Employment & Support Allowance

benefitbaby

For a full overview of ESA see:
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/illness,_injury_and_disability/esa.aspx

Good luck and remember to keep sending in those sick notes you will need to do this until you pass the work capability assessment to ensure you continue receiving payments.

aloneinthedark

Cheers guys for the replies! so correct me if im wrong please,

as above, I'm self certified for the first 7 days, but I still need to get a sick note from the doc, and then from the week after (13th) I need a sick note to cover me weekly? or a sick note covering me for the whole period up until assessment (week 13-14)?

Torry_Quine

aloneinthedark wrote: »

Cheers guys for the replies! so correct me if im wrong please,

as above, I'm self certified for the first 7 days, but I still need to get a sick note from the doc, and then from the week after (13th) I need a sick note to cover me weekly? or a sick note covering me for the whole period up until assessment (week 13-14)?

You can get a fit-note for longer than a week, the maximum time for the first one is three months.

aloneinthedark

Torry_Quine wrote: »

You can get a fit-note for longer than a week, the maximum time for the first one is three months.

so I need to ask the doctor for a fit-note from the 6th - 13th, 14th - 21st, 22nd - 29th, 30th - 6th) and then keep getting another one weekly? or?? (sorry new to this stuff :P)

Torry_Quine

aloneinthedark wrote: »

so I need to ask the doctor for a fit-note from the 6th - 13th, 14th - 21st, 22nd - 29th, 30th - 6th) and then keep getting another one weekly? or?? (sorry new to this stuff :P)

No you can get one note for any time period up to 3 months. Of course it's entirely up to your GP how long they give you one for.

aloneinthedark

Torry_Quine wrote: »

No you can get one note for any time period up to 3 months. Of course it's entirely up to your GP how long they give you one for.

I made myself sound silly, I get you thank you very much, 25 hours on and your still helping out haha

Parva

The first 3 months of ESA can be done relatively easily with 'fit-notes' from the doctor, these are paid at standard JSA rates although you don't have to sign-on and be actively seeking work. Now I don't want to burst your bubble but you will get the ESA50 form towards the end of the 'assessment' period and this is where it could become tricky for you.

You will be assessed on the answers you have given and will either be automatically be placed into one of two groups (the WRAG or the Support group) or you will be called in for a medical. Being totally honest, being overweight (or obese) is not an automatic qualifier. You need to check the descriptors and see if you fail any of these.

Given your circumstances (and this is my opinion, not fact) I would say it's likely that they will find you fit for work and you go back to JSA and the inevitable visits to the jobcentre. Either way, you only get 3 months grace via 'fit-notes' and then it's back to JSA unless you have satisfied them that you qualify for ESA beyond the 3 month assessment period.

Sorry.

epitome

Parva wrote: »

Now I don't want to burst your bubble but you will get the ESA50 form towards the end of the 'assessment' period and this is where it could become tricky for you.

The ESA50 can arrive in week 2 onwards.

Either way, you only get 3 months grace via 'fit-notes' and then it's back to JSA unless you have satisfied them that you qualify for ESA beyond the 3 month assessment period.

Sorry.

After failing assessment she can appeal (at assessment rate) with further sicknotes until tribunal which can take 4 - 14 months.

If appeal is longer than 6 months can make new claim to ESA with sicknotes even if loses appeal.

The only real issue is how long the doctor is prepared to provide sick notes for. As long as you get sick notes you will almost indefinatly be able to get ESA.

LadyMorticia

No advice for you, but just want to say that I hope that you get the anxiety to a manageable level. I have Generalised Anxiety Disorder and I know how horrible anxiety is and how hard it is to step outside the front door. I hope that the GP can help you, either by referring you for therapy or trying different medications. x

zombieb

Just wanted to say that I went for my medical after suffering from anxiety etc and was told repeatedly by jc staff to go on ESA.
Ive failed and had to wait 3weeks fora response and the letter says my benefit stopped two weeks ago.
In my experience, my benefits were the same amount on jsa and ESA but being on ESA stressed me out more not knowing when I was getting paid and if they had my sicknotes and going to my medical and failing my medical.