JSA to ESA as got fit note not fit for work

UKaiser

Hi folks, ive been reading around to find out what experiences other people have had when transfering from JSA to ESA and keep wondering what kind of delays and hickups to expect as moneys tight already having been on JSA for 6 months.

Advised to go on ESA by jobcentre as have bad back limits what i can do, painfull at times! Had 2 interviews, no luck its tough out there. Anyway, got my fit note today signed off not fit to work and going to hand in this week just wondering what to expect.

Please share your storys I would love to hear what happens to your payments, do they stop or delay that when going on ESA? its a worry....
im due to sign ont his week and will hand the note in then so will i still get my last two weeks money ok?


Thanks in advance...

HB58

Your sick note will be enough to get you into the assessment phase of ESA. This is supposed to last for 13 weeks, but can take considerably longer.You must keep sending in certs until a decison has been made on your claim. At some stage you will be sent an ESA50 form and will have 4 weeks to get it back. Send in any medical evidence you have at this stage. You will probably be sent for a face-to-face assessment too.

Be warned that eligibility for the main phase of ESA depends entirely on meeting rigorous criteria. The fact that you have limits on your work capability is not enough, you must be assessed as unfit to carry out any work. 'Painful at times' is unlikely to be enough - unless that is a huge understatement!

It will be worth finding and downloading the descriptors before you receive your ESA50, then you will have an idea of the questions and how you might fit the criteria.

Good luck!

princessdon

Are you not fit for any form of work given prior to your redundancy you worked without issue, is your back problem a new issue?

UKaiser

Have worked all my life since leaving college what 15 yrs ago. I was made redundant last year for the second time and thankfully so because i was almost crippling myself lifting stuff about daily and having to spend way to much time on my feet. My problem is disc degeneration, i have two prolapsed discs in lower back meaning i cant stand or walk much longer that 10 minutes without severe pain. Any prolonged manual handling or walking, standing causes me to get progressively worse ubtill its to painfull to even sleep. T^he last 6 months on jsa have been the most pain free in years, makes me realise i do have a problem.Was diagnosed four years ago and have tried to keep working but now realise manual work is out and since its all ive ever done really im screwed the way things are like many. I could do a desk job and said as such to my doctor but his opinion was not fit at all, said it was best for me because i get well stressed when in pain.

miduck

I do think you will struggle with ESA - I would suggest looking at the descriptors before choosing to transfer.

UKaiser

Do you know hat happens to SMI during all this and especially if refused ESA and going back to JSA does the 13 week wait start again?

UKaiser

miduck wrote: »

I do think you will struggle with ESA - I would suggest looking at the descriptors before choosing to transfer.

The trouble is i have severly limited options for employment due to my disabaility and lack of experience and skills, no funds to retrain and like most have debts and a criminal record all excluding me from employment oppurtunites, i have been turned down for jobs on these grounds, between a rock and hard place i think the saying is.

Definatley plan to look at the descriptors, sensible to do that but got 13 weeks or more i think.

UKaiser

Read the descriptors this morning and see what barriers there are but at end of day if somebody wants to get punched in the face then all they have to do is make me stand or walk for a few minutes, its that simple thats how painful disc degeneration is! The way this tory led governemnt is going they will have us all euthanized after 6 months daring to claim any benefit!