JSA to ESA how does it work

graduate2012

mikey_bach wrote: »

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...

Thanks, I am going to see my doctor next week. I think I will have to apply for ESA, before I sign on next week, as my work programme advisor has asked me to do it for weeks but I didn't feel I wanted to, don't want to feel like I am making excuses and wasn't originally sure whether my issues were appropriate to be applying for ESA etc. If I apply for ESA, and sign off JSA, say,t he day before I sign on, will I lose say 13 days worth of benefit? or will I get that?

Thanks for your reply