ESA Sick Notes and where to send?

bujin

Hi. My daughter has begun claiming ESA and has been in the assessment phase. When she first applied she gave our address but from Sept 1st she'll be at her new address in a different city. She has sent her ESA50 form back with the new address. She has to send another sick note and we're not sure where she sends it, the only other one was sent with the original application form.
Obviously she's been told to send it to the Office dealing with her claim but with the new address we're not sure where that will be and who we can find out from quickly.
Also as sick notes run out on a specific dayhow can you get a sick note in advance to cover when the sick note hasn't run out yet. Hope that makes sense.Thanks.

Indie_Kid

You should be able to get a sick note in advance. Not sure about what happens if you move though.

janiebquick

I think they are all sent to the same place in Gateshead, but I could be wrong. You could always ring and ask.

Don't worry about the sick note running out. They do give you a bit of leeway to get the sick note to them, so this isn't a problem. I would advise you always to get a photocopy before you send them off though.

nannytone_2

my GP, and many others will not issue a sick note in advance.
mine ran out on a saturday and i had to wait until the monday to get a new one.
it really doesnt matter if she sends the xick note to the old address as it will still be entered onto the system and she will be covered

TELLIT01

She needs to phone the 0845 / 0345 number to inform ESA that she has moved house, but she can only do that once she has moved. They won't accept advance notification of address change. For the time being send the sick note to the address she already has. If the claim has been moved to a different office by the time the sick note arrives it will be forwarded from the receiving office.
DWP does have a centralised sorting facility but the documents received there are then sent on to the relevant processing office. That office is unlikely to remain unchanged if your daughter has moved to another area.
When she phones to inform them of her change of address she can ask for a couple of freepost envelopes at the same time.
Some surgeries will issue new certificates a few days in advance, particularly if they know it is to support a benefit claim. It shouldn't be a problem anyway because current practice at the processing offices is to advance the end date of the certificate to the next pay date (if that is within 10 days) so she should have plenty of time to get a new one in.

bujin

Okay that seems sensible to keep things as they are until she actually moves and that there seems to be a slight extension in terms of payments.

I'm guessing the address to send it to should be on her initial award? If we can't find that, is there any way of finding out where she should send it?

TELLIT01

If you can't find the info just call 0800 055 6688 and they should be able to tell you.

bujin

Thanks for your help.

Scotsman-5

janiebquick wrote: »

I think they are all sent to the same place in Gateshead, but I could be wrong. You could always ring and ask.

Don't worry about the sick note running out. They do give you a bit of leeway to get the sick note to them, so this isn't a problem. I would advise you always to get a photocopy before you send them off though.

well that was not my experience - I sent a 3 month note in and it was lost in the system ' and on the day the old one ran out the DWP Computer contacted my local Council and they suspended my Housing Benefit ' even although I had proof the envelope was signed for by the DWP ' - the DWP did admit it had arrived before the old one ran out but it still took me Six weeks to get the Council to accept I was not to blame and switch Housing Benefit back on - sure I did not lose anything but only because I had savings to pay the rent while it was sorted out - it may be different where you live but its a risky gamble to make that they will give you any leeway - amazingly it took the DWP 12 days to track down the envelope and it was in their office all that time. I always made a point of getting a new note two weeks before the old one ran out just to cover any delays.

nannytone_2

as stated, my sick note ran out on the saturday and i couldnt get a new one until the monday.
i phoned DWP a week or so before the sick note ran out, after the doctors had told me they wouldnt pre date one for me.
DWP said not to worry, but to take it into the JC as soon as i got it and they would fax it over and then i could pop the original in the post.
i did this and had no delay in payment.
a sick note being lost in the system is a totally different thing from sending it in late ( for good reason)
i always send anything to the DWP by recorded delivery just to cover myself

TELLIT01

Taking the sick note to the JobCentre is an option but they may refuse to see you if you don't make an appointment first.