ESA how long does it take to come through!

queenie999

I had to sign off IS as my youngest daughter turned 6 at the end of june, i was due to go onto JSA. I am currently 25 wks pregnant but when i went to sign on i was 22wks and having lots of problems so i got a sick note from my doctor, i took this in on my signing on day and they told me i had to claim ESA, i rang benefit office up and went through all the forms with them and they said they would put my claim through, sent me some paperwork and i had to send in sick note which i did on the 10th July.... i havent heard anything back since. Today i got a letter to say that they could pay me JSA??? I dont understand it. I tried to ring them today but was on hold for over 8mins and was using a mobile so disconnected it. Anyone know how long it takes to go through as skint isnt the word!! Thanks

epitome

ESA can take up to 14 working days (3 weeks), but they won't pay it untill your jsa is closed.

I assume your jsa is allowed because the advisor still processed your claim, you are allowed 2 weeks of jsa on the sick.

If you don't return to the jobcentre for your signing appt your jsa will close.

You will now find yourself in the nightmare of being stuck betweeen two claims jsa/esa

I would phone up ESA ask for a call back from benefit centre, explain the situation with the jsa claim, ask them if I close the JSA so it never existed will I get ESA from the start of my ESA claim?

Then depending what you are told phone JSA and ask JSA to close from whatever date ESA tells you to close it from.

You will need to continually supply sick notes to remain on ESA.

When you are 11 weeks before due date you might as well switch onto Income Support.

Robbie64

ESA for the first 13 weeks is paid at the same rate as JSA so I would let the JSA claim go through. There's no point in making two claims for benefit at the same time. In two weeks time at the most you will be able to go back onto Income Support. That would be a third benefit for you claim, it's not worth all the hassle.

epitome

If she has missed her first signing JSA will not pay anything, needs to speak to advisor in Jobcentre urgently if considering staying on JSA and having the 1st 2 weeks on the sick...

Robbie64

epitome wrote: »

If she has missed her first signing JSA will not pay anything, needs to speak to advisor in Jobcentre urgently if considering staying on JSA and having the 1st 2 weeks on the sick...

If she's got a letter saying she could get JSA it would suggest she either has signed on or her first signing date hasn't yet happened.

But I agree, she needs to speak to an advisor in the JC though she shouldn't say she's not looking for a job (if this is the case) as her claim for JSA would be suspended.