ESA Support Group 28 June 2016 at 5:38PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Benefits & Tax Credits 14 replies 1.6K views

olympictorch

Hello
My wife originally applied for ESA on August 1st 2015.
She was only called for the medical at the beginning of June this year.
She has had a phone call today to say she has been placed in the support group.
Are payments backdated to the original claim date or medical date or do they just start now?
Thanks for any help.

pmlindyloo

olympictorch wrote: »

Hello
My wife originally applied for ESA on August 1st 2015.
She was only called for the medical at the beginning of June this year.
She has had a phone call today to say she has been placed in the support group.
Are payments backdated to the original claim date or medical date or do they just start now?
Thanks for any help.

They are backdated to the 14th week after the original claim date - ie after the 13 weeks assessment phase of ESA.

olympictorch

thanks for taking the time to reply pmlindyloo
that's partly what i couldn't get my head around.
i read on gov.uk that the assessment rate is paid for the 13 weeks after a claim, but, she hasn't received any payments at all?
sorry if i'm being thick

[Deleted User]

Have you not queried the lack of payments with the DWP?

Did she claim income based or contributions based ESA? Do you work?

olympictorch

Thanks shel.
No we haven't queried the non payment because I've only just boned up on it now she has been accepted.
She will be on contribution based esa as she has full history of stamp.
Yes I work full time.

Bananas123

the only logical reason(s) why she didn't recieve money would be it was 1) you are not eligable (due to assets / income) OR the DWP messed it up badly !!.

(although there is 2 forms > contributions based / income related)

it takes a while to go through some times, i think several weeks for a back-payment (after you have had descicion).

you are supposed to get the assessment rate, ASAP from claiming (takes time to process) <

then the assessment rate is "SUPPOSED" to last 14 weeks, and you should be placed in a group > but it can take much longer (...as you know), hence the backpayments (from week 14 > FINAL desicion duration (i.e. initial ones can be appealed).

if they didn't need to see her etc, it is suggestive she is quite ill:

> i would definately ring them up and ask them for specific help / to look over your claim.

(...if you ring them at 8am you can usually get through, afternoons can last until you give up).

the eligability criteria is here, in the mean time:

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

hopefully of help,

regards

paragon909

If someone is placed into the support group this week... To suggest the payment should be in your bank account instantly is crazy, The payment will be available within 3 days probably. It doesn't get sent as an emergency or same day payment.

olympictorch

paragon909
thats not what i said or asked?

olympictorch

thanks bananas123
I think i need to start again, i was trying to type everything on my mobile and got texters thumb.
Mrs torch was a long term recipient of incapacity benefit, (since 1996 originally).
When the rules changed she was assessed for esa and placed on contribution based WRAG. she appealed and lost as she didnt have enough points for the support group.
the esa stopped in April 2015, (after 365 days).
We were advised, incorrectly by job centre plus that she could not apply again.
After a visit to CAB , she reapplied in August of 2015 on the grounds that her condition had seriously worsened.
She had her medical on June 3rd.
Today she received a phone call to say she is being placed in the support group, and they would be "sending her a form to fill in and return".
my question was, should she have been receiving the assessment rate from August 2015, and/or will/should her payments be back dated.

densol_2

paragon909 wrote: »

If someone is placed into the support group this week... To suggest the payment should be in your bank account instantly is crazy, The payment will be available within 3 days probably. It doesn't get sent as an emergency or same day payment.

Nonsense !

In fact its often the payment that goes in the bank first - the brown envelope with decision often arrives afterwards. Happened to me with PIP, ESA, tax credits and IIDB

OP - Ive a feeling your wife may have been awarded ESA income based with nil payment due to your income. You really need to check as this may have been an error if she had sufficient NI contributions in the two full calender years prior to claiming.

paragon909

densol wrote: »

Nonsense !

In fact its often the payment that goes in the bank first - the brown envelope with decision often arrives afterwards. Happened to me with PIP, ESA, tax credits and IIDB

OP - Ive a feeling your wife may have been awarded ESA income based with nil payment due to your income. You really need to check as this may have been an error if she had sufficient NI contributions in the two full calender years prior to claiming.

But if you got a call to say you have been placed in the support group it's likely the decision was reached today. So payment would not be in the bank account instantly. DWP do not class backdated payments as emergencies. Hence when they send the letter out and it's generally in time when the money hits the bank account.

olympictorch wrote: »

paragon909
thats not what i said or asked?

I wasn't replying to you... I was someone else who said u should urgently call about your back payment... when there is no need.