Can I claim anything?

Alice_Holt

To emphasis what NeilCr said:

https://www.disabledviewuk.com/useful-information/esa/new-style-esa/

"If you are unfortunate enough to encounter a call handler that fell asleep during the New Style ESA part of their training, politely insist that it is New Style ESA you wish to claim and that you do not need or wish to start a claim for Universal Credit by itself. The call handler may try to give you the ESA helpline number, this will be incorrect as you cannot claim for the old version of Contribution based ESA in a full service Universal Credit area. Again, you will need to politely explain this to the call handler and insist that you talk to a manager. Please, please be persistent.

Many claimants are wrongly being advised they can only claim Universal Credit and in some instances this is leaving the individuals financially worse off. We cannot stress enough, how important it is to ensure that you claim for the right benefit and don’t assume that the call handler must be correct if they tell you that there is no such thing as ESA in a Universal Credit Full Service Area.

At the end of the call you should have given them some personal details and the call handler/manager should be confirming that they have registered your claim for New Style ESA. They will then e- mail you a UCESA1 form which needs to be completed and then you will need to phone UC again to arrange an appointment at the Job Centre Plus (JCP), if this wasn’t done on the previous one call."

To the OP - A further vote for contacting Macmillan.

Benefits - PIP and when SSP finishes Contribution-based or New style ESA (in a UC area)
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/before-you-apply-for-esa/eligiblility-for-esa/

Paparika

NeilCr wrote: »

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance

We've had this too - if you were told by DWP staff that you have to claim UC without mentioning new style ESA. Unfortunately, some of the training has been too quick and inadequate.

I'm hoping that they may let me sign on for the sick note does not run out until 4th October, question is will they let me have the full 8 weeks off sick paid?