ESA Medical Note Question

Jonj1611

Hi,

Just a quick question, if you pass the ESA medical, do you keep having to supply sick notes?

Thanks

Scotsman-5

some will say Yes and some will say No as it does appear to vary depending where you live.

You have to keep sending in sick notes until the DWP let you know they are no longer required.

In my situation all I got was a call from the DWP saying that ' I no longer had to send in sick notes ' - I asked them to put this in a letter and it took me three separate calls to get them to send a formal letter as I wanted proof just in case.

Even although I used to send sick notes in on time and paying extra for a tracking service on one occasion even although I had proof it was delivered before the deadline there appeared to be a delay within their postal unit and all of a sudden the DWP Computer had let my local Council know that I was no longer on ESA and all of a sudden I lost my Housing benefit - they were very quick to let them know but they were not so quick to let them know that I was back on ESA when they accepted that it had arrived in time so I had major hassle with the Council and it took me six weeks for the Council to accept I was still on ESA - so I am glad I no longer need to send them in.

Jonj1611

Ah right so even though you are put in either wrag or the support group you still need to send the notes?

Horseunderwater

No. Once you are assigned to a group you do mot need to keep sending in med3's.

Jonj1611

Ah right cool thank you

epitome

Scotsman-5 wrote: »

some will say Yes and some will say No as it does appear to vary depending where you live.

But those who say yes are wrong.

You have to keep sending in sick notes until the DWP let you know they are no longer required.

Wrong, you can stop sending them as soon as you are told by DWP you are in WRAG or SG. If Tribunal tells you you are in WRAG or SG you have to wait for DWP to agree with Tribunal.

In my situation all I got was a call from the DWP saying that ' I no longer had to send in sick notes ' - I asked them to put this in a letter and it took me three separate calls to get them to send a formal letter as I wanted proof just in case.

Why not just trust what they say? 3 or 4 calls all telling you the same thing "No, you don't have to send in sick notes" .... and you need it in writing? The proof would be in the pudding as soon as your med cert ran out you'd still be getting paid.

Even although I used to send sick notes in on time and paying extra for a tracking service on one occasion even although I had proof it was delivered before the deadline there appeared to be a delay within their postal unit and all of a sudden the DWP Computer had let my local Council know that I was no longer on ESA and all of a sudden I lost my Housing benefit - they were very quick to let them know but they were not so quick to let them know that I was back on ESA when they accepted that it had arrived in time so I had major hassle with the Council and it took me six weeks for the Council to accept I was still on ESA - so I am glad I no longer need to send them in.

DWP does not close or suspend a claim for a late med cert. Not for atleast 3 months or so. So a late med cert by a couple of weeks would not have been the cause of the HB problem....it would have been something else for example like the wrong home address on your med cert. Returned mail, late ESA50 etc...
It's your council who are being quick and slow to act not DWP.

TELLIT01

epitome wrote: »

DWP does not close or suspend a claim for a late med cert. Not for atleast 3 months or so. So a late med cert by a couple of weeks would not have been the cause of the HB problem....it would have been something else for example like the wrong home address on your med cert. Returned mail, late ESA50 etc...
It's your council who are being quick and slow to act not DWP.

Wrong! If there is no current medical certificate, and one is required (ie not in the WRAG or SG) then no payment will be released as there is no evidence of incapacity. ESA certs were routinely extended to the next payday if that was within 10 days of the end date of the certificate, and that may well still be happening. That means that the customer has a minimum of 2 weeks to get a certificate in. Even with the poor internal postal service that should be plenty of time.
The claim isn't suspended as such, the system simply doesn't release any payment until the new certificate is put onto the system. There would definitely be nothing sent to the council to tell them that the claim had ended or been formally suspended.

epitome

keitht53 wrote: »

Wrong! If there is no current medical certificate, and one is required (ie not in the WRAG or SG) then no payment will be released as there is no evidence of incapacity. ESA certs were routinely extended to the next payday if that was within 10 days of the end date of the certificate, and that may well still be happening. That means that the customer has a minimum of 2 weeks to get a certificate in. Even with the poor internal postal service that should be plenty of time.
The claim isn't suspended as such, the system simply doesn't release any payment until the new certificate is put onto the system. There would definitely be nothing sent to the council to tell them that the claim had ended or been formally suspended.

Which is exactly what I said, so why say I am wrong ...? I never said a payment would still go out if a claim had no valid med3.
I simply pointed out that a late med3 would not result in DWP informing the council, resulting in council stopping HB.....