ESA Appeal and Fit Notes

lolita2013

I had my ESA Appeal yesterday and was awarded 15 points and kept in the WRAG Group with no other assesments for 18 months. I also have a Fit Note that runs out on 12 th of March. On the 29th of March my ESA Contributions payments will be ending because of the 365 rule. I have a question - Do I still have to send in Fit Notes? I will not be able to claim Income based ESA as my husband works full time and I wont be in a position to seek work until I have finished a Pain Management Course at the beginning of April and only with a lot of help of a Disability Officer who will take on board my limitations. Thanks in advance.

rogerblack

In principle, you do not need to send fit notes.

In practice - if the DWP do not have a fit note up until they noticed that your ESA tribunal has happened - and you have won it - then ESA may stop.
However - this shouldn't be a problem, if they have till 12th March.
(I am assuming that you are on assessment rate).

If your condition worsens - you can apply for support group, and payment would resume, if you don't stop the ESA claim. But with luck, you're getting better!

lolita2013

Thankyou Roger for your reply. I am on the Assessment Rate. If I don't hear anything by the first week of March then I will return to my GP and explain that I am at last on the Pain Management Course and he may issue me with another Fit Note until the Course has been completed and then I will hopefully be able to make an Appointment with the Disability Advisor in my local Job Center.

Raksha

I believe I'm right in saying that once your 365 days contributions based benefuts are up, being in WRAG means you won't get anything even if you are supplying fit notes, perhaps Rogerblack can confirm?

rogerblack

Raksha wrote: »

I believe I'm right in saying that once your 365 days contributions based benefuts are up, being in WRAG means you won't get anything even if you are supplying fit notes, perhaps Rogerblack can confirm?

Not quite 'nothing' - you get your stamp paid - and if your condition later worsens, you can become entitled to ESA again.

However - if you remain in the work-related group, and have household income more than ~150 or so - then yes - payment will generally stop.
You do not normally need to supply fit-notes during an ESA claim - only if you have been found fit for work and are appealing this decision.

Raksha

But if, like me, you already have more than the necessary number of years of NI contributions, there is no benefit in being in WRAG at all

skintmacflint

Raksha wrote: »

But if, like me, you already have more than the necessary number of years of NI contributions, there is no benefit in being in WRAG at all

Except while in WRAG your conts are still being paid, and as long as you attend your assessments, if at a later one you're awarded Support Group, payments would restart.