ESA Credits only claim

pope

I phoned ESA this morning to do a ESA credits only claim for my 16 year old child. I made it very clear to the person on the phone that I want a ESA credits only claim no money. 

He wanted my bank details I said to him but there is going to be no money involved. But he insisted that if he leaves it blank the application will be rejected.

Also something which I'm really worried about is that he said a work coach will be in contact within 14 days to agree to claimant commitments. Why would my child have to attend job centre for commitments if no money is involved? 

I have talked to another parent in a similar situation as me but there child did not have to attend.


Thanks

nannytone_2

Even without payment, it is still an ESA claim, and the conditions of the claim still need to be met.
Your child will need fit notes from your doctor and will need to complete an ESA50, and have a work capability assessment

8dayweek

Is your 16 year old not in education? 

huckster

Presumably a disabled child no longer in education or training, so ESA is being claimed on a credits only basis, so they can have the Work Capability Assessment process completed.  And then if they are awarded support {LCWRA) group, they will look to claim Universal Credit, based on being in receipt of DLA/PIP and having existing LCWRA award. 

Yes ESA claim process requires bank details, even though no ESA payments are due.

And yes the Job Centre will arrange an appointment so that a claimant commitment can be issued.  Sometimes if the claimant lacks capability to accept commitment, the Job Centre Work Coach can waive the need to issue a claimant commitment.

@pope If your child lacks capability, have you considered asking ESA/Job Centre for you to become appointee ?

pope

nannytone_2 said:

Even without payment, it is still an ESA claim, and the conditions of the claim still need to be met.
Your child will need fit notes from your doctor and will need to complete an ESA50, and have a work capability assessment

Yes fit note uploaded today. Yes I am aware ESA50 will need to be filled in.

pope

8dayweek said:

Is your 16 year old not in education? 

Yes still in education 

8dayweek

huckster said:

Presumably a disabled child no longer in education or training, so ESA is being claimed on a credits only basis, so they can have the Work Capability Assessment process completed.  And then if they are awarded support {LCWRA) group, they will look to claim Universal Credit, based on being in receipt of DLA/PIP and having existing LCWRA award. 

Yes ESA claim process requires bank details, even though no ESA payments are due.

And yes the Job Centre will arrange an appointment so that a claimant commitment can be issued.  Sometimes if the claimant lacks capability to accept commitment, the Job Centre Work Coach can waive the need to issue a claimant commitment.

@pope If your child lacks capability, have you considered asking ESA/Job Centre for you to become appointee ?

Well I thought that initially but then I couldn’t fathom why ESA and not UC?

Not in Education and unfit for work and presenting medical evidence in anticipation of WCA would be an exception, so could qualify as U/18. 

The ESA credits only claim used to be a way to establish LCW/LCWRA before claiming as a Student I thought (post QYP age). 

Anyway, OP has said their Child is still in Education… I was actually asking as I thought there was a chance the ESA claim would potentially end their Child Benefit (and potentially impact any UC Child Element). 

pope

8dayweek said:

huckster said:

Presumably a disabled child no longer in education or training, so ESA is being claimed on a credits only basis, so they can have the Work Capability Assessment process completed.  And then if they are awarded support {LCWRA) group, they will look to claim Universal Credit, based on being in receipt of DLA/PIP and having existing LCWRA award. 

Yes ESA claim process requires bank details, even though no ESA payments are due.

And yes the Job Centre will arrange an appointment so that a claimant commitment can be issued.  Sometimes if the claimant lacks capability to accept commitment, the Job Centre Work Coach can waive the need to issue a claimant commitment.

@pope If your child lacks capability, have you considered asking ESA/Job Centre for you to become appointee ?

Well I thought that initially but then I couldn’t fathom why ESA and not UC?

Not in Education and unfit for work and presenting medical evidence in anticipation of WCA would be an exception, so could qualify as U/18. 

The ESA credits only claim used to be a way to establish LCW/LCWRA before claiming as a Student I thought (post QYP age). 

Anyway, OP has said their Child is still in Education… I was actually asking as I thought there was a chance the ESA claim would potentially end their Child Benefit (and potentially impact any UC Child Element). 

Esa credits only claim can not end child benefit or affect UC child element. As there is no payment its just class 1 NI contributions which are paid.

pope

huckster said:

Presumably a disabled child no longer in education or training, so ESA is being claimed on a credits only basis, so they can have the Work Capability Assessment process completed.  And then if they are awarded support {LCWRA) group, they will look to claim Universal Credit, based on being in receipt of DLA/PIP and having existing LCWRA award. 

Yes ESA claim process requires bank details, even though no ESA payments are due.

And yes the Job Centre will arrange an appointment so that a claimant commitment can be issued.  Sometimes if the claimant lacks capability to accept commitment, the Job Centre Work Coach can waive the need to issue a claimant commitment.

@pope If your child lacks capability, have you considered asking ESA/Job Centre for you to become appointee ?

    Yes exactly claiming ESA credits only by handing in sick notes to trigger a work capability questionnaire and then to be put into the support group. Eventually when I apply for UC for him he will be put into the Wcra group straight away.

What will the claimant commitment be he is still in education?

I am his appointee and he gets DLA will be switching over soon.

Spoonie_Turtle

(Incidentally for anyone else who thought the same as I initially did, being in education is irrelevant for contributions-based ESA and isn't mentioned in the guidance for NS-ESA, so presumably the same applies to a credits-only claim as it's under the same NS benefit rules.)

huckster

The claimant commitment would only be about reporting change in circumstances.

If there is an appointee, then issue of claimant commitment is waived based on lack of capability of the claimant and the appointee cannot accept on claimants behalf.

Yes being in education in these circumstances would not be an issue for benefits at the moment. Would be reviewed if claim made to UC later.