ESA: the idiots guide please :)

LL30

Good evening,

I posted a little while ago after having been newly diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, and struggling (on many different levels!). Unfortunately, things are no better but the hospital are taking action by putting me on MTX injections as they hope I will be able to tolerate these. I am not well at all and had to go ahead and quit my job - I just couldn't keep up with it and they couldn't offer a suitable alternative role. As awful as I feel about this, I am feeling much better for having made the decision and taking that additional pressure away from myself so that I can focus on getting better.

I am starting my MA in September (?! - I will be well enough to do it! I hope!) So I have a few months to focus on taking care of myself and getting better. The question is, do I apply for ESA? Everything that I read is so negative, that I fear that it would hinder my attempts to get better - I don't want to spend this time fighting stupid systems and getting wound up, I want some TLC I understand that there are 2 types (C) and (I), I think would have enough contributions to fulfil the criteria, but as a single Mum, I suspect I'd be eligible for income related anyway?

Sorry, going off on a tangent there...DLA form has been submitted, if i get it, I get it, if I don't, I don't - it was a simple process, so it didn't bother me. ESA, on the other hand, petrifies me :S So, lovely people, please enlighten me - what is the process and what would you do in my position? Finances are taken care of (as long as nothing at all goes wrong :S) until Sept btw.

Thank you xx

rogerblack

LL30 wrote: »

I suspect I'd be eligible for income related anyway?

Sorry, going off on a tangent there...DLA form has been submitted, if i get it, I get it, if I don't, I don't

Assuming you're over 19.

You can only claim ESA(IR) as a full-time student if you're getting DLA.

ESA(C) may be payable, even if you're in full-time education, but unless you get into the support group, this will be for a maximum of one year.

Owain_Moneysaver

If you are not fit enough to work, and claim JSA, then you should claim ESA.

Assuming your claim would end in Sept when you start your MA, you'll probably find you can get 3 months on ESA just on your doctor's notes without having to complete the full ESA50 or attend a medical.

LL30

Yes, I figured that there would be lots of grey areas that I don't know about. The University said that I should be able to get ESA whilst doing my MA - seems strange to me, but there we go. The MA provides me with a bursary, which will leave things tight, but do able - someone mentioned to me that if I had paid my contributions, I should apply for (c) as I'm 'entitled' and it would help the finances during my MA.

Is it the same process to get (C) and (IR)? Or are they treated differently? I just don't know whether it's worth the stress. I don't think I can cope with more poking and prodding! Also, I'm concerned that if I did get ESA (C) then this would be taken into account for housing benefit purposes, and therefore I wouldn't be any better off anyway!

I don't understand the process, or what impacts on what and as always with benefits, it's a minefield. If it was straight forward, I'd just do it, but my focus needs to be on myself, and getting better. Is there an easy to read breakdown anywhere? I need to weigh things up before I decide to open or close the door.