ESA do I need a sick note? 10 September 2018 at 12:14PM edited 10 September 2018 at 12:20PM in Disability money matters 8 replies 1.1K views

Medievalbabe

I am so confused about ESA ans whether I might be eligible. I have Arthritis and was signed of work in 2007, at that time I applied for ESA but was refused because although I couldn't go back to that specific job (it was only ten hours a week) I was deemed fit to work by atos , ie I could do a less physical job. At the ATOS assessment I was basically told to go down the mental health route if I wanted to get anywhere, I didn't get ESA and the whole experience was awful because I genuinely needed support. Forward 11 years and I am wondering if I can reapply without a sick note because I am still not working. I have a hard time looking for work , because I suffer from fatigue and my illness is unpredictable, I have diarrhoea 3-4 days a week. I have been receiving CBT through NHS for Axiety and depression because I am really struggling to cope with how useless I am at the moment and so resentful to this disease and the impact it's had in my life.

I won't be eliable for income related because partner earns too much. I have been awarded Nat ins credits through carers allowance but I don't think that's enough.

However I stumbled upon a thread that implies if you've ever worked and paid nat ins you could still claim. I have paid nat ins through wages for around 7-8 years in total.
I wasn't allowed to include the link as a new user but if you google "carer now esa mse" it comes up from 18th Aug 2017

Sorry if I'm a bit vague, I've tried reading the gov page but don't fully understand it my brain is all over the place at the moment, the medication makes my brain fog. Please be gentle with me but any helpful advice would be appreciated.

KxMx

Anyone can get a sick note (now called Fit Note) from a GP. You don't have to be working or looking for work. You do need one to claim ESA/UC.

It would be helpful to know what is happening with Universal Credit in your area to properly advise on ESA:
https://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate

Have you looked into PIP (Personal Independence Payment)

https://www.gov.uk/pip

poppy12345

Yes you can claim CB benefits from NI paid from claiming Carers Allowance, depending on how long you've been claiming CA for. See link. https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/disabled-people-and-carers/caring-someone/pension-and-national-insurance-carers#toc-what-credits-can-carers-get-



As you've been refused ESA previously, you won't be able to reclaim again for the same condition that you previously claimed for. You must make sure that's it for a worsening condition or a totally different condition. You will need fit notes from your GP until you've been assessed and a decision is made, this can take several months and more.


If your area is full universal credit area you will need to claim New style contribution based ESA. If not then it will be legacy CB ESA. Check your area here. http://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate

poppy12345

If your area is a full UC area then this link will tell you how to claim New style Contribution based ESA. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance#how-to-claim-new-style-esa

Medievalbabe

Thank you. Yes I am in a universal credit area. I don't claim PIP. I used to claim lower care DLA when I was first diagnosed many years ago but when I got a job I asked them to stop. Because my condition can change day by day I was completely paranoid that I would get filmed attending a fitness class or kicking a ball around with my children. The problem is that if I am ill I hardly leave the house so I would never be filmed crippled with pain in bed or sat on the toilet with diarrhoea :-( sorry if tmi

[Deleted User]

poppy12345 wrote: »

Yes you can claim CB benefits from NI paid from claiming Carers Allowance, depending on how long you've been claiming CA for. See link. https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/disabled-people-and-carers/caring-someone/pension-and-national-insurance-carers#toc-what-credits-can-carers-get-



As you've been refused ESA previously, you won't be able to reclaim again for the same condition that you previously claimed for. You must make sure that's it for a worsening condition or a totally different condition. You will need fit notes from your GP until you've been assessed and a decision is made, this can take several months and more.


If your area is full universal credit area you will need to claim New style contribution based ESA. If not then it will be legacy CB ESA. Check your area here. http://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate

I was under the impression to claim benefits some of the credits must come from working?

poppy12345

_shel wrote: »

I was under the impression to claim benefits some of the credits must come from working?

Not when you've been claiming CA. Taken from the link posted above.
For every week that you receive Carer’s Allowance, an automatic Class 1 contribution or ‘credit’ will be made to your National Insurance record equal to 1/52th of the amount that is needed to make a qualifying year that year. So in 2018/19, that will be £116. If you receive Carer’s Allowance for the 2018/19 full year, an amount of £6,032 will be captured on your record and that year will become a qualifying year for the purposes of calculating the state pension.
Carer’s Allowance gives entitlement to Class 1 National Insurance credits which can count towards contribution based jobseeker’s allowance, contribution based employment and support allowance, maternity allowance, bereavement benefits as well as the state pension.


Conditions of claiming CB benefits here.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/employment-and-support-allowance-contribution-based

poppy12345

Just to add, i didn't know this was possible either until a forum member pointed it out some months ago.... the said person hasn't posted in quite some time but is extremely knowledgeable with ESA, without having to mention any names

Medievalbabe

Wow- thank you all so much, I'm incredibly grateful!