Cat101, the only reason I quoted you was just to point out that yes you may still "claim" while awaiting your appeal but it won't be IB you receive, it'll be Jobseekers, and with the way things are at the moment with the SW offices the appeal will have come and gone before any kind of payment is received. Sorry if there was any confusion there.
In my case I went for assessment one day, received the letter the very next day (they can get stuff out in the post quick enough when they want to) to say IB was being stopped that week, went to the local SW office and have still not heard anything back. So I can't work due to illness, yet they have stopped my IB payment, can't manage to get any kind of financial assistance in the mean time and the appeal still hasn't happened.
Anyway good luck to anyone else in this situation. You're going to need it!