Long term sick

p00

A friend of mine has been off work for 12 weeks now and it looks like she may be off for some time. I wont go into her health problems but she receives low rate DLA already and has been paid SSP from her employer for the 12 weeks. Her fit note is renewable early March.

She is asking me (I work in payroll but still dont know the answers myself) if she is now off work indefinitely what happens after 28 weeks.

Does she get ESA from DWP and still gets her DLA on top or does the DLA stop if she claims ESA.

I have said that maybe she should look into applying to change from low rate DLA to high but she is worried sick that with all the problems going on with PIP she will loose it altogether and have to appeal and have all the worries that involves.

So simply if she has to claim ESA for long term sick will that affect the DLA she already gets?

Thanks for your help. Sorry if I make it look complicated but why are benefit things so difficult to understand. I certainly dont want to give her any information that would be wrong.

xxp00

nannytone_2

she can claim both DLA and ESA at the same time

Mr_Lawnmower

She might be able to report a change of circumstances for DLA and remain under DLA rules for now. I've posted a detailed explanation of the DLA to PIP reassessment situation in the sticky PIP thread on the Benefits board at Youreable (sorry - I can't post a link as a newbie here).

p00

What are the circumstances for ,might, be able to stay on DLA? I assume that would be until she had to be reassessed for the PIP change over.
Wouldnt just applying for a change of circumstances mean having to change to PIP just on the grounds of notifying them?

help4help2013

if she says her conditions have worsened and wants to inform DLA of this then she may be assessed for PIP and have to go for a medical.

a friend of mine recently reported a change in his circumstances to the DLA as he felt he needed more care he was called for a medical a few weeks later and is now awaiting the decision from this

Mr_Lawnmower

p00 wrote: »

What are the circumstances for ,might, be able to stay on DLA? I assume that would be until she had to be reassessed for the PIP change over.
Wouldnt just applying for a change of circumstances mean having to change to PIP just on the grounds of notifying them?

A existing DLA recipient reporting a change if circumstance triggers an unstoppable reassessment to PIP if they are 16 or over, were under 65 on 8 April 2013, and are in an area where 'natural reassessment' is live.