ESA confusion

Hex352

Hi there everyone, I'm new here so please bare with me! The situation is a completely new one to me as I have never before claimed anything. I recently had to leave my job in an office as I suffer badly with anxiety, depression and an eating disorder. I don't know if I suffer from bi-polar but I have these intense low moods and then these crazy highs where I fee everything is great and do stupid things impulsively. I have always had these issues but i just couldn't face work anymore, especially after an incident with my boss. It was as if I had reached breaking point. I feel like a massive failure and I feel so low, having to sell my possessions to pay the bills.

So after a few weeks of struggling I decided to swallow my pride and put in a claim for job seekers allowance (this was the only benefit I knew about). I went to the appointment yesterday and I broke down in front of the advisor and had to tell her everything that I had been feeling, she told me about ESA, which sounded great as I could work part time and ease myself back in to it, and the advisors would help me find something suitable for my needs. So, I came home and rang the helpline and put in my claim, but I'm just really confused about the whole thing. I said I wanted to start my claim from January 5th (the day after my notice ran out), then I was told I could certify myself and I needed a doctors note? But do I need a doctors note for the whole time I am on ESA? how does it all work? When do I hear back and how soon will the payments be?

I'm sorry to be such a pain and sound so clueless but any help you have would be incredible, and I hope everyone is having a good day,

Hex

Cpt.Scarlet

You need Fit Note(s) to cover you from the start of your claim until a decision is made on it, should be around 13 weeks, but some areas are struggling because of work load so might be a slightly longer.

Hex352

That makes it clearer, thank you CS. they explained it will take a little longer than usual, but that is okay. Does this mean you wait for 13 weeks ( or however long it takes ) until you receive any payments ( if you're successful ) ? Thank you

Hex

rogerblack

In addition.
If you can get a backdated medical note to cover the period, ESA can be backdated up to 3 months.

Once your claim is processed initially, you get paid the 3 months assessment rate, then at assessment rate until your assessment of work capability (around the 13th week).

The initial processing takes perhaps a week or two at most, if you can supply a medical note.
Payments, and any back-payments then start at the assessment rate of 65 for a single adult.