ESA Sick note 4 3 months

pmaragh

I am told that you need to attend a medical if your on ESA for longer than 3 months, but my sick note is for only 3 months. Will i have to have a medical in this time or will i not have to have one.

Thanks

Paul

Muttleythefrog

pmaragh wrote: »

I am told that you need to attend a medical if your on ESA for longer than 3 months, but my sick note is for only 3 months. Will i have to have a medical in this time or will i not have to have one.

Thanks

Paul

The assessment phase is meant to last 13 weeks (3 months), and for financial purposes it does (i.e. if you get assessed later and pass the Work Capability Assessment they'll backdate extra monies owed to you), but it can vary. You're most likely to get an ESA50 form to complete before being called for a face to face medical (if a face to face medical is deemed necessary). I would get another sicknote and make sure you send it to them in order to continue getting the assessment rate of ESA until you get assessed or leave the benefit due to recovery. In effect your sicknotes are your qualification for ESA until as such time you are given a work capability assessment and entitlement to the main phase can therefore be established.

ltcinter

Is the decision maker influenced by the length of period stated in the sick note? For example, during the assessment phase (whether that be 13 weeks or longer) would a decision maker be more likely to deem a WCA unneccessary if the sicknote was for 24 weeks (as opposed to one month or three months)

bobajob_1966

ltcinter wrote: »

Is the decision maker influenced by the length of period stated in the sick note? For example, during the assessment phase (whether that be 13 weeks or longer) would a decision maker be more likely to deem a WCA unneccessary if the sicknote was for 24 weeks (as opposed to one month or three months)

No, the sick note has no influence on the length of time before you are called for a medical. In most cases, the WCA is now completed within the thirteen week period.

Muttleythefrog

ltcinter wrote: »

Is the decision maker influenced by the length of period stated in the sick note? For example, during the assessment phase (whether that be 13 weeks or longer) would a decision maker be more likely to deem a WCA unneccessary if the sicknote was for 24 weeks (as opposed to one month or three months)

As above.... but just to clarify... the WCA is a requirement but whether that includes a face to face medical for fact finding is up to them. The only obvious way to reduce the chances of the WCA including a face to face medical is to provide medical evidence that reduces the need for fact finding.