Heard nothing from ESA

Nira123

Hi

I’d been claiming UC for a year or so  when I reduced my working hours due to health problems. I was already in receipt of high rate PIP due to my health problems and disabilities. 

In September I unfortunately lost my job and subsequently UC and PIP have been my only sources of income. I worked for 23 years without a break in employment. 

My overall health is really poor and I was signed off and given a fit note by my GP and I was advised to claim ESA, which I did at the beginning of October, which would also cover my stamp duty. 

My fit note was extended once, without a break, and is valid until February 28th. So more than a total of 13 weeks so far. 

I’ve been in receipt of the assessment rate of ESA since mid November, which is obviously taken off my UC amount. 

I completed the ESA50 form and sent it back early December.

Got a phone call at the beginning of January from the DWP asking for permission to access my medical records which I gave them. 

Haven’t heard anything more as yet with regards to a WCA. 

Is this the normal process and time frames? Seems to be taking an awfully long time. 

Thanks. 

calcotti

Claiming ESA while claiming UC will not increase your income because, as you have discovered, the ESA is deducted from the UC.

As regards your ‘stamp duty’ you are already getting Class 3 NI credits as a UC claimant, these count for pension purposes. ESA will give you Class 1 which count for slightly more.

There are currently long waiting times for Work Capability Assessments so you have not been waiting long, it could be many months.

Did you also report your health condition and Fit Notes to UC through your UC journal?

Nira123

Thanks. 

No, I know I won’t get any more money atm. 

Yes, I’ve reported everything to UC through my journal, all health conditions and fit notes. 

Qtipps44

My husband completed the esa form in July and has been sending fit notes since then with no word and being paid assessment rate. We don’t receive UC in case that makes a difference. I call to ask about time frames and was abruptly told we don’t know. Good luck.

poppy12345

Some people are waiting as long as a year for the work capability assessment.

poppy12345

Qtipps44 said:

We don’t receive UC in case that makes a difference.

None at all.

Nira123

Goodness, as long as a year is insane!

Robbie64

Nira123 said:

Goodness, as long as a year is insane!

It's due to massive backlogs caused by covid. Assessments more or less stopped for several months in 2020 and when they did restart it was a staggered reintroduction with the result that the backlog just got bigger. There have been reports of some claimants finding their ESA stopping (due to the 12 month limit of payment of ESA unless in the Support Group) without an assessment having yet taken place.

Edit to add: I've just read a parliamentary debate from 1 February and the last available figures reveal that in December 2021 there were 335,000 outstanding work capability assessments and that the average wait time for an assessment was 150 days (over 21 weeks).

I imagine the figure would be much worse if it wasn't for the fact that most reassessments of ESA entitlement which were due to take place between March 2020 to September 2021 had been put on hold (by the WCA date being advanced by 2 years) which possibly means that a large number of the 350,000 are people awaiting their first WCA.

Nira123

Almost 5 months now and still waiting. Still providing fit notes. If only they could just look at the form, evidence provided and PIP details and make a decision. Seems madness. 

poppy12345

Yes backlogs are huge and some people have been waiting as long as a year for the WCA. Paper based assessments are rare, although possible. PIP and ESA are different benefits so claim one doesn't automatically entitle you to the other.

Nira123

A year is just insane. Yeah I know they are different benefits but the information contained may be helpful for them making a decision about how to proceed.