ESA Contributions

KittyS

I've just applied for ESA contribution benefit.  Totally new to this.  How long does it take for it to be processed.  I've got PIP 10 year award and also got a letter from a clinic to say that it would be benefit to my health to give up work.  I have been retired off from my previous job.  Do you think the clinic letter, PIP assessment report etc would help with the evidence to get into the support group.  Basically the letter says I can't work anymore. 

Spoonie_Turtle

KittyS said:

I've just applied for ESA contribution benefit.  Totally new to this.  How long does it take for it to be processed.  I've got PIP 10 year award and also got a letter from a clinic to say that it would be benefit to my health to give up work.  I have been retired off from my previous job.  Do you think the clinic letter, PIP assessment report etc would help with the evidence to get into the support group.  Basically the letter says I can't work anymore. 

They can all be supporting evidence but you have to meet the specific ESA criteria.  One of those is whether there would be a significant risk of harm to you or others (but usually to your own health) if you weren't found to be unfit for work / unfit for work-related activity.

https://www.advicenow.org.uk/know-hows/employment-and-support-allowance-esa-activities-and-descriptors-and-substantial-risk

I don't know how long claims are taking at the moment.  You should get a form to fill in fairly soon, a bit like the PIP form but to the ESA criteria, then at some point after returning it you'll have an assessment, followed by the decision (again, no idea the usual kind of timeline for that).

KittyS

Yes there could be a significant risk of harm to my health if I took a job.  I have ME/CFS and the CFS clinic letter states that I should not be working.    Hopefully not as long as PIP that took nearly a year lol 

poppy12345

A letter that just says you should not be working is not helpful. You need to send in more supporting evidence when you return the ESA50 form. 

Spoonie_Turtle

You'll really need to hammer home *why* you can't work without it causing deterioration^. 

(Repeated/prolonged PEM, that you're only at your current level of functioning because of your current level activity and increasing it will make you more ill, that kind of thing.
m.e_and_more's Pacing & PEM highlight on Instagram may be useful for helping explain https://www.instagram.com/m.e_and_more?igsh=MWlnZXk5a3h3cXdldA==
Or on her website https://www.meandmore.net/blog?tag=pacing )

But also you do need to look at the descriptors and like PIP, it's if you can do them repeatedly, reliably, and without causing terrible aftereffects.  Depending on how exactly the ME affects you and the overall severity, it is possible to qualify for the support group via one or more of the descriptors.  It's just the significant risk condition is very relevant to us as well in case we don't meet a support group descriptor.

^And for the Support Group you need to not reliably be able to do other work-related activity such as attending appointments, doing tasks like writing your CV and brushing up on old skills / learning new skills, etc.

Robbie64

Do you mean, how long does it take for an ESA claim to be put into payment, or how long does it take for a decision to be made on whether someone continues to qualify for ESA (after a work capability assessment)?

For an ESA claim to be processed (i.e. put into payment), it shouldn't take too long as the initial test is whether you satisfy the contributions conditions and have valid medical evidence to start the claim (i.e. a fit note). It's a largely automated process and I believe the usual wait is about two weeks maximum.

The part of the process that decides whether you can be placed in the Support Group, following a work capability assessment takes a lot longer, as the answers above mine suggest.

KittyS

Spoonie_Turtle said:

You'll really need to hammer home *why* you can't work without it causing deterioration^. 

(Repeated/prolonged PEM, that you're only at your current level of functioning because of your current level activity and increasing it will make you more ill, that kind of thing.
m.e_and_more's Pacing & PEM highlight on Instagram may be useful for helping explain https://www.instagram.com/m.e_and_more?igsh=MWlnZXk5a3h3cXdldA==
Or on her website https://www.meandmore.net/blog?tag=pacing )

But also you do need to look at the descriptors and like PIP, it's if you can do them repeatedly, reliably, and without causing terrible aftereffects.  Depending on how exactly the ME affects you and the overall severity, it is possible to qualify for the support group via one or more of the descriptors.  It's just the significant risk condition is very relevant to us as well in case we don't meet a support group descriptor.

^And for the Support Group you need to not reliably be able to do other work-related activity such as attending appointments, doing tasks like writing your CV and brushing up on old skills / learning new skills, etc.

Brilliant just what I need thank you so much

KittyS

Thanks guys - all very helpful and have a ton of evidence.  So will be ready and waiting to send it in with the form.