Questions on first ESA claim.

sofaman

Hi. Just a quick question regarding ESA.

A Dr has advised me to claim ESA due to an ongoing illness. If I apply for ESA, how long would I have to wait for the initial payment (assuming one is made)?

I've read that the £70 per week for initial assessment is only for 13-weeks - is this set in stone, or can it take longer?

Finally, I need to see the Dr to get a sickness cert. Should I send off the application now, or wait a couple of weeks until I get the cert? I'd thought making a claim asap is paramount in getting the ball rolling.

benefitbaby

Make the claim immediately as the JCP will write and request med cert.
The assessment phase is only supposed to be 13 weeks but can be shorter (or more typically) longer howeer if you pass the work capability assessment (WCA) and work-related activity component or support group component is backdated to the first day of the 14th week.

It would be helpful for you to understand the qualifying criteria to check you will actually pass the WCA, you need 15 points to have a 'limited capability for work' and if you have this you will remain on ESA. You will then be assessed to see if you meet the support group criteria.

Descriptors are here: http://www.tameside.gov.uk/esa/wca

rogerblack

benefitbaby wrote: »

Descriptors are here: http://www.tameside.gov.uk/esa/wca

These descriptors are somewhat out of date.

The ESA214 leaflet from http://www.dwp.gov.uk/employment-and-support/ - http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@disabled/documents/digitalasset/dg_177366.pdf contains the recent descriptors.

There are important changes for some people.

sofaman

Ok, thanks you two!

I've looked at the descriptors and I should qualify under several (whether I'm accepted is an entirely different matter!).

Assuming I'm accepted during the assessment phase (first 13-weeks), roughly how long would the first payment take to arrive?

zzzLazyDaisy

Also be aware that there are two types of ESA.

CB ESA is paid if you have the relevant NI contributions and is not means tested, but is only paid for 52 weeks.

IR ESA is means tested - so if you have a working partner you may not receive ESA even if you do meet the descriptors.

iluvmarmite

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Also be aware that there are two types of ESA.

IB ESA is paid if you have the relevant NI contributions and is not means tested, but is only paid for 52 weeks.

IR ESA is means tested - so if you have a working partner you may not receive ESA even if you do meet the descriptors.

Income based is only paid for 52 weeks?? I changed from contribution based to income based ESA in April, so does that mean after 52 weeks it stops? It didn't say anything about that on my letter, just that I'd changed from contribution based to income based.

zzzLazyDaisy

Sorry, that was a typo.

CB (contributions based) ESA is paid only for 12 months if you have the relevant contributions.

IR (income related) ESA is means tested, and is not limited in time.

nicelittlefella1974

what happens if,like me,I get CB and IR? Does one stop and the other continue after 12 months?

zzzLazyDaisy

At the moment you get CB ESA topped up by Income Support (IS). The CB ESA will stop, but converts to IR ESA.

In practice you should get a letter telling you about the change over, but for all practical purposes your money should stay the same.

sofaman

Also, how far back can a person get ESA backdated? Could someone advise roughly how long would the first ESA payment be made?

Thanks.

rogerblack

sofaman wrote: »

Also, how far back can a person get ESA backdated? Could someone advise roughly how long would the first ESA payment be made?

Thanks.

It can be backdated three months from the date of claim - if there is a doctors note, and the conditions of entitlement were met.
(For example, you can't backdate if you were claiming SSP, or in prison).
First payment is typically within a couple of weeks of submitting the forms.