will handing my notice in for my job stop my ESA or effect any of my benefits?

lovemybabies

I have been off work at asda for nearly a year and a half now, due to suffering with severe anxiety ,bipolar disorder and ADHD.
My anxiety is that severe that most days I cant even leave the house, i am on lots of medication and am still waiting for counselling, and other treatment to help me with my anxiety.
I have been claiming ESA and also personal independent payments and handing sick notes in to my work place.
I am wondering if anyone knows if my benefits will be affected if I hand my notice in to work, as I cannot see myself being well enough to go back anytime soon and I feel like I am taking a job up that someone else would really appreciate ??
Any advice would be appreciated greatly!!
Thankyou for reading:A:(

GlasweJen

handing in your notice shouldn't affect your benefits as you are already on ESA, have you been asigned a group yet?

I'd keep your job, chances are your actual job is already getting done by someone else and when you are ready to go back you will be offered a package with phased return to work and less hours. In the meantime you are still able to use your discount card, sharesave, the health plan and any other benefits.

lovemybabies

hi, thanks for your reply.
I didn't get put in to a group as my anxiety is too severe
It does make total sense what you are saying, thank you for your advice.:)
Think I will stick to the sick notes atm, just wanted to know where I stood really

Torry_Quine

lovemybabies wrote: »

hi, thanks for your reply.
I didn't get put in to a group as my anxiety is too severe
It does make total sense what you are saying, thank you for your advice.:)
Think I will stick to the sick notes atm, just wanted to know where I stood really

Being too anxious is no reason not to be asssigned a group. After approx 13 weeks you should have been sent an ESA 50 form to complete and this may be enough information or you may need a face-to-face meeting. Unless you are in the support group contribution based ESA only lasts one year but after this or if you don't have enough contributions you may be entitled to income based. Are you still sending in fit-notes to DWP?

lovemybabies

I've just had a look, I am in the support group. Thought they meant work related group sorry! I did fill the form in, and did not have to have a face to face assessment. I also haven't had to send in sick notes to DWP, only to my employer.

naturaljazz

You may be thinking if your not employed things will be simpler, but just my opinion, I know going and getting sick notes and sending them in etc can be a pain, but you may recover and want that job with a gradual return to work. On the other hand leaving the house may prove to be so difficult, and it could be that perhaps adding to this mental health issue is that being employed may be hindering you from actually going out and being 'seen' by others who you work with. Thats a hard call, it is something that is an issue for the long-term sick (no matter what illness). This may seem like it isn't related to your question, but you may want to explore this yourself, being emplyed can be a barrier to your recovery. Only you and any support you have can decide that. All the best

GlasweJen

I found asda to be very helpful when I worked there, I went in on double discount day when I was off sick and no one said anything, some of the girls I worked with on check outs asked how I was but no one was nasty.

Personnel (yeah asdas trapped in the 50s) were very supportive and sent flowers when I got out of hospital - I was surprised as I was only a Saturday assistant at the time.

When you're on limited income the discount card will help, especially with things like double discount day before Christmas and the like.

As for being "seen", supermarkets employ so many people and have such a wide turn over in terms of new employees and people moving departments that it's likely your colleagues think you've left or have transferred store after all this time. I bumped into a woman I worked with a few months ago and she thought I was still with asda in my new area - i left the company 7 or 8 years ago!

lovemybabies

Thank you for everyone's replies, I feel a lot better about the situation I am in now. Not having the best of days today, so will reply properly to the posts later today.


Thanks again!!