Heard nothing from ESA

Sncjw

Nira123 said:

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. 

Not really because you can work and claim pip as long as the work doesn't contradict why your claiming pip.

Qtipps44

We’ve just heard after a 5 month wait for pip but it was a paper based assessment no call or appointment the same as esa. Esa took longer 7 months. They said they had looked at esa when awarding pip so I’m not sure but may have speeded pip up. Hope you hear soon.

Kim1965

My wife will be making a claim for contribution Esa when she retires through ill health. She has cancer and will be taking chemo for the rest of her short life. So is it likely she will recieve nothing for a year? 

calcotti

Kim1965 said:

My wife will be making a claim for contribution Esa when she retires through ill health. She has cancer and will be taking chemo for the rest of her short life. So is it likely she will recieve nothing for a year? 

For ESA payment starts as soon as the initial claim is processed. Unlike PIP, payments do not wait until after the assessment.

In her case, when she claims ESA she will be sent the ESA50 health questionnaire but can get the Cancer treatment page completed confirming her situation. She should then be automatically entitled to be treated as having Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity without having an assessment. She will then ge the Support group rate from the 14th week of her claim.

You mention short life so, although I hope the following does not apply, I thought I'd better also mention it.

If her life expectancy is less than 12 months her medical team can issue a form SR1 and she will then not be required to complete an ESA50 and will be placed in the Support Group for ESA from the start of the claim.

If life expectancy is less than 6 months the relevant form is a DS1500 which has the same effect for ESA and also allows rapid processing of a PIP claim.

poppy12345

Kim1965 said:

My wife will be making a claim for contribution Esa when she retires through ill health. She has cancer and will be taking chemo for the rest of her short life. So is it likely she will recieve nothing for a year? 

No. that's not correct. ESA assessment rate is £77 per week. She will automatically be placed into the Support Group because of the chemo treatment. Her ESA will then increase from week 14 of her claim. These amounts will reduce if she receives any pension over £85 per week, as advised in your other thread here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6336001/contribution-esa#latest

Kim1965

Ok, thanks. I see no way she could work, the treatment itself lays a person low, plus chronic fatigue/ pain. 
 Understand about taking pensions, appreciate all the advice. 

poppy12345

Kim1965 said:

. I see no way she could work,

No one has ever suggested she should.

Spoonie_Turtle

Kim1965 said:

Ok, thanks. I see no way she could work, the treatment itself lays a person low, plus chronic fatigue/ pain. 
 Understand about taking pensions, appreciate all the advice. 

That's exactly why somebody undergoing or recovering from chemo or radiotherapy is automatically put into the Support Group straight away and not required to do any work-related activities at all