ESA stopped

pc10

I've been off work sick for a year suffering from work related stress. I work in NHS and I have a new job to return to when I am well enough to do so.

I went for a medical for ESA in April and got a letter today telling me I had received a total of NO points and therefore my ESA would stop from 5 days before they wrote the letter to me - they also got my surname wrong which was professional!

Im in NI if that matters.

During my medical the doctor didnt ask any questions similar to the questionnaire I completed. He seemed sympathetic towards me and it was obvious I wasn't well during the medical.

As far as I know ESA didnt make any contact with my GP or CPN.

When I went for the pathways to work interview, the lady there saw that I was unwell and told me that I didnt need to come back for any more interviews as I had a job to go back to once my health improved.

So what now?

If I appeal the decision am I right in thinking that my benefit will be reinstated back to the day it stopped and wil continue at the same rate until my appeal has been heard?

Would I be better to go to an advice centre to get them to help with the appeal?

I had applied for the for the NON income related ESA and now wonder if I should change this because I am no longer being paid by work so I have no money coming in.

I have a mortgage - in order to get help with it do I have to be getting the income based ESA?

So many questions ... so little brain power!

healy

Yes if you appeal you will be paid the assessment rate of ESA until the appeal is heard.

It can increase you chances of success with the appeal if you get help from a welfare rights officer.

You cannot choose to claim the income based ESA instead of the contribution based ESA, depending on your circumstances the contribution based ESA could be topped up by the income based ESA.

pc10

Thanks for the reply. I will mention this about the income based ESA to the advisor when I get an appt then.

NASA_2

Was the occupational sick pay the only reason you went for contributions only?

pc10

Yes thats why I didnt apply for the income based. When I phoned the ESA office at the start, the guy I spoke to told me it was probably ok to just go for the contribution based so thats what I did. And to be honest I never expected that I would still be unfit to return to work so far down the line. and therefore to be on no pay from work.

NASA_2

pc10 wrote: »

Yes thats why I didnt apply for the income based. When I phoned the ESA office at the start, the guy I spoke to told me it was probably ok to just go for the contribution based so thats what I did. And to be honest I never expected that I would still be unfit to return to work so far down the line. and therefore to be on no pay from work.

Ring tomorrow and ask for both a GL24 and an ESA1 or ESA2.

Not sure exactly what the rules are on moving from ESA(C) to ESA(IR) when on Appeal but I dont think there is one against it.

macaque_2

healy wrote: »

The OP has said they will return to work when they are well enough to do so which clearly implies they are not able to yet so your comment is not helpful.

PC10 has taken a year's sick leave and has a job waiting for her when she is ready. I have never heard anything so stupid. Some people will not sleep tonight worrying about finding a job.

symikins

ESA wrote: »

Ring tomorrow and ask for both a GL24 and an ESA1 or ESA2.

Not sure exactly what the rules are on moving from ESA(C) to ESA(IR) when on Appeal but I dont think there is one against it.

in a very similar situation as you but did resign as the job l had with nhs direct was so stressful it nearly pushed me over the edge ,and its a long way back from there to normality ... l knew l could not cope with that job again

maybe macaque would like my job, see how he/she copes :rotfl:

back to the reason for this post ;

had medical on 2nd june scored 6 points l had a lovely nurse interview me [ still convinced she was genuinely nice]
so l have appealed YOU MUST DO THAT !

the dwp should have also included an appeal form with the letter saying your esa has been stopped for you to fill in , seems like its not happening big time .. probally because it may put people off of appealing straight away and time they find out ,get the form and fill it in ,they may have lost their esa which is still available whilst the appeal is being looked into but only from the date the appeal is recieved :mad:
the way the letter is worded also makes it seem like your only option is to go back to work or if unemployed ring jobseekers to look for work
lm still signed off sick , how can l be availible for work

there is a confidental help line you can ring to help you with ALL probs with benefits and the like and l apologise if this has already been posted

its called "community legal advice" run by citizens advice telephone centre

give them a ring explain whats happening , they are totally confidental and nothing to do with the dwp , and will help you with every step
ive never claimed benefits after 37yrs of full time work ,and l did,nt have a clue , didnt even know what cb based or ic based means [still not sure :rotfl:]

the tel no,s are

welfare benefits : 0845 456 6808

housing advice : 0845 456 6805

employment adv : 0845 456 6814

debt advice : 0845 456 6813

hope this helps

xx

NASA_2

Its has happened in the private sector - loads of times.

healy

symikins wrote: »

in a very similar situation as you but did resign as the job l had with nhs direct was so stressful it nearly pushed me over the edge ,and its a long way back from there to normality ... l knew l could not cope with that job again

maybe macaque would like my job, see how he/she copes :rotfl:

back to the reason for this post ;

had medical on 2nd june scored 6 points l had a lovely nurse interview me [ still convinced she was genuinely nice]
so l have appealed YOU MUST DO THAT !

the dwp should have also included an appeal form with the letter saying your esa has been stopped for you to fill in , seems like its not happening big time .. probally because it may put people off of appealing straight away and time they find out ,get the form and fill it in ,they may have lost their esa which is still available whilst the appeal is being looked into but only from the date the appeal is recieved :mad:
the way the letter is worded also makes it seem like your only option is to go back to work or if unemployed ring jobseekers to look for work
lm still signed off sick , how can l be availible for work

there is a confidental help line you can ring to help you with ALL probs with benefits and the like and l apologise if this has already been posted

its called "community legal advice" run by citizens advice telephone centre

give them a ring explain whats happening , they are totally confidental and nothing to do with the dwp , and will help you with every step
ive never claimed benefits after 37yrs of full time work ,and l did,nt have a clue , didnt even know what cb based or ic based means [still not sure :rotfl:]

the tel no,s are

welfare benefits : 0845 456 6808

housing advice : 0845 456 6805

employment adv : 0845 456 6814

debt advice : 0845 456 6813

hope this helps

xx

People usually have to request the appeal form GL24 when they want to appeal against a decsion, it is not usually included with the rejection letter.

symikins

healy wrote: »

People usually have to request the appeal form GL24 when they want to appeal against a decsion, it is not usually included with the rejection letter.

hi healy
thanks for your info
however i feel that if an appeal is an option why not send it with the rejection letter ? it saves on postage/ phone calls by both parties
plus there is always the famous "black hole " where many of these communications fall into .:rolleyes:

when l questioned the lack of appeal form enclosed at the local jc+ l was told there had been a shortage of forms to send out with the reject letters ........ so someones telling porkies !

sorry, but again it smacks of not being given all the info you need so some people who are not used to claiming benefits do not know the "ropes " so to speak and may lose out through no fault of their own when for the first time in their life they need help and dont get all the info they are entitled to..... it really does happen !

we have people who need genuine help and the spongers who choose it as a lifestyle and seem know all the right buttons to push

may l say thanks for all your good advice on this forum its been really helpful to many of us :T