ESA assessment

pope

I have this morning received my letter for my ESA phone call assessment it says in the letter appointment can last between 20 minutes and 1 hour possibly longer. Does it really last upto a hour its making me anxious what kind of questions do they ask?

poppy12345

Yes it can sometimes last longer than 1 hour. It really depends on what questions they ask you. They will want to know how your conditions affect you. If you kept a copy of the form you filled in (you should have) then have a read of that before the assessment.

Try not to answer questions with just a yes or no, otherwise they may come to their own conclusions.

Muttleythefrog

As above....varies depending on circumstances. Remember this is your assessment not theirs.... so try your best to explain your difficulties rather than allow them to brush through the assessment with the yes/nos. I would prepare by re-reading your relevant description of problems given to them on forms and have in mind the descriptors that you think apply to you. 

pope

Yes I kept a copy of the form before sending it off also the supporting evidence. Do I look at the descriptors and see which best matches my situation and then talk to the assessor based on that? 

poppy12345

pope said:

 Do I look at the descriptors and see which best matches my situation and then talk to the assessor based on that? 

Ideally, this is what should have been done while you were filling out the form. There's not going to be enough of time for you to look at the descriptors during the assessment. The questions they will ask will be based on how your conditions affect you.

Muttleythefrog

pope said:

Yes I kept a copy of the form before sending it off also the supporting evidence. Do I look at the descriptors and see which best matches my situation and then talk to the assessor based on that? 

Can only repeat what poppy has said. If you have completed the form well then it is in effect a revision document. The assessment should be quite formal and they should be asking relevant questions to establish your background and specific difficulties regarding the tasks as well as making observations (including oral Re phone) to justify their selection of which descriptors for activities are relevant. You should be prepared for that by ensuring you understand your relevant difficulties, have examples in mind you can use to assert your relevant problems. For example Activity 15 getting about... if you've highlighted problems with this they should enquire about your problems... you could be ready to say you do indeed have difficulties... and they may engage in a way to find out how you try to get out and what happens... so be ready to give examples...'I need to visit my doctor each month for tests and it is a place I know well but unless I have my partner take me I can't manage it because x. Unfamiliar places I avoid because even with my partner I have problems y that mean I can't get there'

Every assessment is unique and they can vary quite a lot in professionalism of the assessor.

Robbie64

pope said:

Yes I kept a copy of the form before sending it off also the supporting evidence. Do I look at the descriptors and see which best matches my situation and then talk to the assessor based on that? 

The assessor should have already read your form when the assessment takes place and may ask you questions based around what you have written. However the assessment is to get an overall picture of how your health and conditions affects you on a day to day basis. The assessor should cover the following:

1. Medical conditions - your health problems

2. Medication - you may be asked about the medication you take and how well it works

3. Clinical history - the assessor should look at your conditions, symptoms and how the symptoms affect function. Past / current / future treatment will also be discussed.

4. Social and occupational history - brief details of your domestic living situation plus your recent work history

5. Your typical day - to get a picture of your everyday life, your abilities, how your conditions affect your day to day life, activities you do (shopping etc). This is where what you have written on the ESA50 about any functional limitations will be relevant.

The above are all covered in great detail in the Work Capability Assessment Handbook which is issued by the DWP to the assessment provider (Maximus / CHDA). The handbook can be downloaded from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals and the relevant pages for detailed guidance on conducting an effective work capability assessment (and therefore the type of questions you may be asked) can be found at pages 57 to 68. The list I provided above is taken from headings used in that part of the handbook.

poppy12345

Robbie64 said:

pope said:

Yes I kept a copy of the form before sending it off also the supporting evidence. Do I look at the descriptors and see which best matches my situation and then talk to the assessor based on that? 

The assessor should have already read your form when the assessment takes place and may ask you questions based around what you have written. However the assessment is to get an overall picture of how your health and conditions affects you on a day to day basis. The assessor should cover the following:

1. Medical conditions - your health problems

2. Medication - you may be asked about the medication you take and how well it works

3. Clinical history - the assessor should look at your conditions, symptoms and how the symptoms affect function. Past / current / future treatment will also be discussed.

4. Social and occupational history - brief details of your domestic living situation plus your recent work history

5. Your typical day - to get a picture of your everyday life, your abilities, how your conditions affect your day to day life, activities you do (shopping etc). This is where what you have written on the ESA50 about any functional limitations will be relevant.

During all my assessments and one that i did on behalf of my daughter they covered areas 1, part of 3 but didn't ask about any future treatment, part of 4 but didn't ask about any recent work history and 5.

Bigwheels1111

I would personally get a spare mobile phone and download a recording app, put the call on speaker and record with the other phone.
If you need to appeal later you will have a copy of everything that was said.
I was given 2 videos of ESA assessments many years ago and asked to help with their appeals.
Back then covert video and audio was a no no. 

You would not believe the difference between what was said & done and what was reported about the assessment.
Just one example.
Party A walked in and sat down the report said, funny how does someone sitting in a wheelchair walk in ?