JSA to ESA how does it work

graduate2012

Hi everyone,

I've been told by my work programme advisor that I should apply for ESA, as I am not currently ready for work, I am very depressed and also feel as though I cannot do anything, I feel as though I can't even do simple tasks and sometimes can barely string a sentence together and I feel like I am getting more stupid as the days go on.

If I sign off JSA, and then apply for ESA, what happens to the JSA that I a?m owed, say if I sign off and on to ESA, two days before I sign on, I guess I wouldn't sign on on my usual day, so how would I receive the money?

How long would I be without any kind of benefit, can it take up to 3 weeks for the application to be processed? I think I read that somewhere, I assume the benefit would be paid from the day I apply rather than the day the application is completed?

Is it possible to sign off and apply to ESA on the phone or do I need to go into the job centre. My work programme advisor seems to think I need to tell the job centre, in person.



I am also concerned about the assessment, from what I have read online it seems as though almost everyone fails. If I do fail, can I go back onto JSA? Is it a simple process?

I am confused at what to do, my advisor says apply for ESA, I think in some situations I would be ready for work, I feel I would be ready for some jobs where the work is very simple and I don't have to do much thinking. I feel as though any job which is more challenging I would panic with every task given to me. So I feel ready-ish for work in some jobs, but not in others. Should I apply for ESA? I don't know what to do


Would really appreciate some advice

Thank you

aimee0763

[FONT=&quot]This sound very similar to my neighbour's except he was not told to claim for esa, he was just told he is no way near ready to participate into any work program, so looks like you have a decent work programmer that is not worry about his/her bonus[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]If I were you get a letter from your work provider straight away and have written in that letter what he/she told you and then send that letter to your dwp adviser with your gp sick note by first class recorded delivery, then claim esa straightaway.

Your JSA will stop and it would be a while before you receive any money but there is money you can receive in meantime it's call Short Term Advance Benefits, what you do is call the dwp and then they'll pass your message onto the decision maker where someone will make a decision whether you are entitle for that money or not, they usually call back within the next day. If you are refused, you cannot appeal I am afraid.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]It will be paid from the day you are awarded esa, you will have to attend a-face-to-face-assessment first before you'll know you will receive any esa, there are esa work activity group and esa support group where you do not attend those work program[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Do not ever apply for esa via the phone, get professional help from CAB if the one in your area are any good, or welfare rights in your area. Always write a letter to the dwp and make sure you keep copies of everything, telling the dwp in person they might not make a note of what you've said to them.

Also very important get a sick note from you GP first and send that together with your letter from the work programmer to the dwp, you should have a letter from your work provider and the sick note from your GP, make sure you tell your gp that you are worse off and cannot attend the work program, he'll need to put on the sick note that you cannot attend the work program and that you are unfit for work. When you've filled in your esa50 make copy of it again send it by first class recorded delivery.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Because ESA is a benefit that meant to take everyone off benefits, when you fill in your esa50 you need to say how your day to day affect you, what you can or can't do. Nothing is as simple with the dwp, I can help and explain how to fill in the esa form, I am no expert but if you need help just ask, I have two neighbours with the same illness as you, I've helped filling in their forms with the help of two professionals.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]You should apply for esa as soon as you can, there are facts based that people with mental illness who has returned to work actually suffered more with their illnesses and need more help than they did when they were not working.[/FONT][FONT=&quot] Do not apply for esa until your advisor give you a written letter of what he/she said that you are not ready for work program. I have on voice recorded for one of my neighbour the work provider said he cannot attend any work program as yet and it will be a very long time. It is important you keep record of everything.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I hope this helps.[/FONT]

graduate2012

Thanks so much for your reply. I think I remember reading somewhere that the assessment isn't until the 13th week after application, does this mean I will receive no benefit for 13 weeks? Or is the assessment date soon after I apply for ESA?

I am worried about how long I will be without money, when I stop claiming JSA to when i start claiming ESA.

Also, say if I stop claiming JSA the day before I sign on, will I receive 13 days of benefits? or does it not work like that?

Sorry for all the questions
Many thanks again

nannytone_2

you would receive the assessment rate, and that is the same amount as JSA.

just go to your GP, and if they are willing to give you a fit note, rgwb it should all be seamless.

raje the fit note to the jobcentre and they can fax it across to ESA.
you will receove assessment rate from the date of the claim, so there will be no outstanding payment fro, HSA

aimee0763

graduate2012 wrote: »

Thanks so much for your reply. I think I remember reading somewhere that the assessment isn't until the 13th week after application, does this mean I will receive no benefit for 13 weeks? Or is the assessment date soon after I apply for ESA?

I am worried about how long I will be without money, when I stop claiming JSA to when i start claiming ESA.

Also, say if I stop claiming JSA the day before I sign on, will I receive 13 days of benefits? or does it not work like that?

Sorry for all the questions
Many thanks again

Please do not worry ask as much questions as you like, before you stop your JSA it's best to seek advice from benefit professional, CAB, Welfare Rights etc. As you haven't got a sick note from your gp just carry on signing on. You will only receive money when you sign on, if you don't sign on you will receive nothing.

What happened to my neighbour is that she got a sick note from her gp to say she is unfit for work, she is now in the process to apply for esa, she was told by her adviser that her jsa will stop but that's because her adviser received her gp sick note together with a letter saying she is now claiming for esa.

Your first call is at your GP surgery before you stop your JSA the gp need to say you are unfit for work.

aimee0763

nannytone wrote: »

you would receive the assessment rate, and that is the same amount as JSA.

just go to your GP, and if they are willing to give you a fit note, rgwb it should all be seamless.

raje the fit note to the jobcentre and they can fax it across to ESA.
you will receove assessment rate from the date of the claim, so there will be no outstanding payment fro, HSA

I wouldn't trust the job centre to do anything, also if she is unfit for work going to the job centre herself will not help with her esa, if she is unfit for work that mean she cannot go out and about on her own due to her depression made worse. She need to get someone to do it all for her that's what I've done for both my neighbours, if you are unfit for work then you'll be in the support group ideally and being in the support group you need to cannot cope with anything.

jacques_chirac

aimee0763 wrote: »

I wouldn't trust the job centre to do anything, also if she is unfit for work going to the job centre herself will not help with her esa, if she is unfit for work that mean she cannot go out and about on her own due to her depression made worse. She need to get someone to do it all for her that's what I've done for both my neighbours, if you are unfit for work then you'll be in the support group ideally and being in the support group you need to cannot cope with anything.

Where has the OP said she is unable to go out alone? Depression can affect people very differently, and there is nothing in the OP to suggest the above.

mikey_bach

OP if you need to claim ESA and come off JSA.
The day after you are paid your JSA, ring the contact center and claim ESA,
you can self certificate for the first week.
You can then ring JSA and tell them you have claimed ESA. You will need to visit your doctor and get a sick note to send to ESA.
You will be on the same money as JSA usually for the first thirteen weeks providing you keep your sick notes up to date
After that you should be assessed and go in the Support Group or Wrag.
If you dont tell JSA you have claimed ESA and just fail to attend the next signing things can take longer.
Your JSA has to be closed before they can process ESA so best to inform JSA.
Its not a hard process and you will be ok...

aimee0763

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Where has the OP said she is unable to go out alone? Depression can affect people very differently, and there is nothing in the OP to suggest the above.

I am talking about the dwp regime, if you can get yourself to any place and communicate with people, you'll be find fit for work and will not be put on esa be it if she is put on esa work group she will have to attend back to work program which very quickly the dwp will get you back on jsa.

If you can use one finger to make a phone call, you are find fit for work, the OP want to claim esa because she been told by her adviser that she is not ready for work. My neighbour went to the job centre to sort out her benefit claim and got a grilling from her dwp adviser and was put in the job queue things changed for her because her gp gave her a sick note and was told not to go to the job centre.

nannytone_2

aimee0763 wrote: »

I am talking about the dwp regime, if you can get yourself to any place and communicate with people, you'll be find fit for work and will not be put on esa be it if she is put on esa work group she will have to attend back to work program which very quickly the dwp will get you back on jsa.

If you can use one finger to make a phone call, you are find fit for work, the OP want to claim esa because she been told by her adviser that she is not ready for work. My neighbour went to the job centre to sort out her benefit claim and got a grilling from her dwp adviser and was put in the job queue things changed for her because her gp gave her a sick note and was told not to go to the job centre.

you are scaremongering! you have no personal experience of the system, uet feel it is ok to repeat stories you have heard as if they are the norm.

for the vast majority of ESA claimants, the system works perfectly well.
i have claimed ESA for the past 2 years, and go into the job centre on a weekly basis, through choice.
shock horror! no one has tried to stop my benefit or to say that i could go to work tomorrow!
in fact they greet me by name and tell me if there are any courses etc that may interest me

your posts could be worrying to the OP, who is clearly nulnerable at the moment, and are just plain untrue!

jacques_chirac

aimee0763 wrote: »

I am talking about the dwp regime, if you can get yourself to any place and communicate with people, you'll be find fit for work and will not be put on esa be it if she is put on esa work group she will have to attend back to work program which very quickly the dwp will get you back on jsa.

If you can use one finger to make a phone call, you are find fit for work, the OP want to claim esa because she been told by her adviser that she is not ready for work. My neighbour went to the job centre to sort out her benefit claim and got a grilling from her dwp adviser and was put in the job queue things changed for her because her gp gave her a sick note and was told not to go to the job centre.

Not just scaremongering, you are suggesting the OP lies and hence commits benefit fraud.

Given your contradictory posts on this and other forums, I am beginning to smell a troll.