UPDATE
Well it has been nearly 48 hours since I had the face to face assessment on Thursday, time that I needed to calm down and think rationally about how it went.
1.30am knock at the front door. (30 minutes late!)
Struggled to the door, opened it and had an ID card thrust in my face. (OK where are the rest of the boys in blue?!!)
Two guys, one short and I mean short, with a ruddy face with sweat running off his brow - he introduced himself as a ‘doctor’ The second was said by the first to be a ‘trainee’. Told them to go through and in passing me in the hallway the ‘doctor’ definitely needed some help with his body hygiene!
Seated them opposite me at the dining table (not having them making themself too comfortable in the lounge).
The short guy asked for my ID (ridiculous but hey)
(Thought to myself good cop bad cop?)
Anyhow went through the prelims – social and work? history, medication and living arrangements, aids used, where my wife was etc. So far so good.
Moved onto what I could do – getting around the house, cooking, washing myself, going outdoors, sleeping arrangements etc. Both of them asking me questions, The ‘trainee’ wanting clarification and further explanations to the answers given to the ‘doctor’.
Now we were about an hour into the ‘discussion’.
The ‘doctor’ asked if I would show him the bathroom?? (first time that I had been propositioned by a guy!!!) I told him no, if he was that desperate he would find a toilet in the cloakroom by the front door – off he went.
Awkward silence for the next few minutes that I had no intention in filling.
He came back, sat down and asked about hobbies. Asked me how I coped being a Town Councillor and a Director of a Community & Entertainment Centre. (now I know that I had not included that info on the claim form as it had nothing to do with the difficulties that I face on a day to day basis) . I said that you appear to have Googled my name then? Smile.
I explained fully that it is all local voluntary work and as such it fits in with the disabilities and difficulties that I endure daily.
Did I drive? Yes, sometimes.
The young trainee got up to look at the car on the drive through the French doors. ‘Nice car’ he said. ‘I would love one like that’.
Now I could feel anger and annoyance rising – who the h*** do these two think they are?
After about another ten minutes (3.10pm) the younger one stood up and said that they have now concluded the assessment and the DWP will be in touch. The ‘doctor’ stood and both walked to the front door which I opened and swiftly shut afterwards.
The whole assessment felt as though they were trying to catch me out?? I stayed cool, calm, and collected. The nearest thing that I could compare the whole experience to was a low key ‘investigation’ with the sole intention to collect evidence?? Just the way that the ‘trainee’ came over as not being a trainee but more a person of equal standing to the ‘doctor’.
Maybe I have read too many crime and thriller books!!
Still we will see what happens next, but to be honest I think I know what the answer will be. There was no caring attitude and with some of the questions asked they had clearly carried out some prelim work beforehand. It was very business like. They younger of the two (trainee) was certainly well versed in his ability in using open questioning.
I could say what I really though of the pair but it wouldn't get past the mods!!