ESA reassessment vs return to work

quietly_myself

I’m currently on ESA and have been in the support group for several years. I’ve recently received a letter from DWP saying that my ESA claim needs to be reassessed and enclosing a new ESA50 form which I have until the end of January to return.

Thing is, I’ve been offered a job starting mid-March and am fully intending to cancel my ESA (the job disqualify me from Permitted Work) when I start.

Obviously this leaves a gap. All the advice I have says not to inform DWP until the day before I start work, but if I don’t return the ESA50 then I run the risk of having my claim cancelled early and leaving a 6-week gap before I start work.

Has anyone else encountered a similar situation? What’s the best course of action at this point?

paragon909

JSA or Universal credit seems like the only option or Do you still have the same medical conditions as before when you first got ESA if so, Then personally I would list my medical conditions in the ESA50 and problems etc and send it back.

UKTigerlily

How can you be offered a job if too sick to work? You should've informed ESA as soon as things improved; which they must've done to have applied for work!

quietly_myself

UKTigerlily wrote: »

How can you be offered a job if too sick to work? You should've informed ESA as soon as things improved; which they must've done to have applied for work!

I assume the reason they’ve requested a reassessment is because I informed them of the change in my condition.

TELLIT01

Complete and return the ESA50. By the time you are actually called for reassessment you will probably have started work anyway.
The caveat on that is that if you have recovered to the extent that you no longer have any entitlement to ESA you should close the claim immediately.

Alice_Holt

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Complete and return the ESA50. By the time you are actually called for reassessment you will probably have started work anyway.

Agree with this.