Moving to UC in ESA contributions based support group will I still need a fit note from GP?

kazzyb123

Just that really, I have started to fill the claim in and it says I will need a fit note, I have been on ESA for 10 years, is this right? Thanks

Muttleythefrog

kazzyb123 said:

Just that really, I have started to fill the claim in and it says I will need a fit note, I have been on ESA for 10 years, is this right? Thanks

Your ESA status should be transferred across saving any need for assessment or fit notes but advice tends to be to state on your U/C journal (or contact U/C by phone but journal may be best) to say you have LCWRA (Or LCW) on an existing ESA claim.

kazzyb123

Thanks that’s what I thought, some people seem to be saying on forums (not here) that they did need an assessment but I don’t think that’s right, hopefully when I have finished the initial part of the claim and get journal access it will be corrected. Someone said something about Regulation 19, I need to have a look.thanks for the reply.

Newcad

The UC computer will ask for Fit Notes automatically if/when you say that you can't work for health reasons.

In a migration from ESA Fit Notes are not required.

But until ESA confirm you have already had an assessment to UC, which can take some days, the computer still asks for the notes.

It's just the migration process not being as joined-up yet as it should be.

You will get another message in a few days saying that your Limited Capability status has been confirmed by ESA and Fit Notes are not required.

PS. Been there done that, migration can be bloody confusing in the first month as bits of information get pulled together from different places. You'll be happy to hear that it (usually) settles down after that first month.

TimeLord1

Was you asked to move or switching because of other reasons ?

TimeLord1

That's regulation 19 Hope it goes ok 

kazzyb123

TimeLord1 said:

That's regulation 19 Hope it goes ok 

perfect thanks 

xxxxxxxx

I assume your ESA Contributions is still open?
You do not need to have a fit note on UC. 
You should be able to check online what your work regime is, if it says "intensive work search" then you need to put a journal message asking them to carry across your ESA Support Group to UC. 

Or you could wait until you go to the job centre for your identification interview, and ask them then if it has been done yet, ask them to request it is done. 

HOWEVER , you will need to be reassessed by health assessment by UC to confirm LCWRA is still appropriate.

Spoonie_Turtle

xxxxxxxx said:

HOWEVER , you will need to be reassessed by health assessment by UC to confirm LCWRA is still appropriate.

At some point, maybe - but not necessarily when they start their UC claim.  Shouldn't be any earlier than they would have been reassessed anyway for ESA.

xxxxxxxx

DWP can reassess a claimant at any time, there is nothing a claimant can do to stop this once it has started.
Due to the backlog, the vast majority of ESA cases are overdue for review.  Therefore it is likely to be reviewed straight away.  
Regardless of expected review date, if there is reason to think the claimant may no longer have LCW they can be reviewed straightaway.

Claimants in ESA WRAG who get UC LCWRA on immediate review can use this to their advantage. If the review process started within one month of the UC start date, or to be more precise, within 1 month of the decision to award LCW on UC (from ESA carry over) the LCWRA must be applied from the UC start date without a relevant period.   

If a claimant gets a review started later than one month then they will not be entitled to have LCWRA from the UC start date.

HillStreetBlues

xxxxxxxx said:

DWP can reassess a claimant at any time, there is nothing a claimant can do to stop this once it has started.
Due to the backlog, the vast majority of ESA cases are overdue for review.  Therefore it is likely to be reviewed straight away.  
Regardless of expected review date, if there is reason to think the claimant may no longer have LCW they can be reviewed straightaway.

Claimants in ESA WRAG who get UC LCWRA on immediate review can use this to their advantage. If the review process started within one month of the UC start date, the LCWRA must be applied from the UC start date without a relevant period.   

If a claimant gets a review started later than one month then they will not be entitled to have LCWRA from the UC start date.

What's the time-frame of "straightaway"? Day after? week after? month after?