Applying for ESA and HB in advance?

crafty*kate

Hi, I just wondered if anyone had any ideas...

I am due to go for surgery at the end of April. This will probably mean being off work for around 6-8 weeks (I hope). It is hopefully the final stage of treatment for cancer.

Because I've had so much time off in the last 12 months, work will not pay me for this absence. Can I apply for ESA and HB in advance? I have a small amount of money put by to tide me over until my claim kicks in, but I am concerned that it will take longer to process my claim than it will be to recover and get back to work...it all feels very complicated.

I am 27 years old and I live on my own. I'm doing my best but the practicalities of all this are really wearing me down.

FleurDuLys

Hi, I can't really offer any helpful advice I'm afraid, but I want to wish you well. Have you got a Macmillan Nurse at all? I have found mine to be really very helpful regarding sorting out benefits and general money stuff.

Good luck with the surgery xx

crafty*kate

Thanks Fleur. My macmillan nurse left because of funding cuts. I will try the CAB again but when I went to them before, they forgot to send my form in, so I don't have much hope for them really!

[Deleted User]

i would assume that you can only apply for esa once you have a sick note from gp or hospital(or fit note as they now call it),and without the evidence of getting that im not sure that you could apply for HB
I maybe wrong and will be happy to be corrected

Savvy_Sue

If work are not paying you, they have to pay you SSP, unless you've also exhausted your entitlement to that.

If you have, they are required to give you a form which tells you they're not paying SSP, and that will tell you what you need to do next. Take a look here.

Sadly, you can't really get anything started in advance, although phoning your local council and asking about how to claim HB might mean you have the forms ready to fill in. You could also make sure your employer has worked out whether or not you'll still be getting SSP, and that they know what to do in either case.

daska

It's not commonly known but it is possible to get a paper form to apply for ESA (wish I'd known this when bullying SS finance officer forced me to apply!) So if that's applicable you might be able to have all the paperwork filled in and ready to go.

System

daska wrote: »

It's not commonly known but it is possible to get a paper form to apply for ESA (wish I'd known this when bullying SS finance officer forced me to apply!) So if that's applicable you might be able to have all the paperwork filled in and ready to go.

Just to add you can Download a claim form to print here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@disabled/documents/digitalasset/dg_172083.pdf

Or you can fill in and save this one, then print it:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@disabled/documents/digitalasset/dg_174111.pdf

crafty*kate

Just to say thanks for all your responses...sorry I haven't been online for a while.

I will not be getting SSP as I've had far too much time off sick (well, about a year actually). But, the good news, sort of, is that my surgery has been delayed so I don't have to think about it just yet