ESA and JSA

Dark_Bark

to start with im claiming income based jsa but my work advisor wants me to attend a medical for anxiety or asperger's syndrome

now if i go to this medical and my work advisor switches me to esa off jsa will i be left with no money if i fail the esa medical as i currently live in a 1 bedroom flat on the under 25 income based jsa

and if i am left with no money then what?

im basically so confused as i have been browsing the web and i have seen people forced onto esa off jsa and failed the medical so how easy is it to hop between these 2 benefits

pmlindyloo

dark_bark wrote: »

to start with im claiming income based jsa but my work advisor wants me to attend a medical for anxiety or asperger's syndrome

now if i go to this medical and my work advisor switches me to esa off jsa will i be left with no money if i fail the esa medical as i currently live in a 1 bedroom flat on the under 25 income based jsa

and if i am left with no money then what?

im basically so confused as i have been browsing the web and i have seen people forced onto esa off jsa and failed the medical so how easy is it to hop between these 2 benefits

I am quite surprised that your work advisor has suggested this without giving you more information.

To be able to apply for ESA you will need fit notes (the old sick notes).

Is your doctor aware of your difficulties? Would he/she be will to provide you with fit notes? If you think they will then you need to make an appointment with your doctor if you want to apply for ESA.

When applying for ESA you will have 13 weeks in the assessment period before you get a medical. Have you doctors reports and other evidence of your difficulties because you will need these?

It is not just a case of applying for ESA because you are unfit for work. You need to meet the descriptors (google for these)

Also I do not understand about your being in a one bed place on the under 25 income based JSA.

Are you in council/housing association accommodation? Is your rent and council tax paid in full?

If you were transferred to ESA then as you are receiving income based JSA you would still be entitled to HB and CTB.

What has your advisor said that they think you should do?

Dark_Bark

during an interview on ad hoc hours i had a severe nervous break down when i was accepted for the job which has led the job centre to believe i have anxiety issues

as i also like to make my appointments on the same days and same times and always follow the same "routine" as they quoted it may be aspergers and we would like you to speak to your doctor to find out more

my doctor is currently unaware of this issue this appointment coming up is the start of the assessment

as for living alone on income based jsa i have a strict budgetting plan and have full Housing and council tax benefits

rogerblack

dark_bark wrote: »

to start with im claiming income based jsa but my work advisor wants me to attend a medical for anxiety or asperger's syndrome

I am unsure if medicals can be done for JSA.

Have you:
Had a specific direction you are to attend a medical on x/y/z.
Or has s/he just said 'I think you should claim ESA, and there will be a medical'.

As I understand it - if you are complying with all the jobseeking directions, he cannot force you to claim ESA.

Claiming ESA, when you are able to seek work is probably ill-advised - unless you are certain to be able to claim due to your disability.

You do not get ESA for asbergers, or for anxiety, only if it affects you to a level at which you can't do certain tasks.

If you are able to legitimately comply with work seeking directives, find your way to the jobcentre, see a stranger, then that would raise questions on if you are entitled.

Dark_Bark

Lynda told me that we will speak to darren and get you off this job if you agree to go see a doctor for anxiety and maybe pass you onto esa but i dont really have a clue how it works i can work but my advisor is determined to get me off jsa

rogerblack

dark_bark wrote: »

Lynda told me that we will speak to darren and get you off this job if you agree to go see a doctor for anxiety and maybe pass you onto esa but i dont really have a clue how it works i can work but my advisor is determined to get me off jsa

Firstly, you need to clarify exactly what she means.
It sounds like she is unsure of the regulations, and is passing you over to someone with more skills who may be better able to help you.
https://www.gov.uk/looking-for-work-if-youre-disabled/looking-for-a-job

I am unsure if it's the 'disability employment adviser' that would deal with modifying your jobseekers agreement to help you keep on being able to seek work.

As I understand it, you can't be forced to stop claiming JSA if you are keeping to the conditions.

Dark_Bark

after reading your link i can now see i am more likely to stay on jsa but be passed to a DEA (Disability Employment Advisor) if it comes off the doctors there is something wrong cheers for your help roger

jobseeking_help

dark_bark wrote: »

after reading your link i can now see i am more likely to stay on jsa but be passed to a DEA (Disability Employment Advisor) if it comes off the doctors there is something wrong cheers for your help roger

Dark Bark

Only you can transfer from JSA to ESA or vice versa. Even if the GP 'signs you off' whilst on JSA then you do not have to inform your adviser.

The advantage of being on ESA is that it takes away the requirement and stress of being required to be actively seeking employment and attending the jobcentre fortnightly.

My experience is that increasingly DEAs are only seeing claimants on ESA and JSA claimants with health issues are seeing mainstream JSA advisers.

I know there is a scheme called Work Choice for JSA claimants with health issues but have heard mixed feedback.

All the best

HB58

jobseeking_help wrote: »

The advantage of being on ESA is that it takes away the requirement and stress of being required to be actively seeking employment and attending the jobcentre fortnightly.

True - but ESA has its own stressors, including the ESA50 form, the WCA face-to-face assessment and the WFIs for those in the work Related ctivity Group.

epitome

If you were to swap to ESA (your decision not theirs, but if you remain on JSA they may sanction you until you conform to their rules)...Anyway if you claim ESA you will wait about 3 weeks while they sort out your claim , and you will need sickntes from you Dr for the duration of your ESA claim and this could mean intially for about 4 - 5 months until you are assessed and then if you fail the assessment then a further 8 - 12 months on appeal. and then if you lose the appeal you can claim ESA again but again will need to keep providing sick notes.

So worst case scenario -on ESA- you will be without payment for 3 - 4 weeks initially, and you will be requiring sick notes from your Dr for the rest of your benefit lifetime. Lots of letters will undoubtedly go missing, lots of sick notes will go missing meaning delays to your payments, but most of these problems will be resolved and your payments will be backdated to all that they owe you. The worst one will be if you don't get your assessment invite and don't attend and then your claim gets closed, or if you don't return your questionaire then your claim gets closed.

Dark_Bark

epitome wrote: »

If you were to swap to ESA (your decision not theirs, but if you remain on JSA they may sanction you until you conform to their rules)...

im already on income based jsa so how will they sanction me and will this mean if i cant actively seek work due to mental health i could lose my home and be penniless

this is the worry i have now