ESA suspended, but how long for?

bigshorty40

Hi All

Just wondering if anyone knows what happens when a medical certificate is late being produced to the DWP for a current ESA claim? What I'm more interested in is how long they will suspend payments with no receipt of a medical certificate, until they stop my current ESA payments altogether? My old medical certificate ran out 5 days ago.

I've been trying desperately to get a doctor at my surgery to give me a new medical certificate, as my old one ran out on the 26th February, but they keep messing me about or forgetting to do it due to the surgery being overworked and undermanned, its a complete farce really, most days you can't even get an appointment. I have been assured that I will get a backdated medical certificate, I just want to know if I'm safe from my ESA getting completely stopped for the moment, and are only going to suspend payments pending receipt of a new medical certificate. I have informed the DWP of the whole situation as well.

Any help or views on this would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

TELLIT01

Suspension will be lifted once you get the medical certificate. Payment will be backdated only if the cert indicates that it is to continue from the date the previous one ended. i.e. the start date is immediately after the previous one, or the GP says continuous from previous cert.
Do keep ESA informed if you continue having problems getting the new cert.

bigshorty40

Thanks for the reply and advice, I will keep ESA informed.

So from your response, I take it ESA will be suspended for quite some time before they decide to make their next move?

paragon909

bigshorty40 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply and advice, I will keep ESA informed.

So from your response, I take it ESA will be suspended for quite some time before they decide to make their next move?

When you get your sick note from the doctor, You could take it to your local JCP and they will scan and send it to ESA who will get it within hours, Just write your phone number on the top and an advisor should call once they receive it. Depending on the situation once they get it they could issue a same day payment....

Sometimes ESA can even call your GP surgery and confirm the sickness that way, But they rarely do this.

elle_may

I was told my son who is has ESA (wrag) by them, that he does not have to send in any more sick note's because of this He sent them yearly. Are there different rules.

bigshorty40

Wow, great site and a lot of helpful replies, thank you all!

Panic over, managed to speak to my GP literally 10 minutes ago and he's going to do a backdated medical certificate for me to collect later today, PHEW!

Unfortunately, I live out in the sticks and the nearest Jobcentre is 25 miles away, so getting them to scan the certificate isn't really an option for me, so I'll have to rely on posting it first class this evening. At least it'll be on it's way to the DWP at last.

Thanks again to all!

kittykat17

elle_may wrote: »

I was told my son who is has ESA (wrag) by them, that he does not have to send in any more sick note's because of this He sent them yearly. Are there different rules.

Once someone is placed in one of the groups (WRAG or Support) there is no need to continue to send in fit notes.

TELLIT01

elle_may wrote: »

I was told my son who is has ESA (wrag) by them, that he does not have to send in any more sick note's because of this He sent them yearly. Are there different rules.

Once a claimant is place in the WRAG or Support Group they shouldn't need to provide further certificates. During the assessment phase medical certificates are required. If they are not received benefit is suspended.

TELLIT01

bigshorty40 wrote: »

Wow, great site and a lot of helpful replies, thank you all!

Panic over, managed to speak to my GP literally 10 minutes ago and he's going to do a backdated medical certificate for me to collect later today, PHEW!

Unfortunately, I live out in the sticks and the nearest Jobcentre is 25 miles away, so getting them to scan the certificate isn't really an option for me, so I'll have to rely on posting it first class this evening. At least it'll be on it's way to the DWP at last.

Thanks again to all!

I'm not sure how much help sending 1st class will be. It will still go to a central sorting facility first. It's Thursday tomorrow so using the freepost envelope you should have will probably get it to the benefit processing centre just as quickly and save you some money.