ESA or JSA, hich do i claim

sock-knitter

i have been claiming income support as a carer for some years now.
as from today, i am no longer a carer
i shall be ringing the benefits people tommorrow, but i'm basically wandering which benefit i should claim, and roughly how much will i get
i get dla at lrc lrm, because of mental health issues, and very much doubt that i could carry out a full time job, i'm thinking esa, but i could be wrong

thanks

NASA_2

If you think you are unfit for work then you should claim ESA and get medical evidence from your doctor to confirm your illness.

You will initially get £67.50 a week if you claim ESA.

If you claimed JSA you would initially get £95.55 as the disability premium is paid on JSA but not on ESA.

bigbill

If you go for JSA it will be £127.35 for 8 weeks then £96.35 on-going.

If ESA (You will need a sick line) it will be £108.50 for 8 weeks then £67.50 then after 13 weeks if you pass the strict medical £94.25 or £113.90.

Are you aware that your existing Income Support can still be paid for 8 weeks before you need to change over to either of the above?

sock-knitter

no i didnt know that IS could be paid for another 8 weeks, so confusing

sock-knitter

finally got through to the job centre this morning, and applied for esa, got a medical certificate from gp, as unfit for work, have suffered severe depression since 2005, will send bank details and medical certificate back tommorrow.
what happens next? will i get a payment next week? or will it take longer.
why is jsa more money than esa? just querying as i dont understand benefits very much

Oldernotwiser

sock-knitter wrote: »

just querying as i dont understand benefits very much

I don't mean to be rude but you and your family have been claiming benefits for many years so I would expect you to be quite up on things.

Anyway, now that you're no longer the carer for your violent children and they don't live with you, hopefully you'll be able to overcome your depression and return to work.

Good luck.

nannytone_2

JSA is more initially because you would get a disability premium because you receive DLA.
when you claim ESA there is a 13 week assesment period and then a medical. if you pass the medical you would be paid full rate JSA which would increase the payment to the same level.

sock-knitter

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I don't mean to be rude but you and your family have been claiming benefits for many years so I would expect you to be quite up on things.

Anyway, now that you're no longer the carer for your violent children and they don't live with you, hopefully you'll be able to overcome your depression and return to work.

Good luck.

true i have been on income support and carers allowance for many years.
but esa, and the different way it works and jsa, are totally new to me.
cant wait til i am well enough to return to work, being dependant on benefits is soul destroying, and i do a little bit of voluntary work, as and when i feel able, to get myself out of the house and back into a work environment