UC, JSA and ESA

Dullville

Thread update!
Gets a bit more complex.
My friend has now been signed off by her GP for 5 months as she was in hospital for a few days over the weekend.
Her next signing on day is next monday and her GP has dated her fit note for the following Tuesday as he thought it would be easier for her to sort her benefits as he asked her when the next time she signed on.
I will go with her on Monday just so I can prepare her with what will happen, so will all she have to do is tell the advisor she is closing her claim and hand her fit note in?
Will the JC give her a ESA form to fill in or will she do her UC claim there and then?
Obviously JSA is out of the question now as she has been signed off for 5 months!
Also to anyone who has any experience of claiming these types of benefits which is the less stressful one to apply for?
Thank you.

epitome

Dullville wrote: »

Thread update!
Gets a bit more complex.
My friend has now been signed off by her GP for 5 months as she was in hospital for a few days over the weekend.
Her next signing on day is next monday and her GP has dated her fit note for the following Tuesday as he thought it would be easier for her to sort her benefits as he asked her when the next time she signed on.
I will go with her on Monday just so I can prepare her with what will happen, so will all she have to do is tell the advisor she is closing her claim and hand her fit note in?
Will the JC give her a ESA form to fill in or will she do her UC claim there and then?
Obviously JSA is out of the question now as she has been signed off for 5 months!
Also to anyone who has any experience of claiming these types of benefits which is the less stressful one to apply for?
Thank you.

She can ask the jobcentre to use any remaining allowance of Extended Period Of Sickness and remain on JSA. If this is not possible due to using it all or having too many periods of sickness, they will close JSA.
If she is in a Full UC area, she cannot apply for ESA. and would have to phone the UC helpline to claim UC (with medical condition).
Whilst she is on the phone to UC making a claim to UC...she also has the option of claiming ESA Conts New Style, but this has to be done on the UC helpline and you have to (if you want it) specifically ask for it.

As I understand it, it would make no difference between UC sickness and ESA CNS (i.e. amount paid will be £73.10 for both), except the usual perks you get with a conts claim, on income that is taken into account and the ability to be on a course of full time education. etc etc.

Dullville wrote: »

Hi Epitome.
Just to update you she has done exactly as you have suggested and applied for the SDP and enclosed a covering letter and sent proof of legal separation so she is awaiting a reply.
She sent this off over 2 weeks ago, is this normal not to even had an acknowledgement by now?

It is very normal if you have posted it, to take 2 - 3 weeks before it will be looked at. Had you scanned it at a jobcentre appointment it would have been done by now.

Dullville

epitome wrote: »

She can ask the jobcentre to use any remaining allowance of Extended Period Of Sickness and remain on JSA. If this is not possible due to using it all or having too many periods of sickness, they will close JSA.
If she is in a Full UC area, she cannot apply for ESA. and would have to phone the UC helpline to claim UC (with medical condition).
Whilst she is on the phone to UC making a claim to UC...she also has the option of claiming ESA Conts New Style, but this has to be done on the UC helpline and you have to (if you want it) specifically ask for it.

As I understand it, it would make no difference between UC sickness and ESA CNS (i.e. amount paid will be £73.10 for both), except the usual perks you get with a conts claim, on income that is taken into account and the ability to be on a course of full time education. etc etc.

It is very normal if you have posted it, to take 2 - 3 weeks before it will be looked at. Had you scanned it at a jobcentre appointment it would have been done by now.

Thank you very much Epitome.

kevinJE

Can anyone help me here? I live in a UC live area. I had to end my job last year on a settlement with my employer owing to work stress. Because I live in a UC area, I was told by the Job Centre that this is the only benefit I could claim. I was eventually put in the limited capability for work group. As I had worked for over 15 years in the same job, I asked the JC why I couldn't claim contribution based ESA. I weas told if I did that then my rent wouldn't be paid as it is with UC. Then they said I could claim 'new style ESA', but I would lose out. I've since been informed by a DWP case manager that I could put a dual claim in for both UC and contribution based ESA. Is this correct? The DWP rules are so complicated, I don't think their own staff understand them and that's why I've been given different versions of how to claim. It's stressful. If anyone can help, I'd really appreciate it.