth it if it safeguards your benefits.

FBaby

Pippin12 wrote: »

You need to go to your doctor and get him to write a letter stating that as you suffer from agoraphobia you cannot attend the WFI and consequently need a telephone interview. There may be a charge for this (my GP charged me £10 to write a letter on my behalf to the DWP), but this fee might be well worth it if it safeguards your benefits.

But the OP doesn't suffer from agoraphobia in its true sense. She is able to go out of the house and even do so without experiencing much stress in crowded places, it is just that she needs someone she knows with her. So the issue here is finding someone to go with her. I expect they would question what she does if she needs to go to her GP or dentist. I would expect the best they would offer is to reschedule at a time she can get her brother or partner to come with her.

poppy10_2

Pippin12 wrote: »

You need to go to your doctor and get him to write a letter stating that as you suffer from agoraphobia you cannot attend the WFI

But her doctor couldn't honestly write this if he knows that her agoraphobia hasn't stopped her from going out to busy cinemas, zoos and the carvery.
Agoraphobia is a fear of busy/public places, not a fear of going to appointments you don't like.

pmlindyloo

poppy10 wrote: »

But her doctor couldn't honestly write this if he knows that her agoraphobia hasn't stopped her from going out to busy cinemas, zoos and the carvery.
Agoraphobia is a fear of busy/public places, not a fear of going to appointments you don't like.

Agoraphobia does not have one definition.

See here:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Agoraphobia/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

It seems that the OP can sometimes go out, even to busy places, as long as she is with someone that she can trust and feel safe with.

The OP's choices seem to be limited. As already said, she needs to have an appointment at a time when someone she trusts can go with her.

As to how she would be able to go to work then I imagine that she would be looking at some kind of work based at home for the present time.