Employment and Support Allowance question Please Help

jord01455

Morning Everyone

I was forced to leave my job at the end of February after my anxiety got worse. The doctor signed me off as I was unfit for work. I applied and started to receive ESA contribution based. A couple of weeks after that I got my medical questionnaire from ATOS that I filled in and sent of as requested. Since then I've been unable to work and received the standard benefit. I had a ATOS medical in the middle of august and I was advised then I needed more support. Last week I got a phonecall from the DWP and after a long chat they have decided to put me on the support group and I won't hear from them for another 12 months. Having just received my conformation of this my benefits aren't going up and I'm getting no back dated benefits. Is this correct?

pmlindyloo

Since you have been put in the support group of ESA then your contribution based benefit should continue.

Plus, it should be more money and backdated to week 13/14 of your claim.

Telephone them and find out why it isn't being backdated.

What exactly does it say on the letter?

Horseunderwater

Support group rate £108.15 & SG component is £35.75/week , so yo should get the £35.75 x approx 12-14 weeks in back pay. Worked out roughly as I do not know exact date in feb that you went sick. But you should be able to work it out.
If you have little or no savings live on your own & think it may be a long term thing it might be better to go on income related ESA as this gives you more money & other help.

jord01455

My letter says I will continue to receive £72.40 until next March when it will stop. No mention of support group on it or the working group

rogerblack

how long ago was the call? how long after this was the letter?
It's possible the letter you got is just a reminder, and that the letter following the decision hasn't got to you yet.

TELLIT01

Horseunderwater wrote: »

If you have little or no savings live on your own & think it may be a long term thing it might be better to go on income related ESA as this gives you more money & other help.

You can't choose to go onto Income Related benefit is you satisfy the conditions for Contribution based. That only becomes a factor once your 12 month period on conts ends (if you are currently receiving conts based benefit)

TELLIT01

rogerblack wrote: »

how long ago was the call? how long after this was the letter?
It's possible the letter you got is just a reminder, and that the letter following the decision hasn't got to you yet.

That my my initial thought too. I would still phone them asap to get things cleared up.

jord01455

rogerblack wrote: »

how long ago was the call? how long after this was the letter?
It's possible the letter you got is just a reminder, and that the letter following the decision hasn't got to you yet.

The call was 11am Monday Morning 1st Sept and the letter is dated on Tuesday 2nd sept.
I remember it was 11 because they rang at 10 but I didn't pick the phone up not knowing who it was and they left a message saying they would ring at 11and I must pick up the phone

rogerblack

jord01455 wrote: »

The call was 11am Monday Morning 1st Sept and the letter is dated on Tuesday 2nd sept.
I remember it was 11 because they rang at 10 but I didn't pick the phone up not knowing who it was and they left a message saying they would ring at 11and I must pick up the phone

In that case, the above seems very likely. If you don't get anything by say Wednesday - call them up and ask.