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Should I have registered for ESA?

A few facts first:

My doctor gave me a sick note yesterday.

I am still regarded as self-employed.

My claim for Working Tax Credits was rejected because HMRC lost my paperwork, so I am now appealing their decision and sending further evidence of my business, etc.

As I understand it, in order to receive sick pay, I need to put in a claim for ESA. So I just did this on the phone with Job Centre Plus.

A friend then tells me I shouldn't have claimed ESA> I should have simply put my sick note through to the Job Centre Plus and NOT claimed ESA.

I thought that ESA was a a part of this process and was necessary. Didn't I need to do this? Maybe I have now donated my body to the government as they tell me I have to attend all sorts of work assessment programmes, etc.

Help! :eek:

Thanks.

John.

Comments

  • Darksparkle
    Darksparkle Posts: 5,465 Forumite
    You don't need to claim esa if you don't want to, it is your choice.
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,470 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    You can't just hand a sick note from the GP over to the Job Centre and expect to get any payment. I think where your friend is getting confused is that the rules around being sick when claiming JSA have changed. You can now stay on JSA for up to 13 weeks if supplying medical certificates from the GP.
    In this instance I believe ESA is the correct benefit to be claiming as the OP isn't looking for work, and isn't currently claiming JSA.
    True, the OP doesn't have to claim ESA, but if he doesn't he won't get any financial support.
  • Darksparkle
    Darksparkle Posts: 5,465 Forumite
    He'd possibly get the tax credits he's appealing.
  • Thank you both for the clarification.

    I am hoping that the tax credits appeal is successful as there will be some back payments, though I guess Working Tax Credits will stop now that I am on sickness benefit.

    John.
  • Darksparkle
    Darksparkle Posts: 5,465 Forumite
    You can call continue to get WTC for 28 weeks when off sick of you meet the criteria.

    https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/tax-credits-technical-manual/tctm02421
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,470 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    Any idea how long the Tax Credits appeal process takes? You can backdate ESA claims a maximum of 3 months so there is no immediate panic to claim if you have the funds to survive in the mean time.
  • I have no funds at all. Well, enough to pay the rent and my council tax for a couple of weeks.

    My ESA will start from yesterday, the 8th June. My WTC, should my appeal be successful, will take me back to March. This would have been done ages ago had they not lost my paperwork. Registered post next time!

    Thanks all. All understood now.
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,470 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    It makes sense just to get the ESA claim going.
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