ESA50 form and recovering from cancer surgery

Jonx999

My wife just had major cancer-related surgery, and the consultant said it will take at least 6 weeks to recover (and provided a sick note to cover this).  She is on a zero-hours contract so is claiming ESA for this temporary period off work.

However, she just received an ESA50 "Capability for Work" form to complete, and the question flow is worded such that you must be "awaiting, undergoing or recovering from chemotherapy or radiotherapy" in order to skip the bulk of the form and be eligible to complete the Cancer Treatment section.  But she isn't having chemo or radiotherapy this time (she's had them before), she's just recovering from cancer-related surgery.  Has anyone else been in this position?  Does she need to fill in the whole ESA50 form or can she still use the cancer section?   

pmlindyloo

Please read this which answers your questions.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) | Macmillan Cancer Support

Alice_Holt

I'd suggest contacting Macmillan who have Benefit Caseworkers able to help you with the form.

calcotti

In such a situation I would complete the complete form. In reality, if she does return to work in six to weeks the WCA will most likely not have been done by then and if her works 16 hours/week or more she will no longer be entitled to ESA anyway.