ESA

sueg5

Hi, I have become disabled with arthritis and I am in receipt of PIP. My pay has now stopped at work and I will be getting new style ESA. Does anyone have any experience of this please? I am wondering how long it takes for them to assess and decide which group I am in. My feeling is that it should be the support group as I’m not able to work at all. Also wondering, if I’m placed into the support group and stay there, will I Continue to recieve ESA after the year is up ( I’m aware it used to be a year to get contribution based). I live with a partner and he earns over the UC threshold and has savings. Work will probably terminate my contract at some point and although I am applying to get ill health retirement there is no guarantee I will. Any advice or experience welcome please. Thanks in advance.

bg844

You will require a fit note from your GP to start the claim process, which can be done online. You will receive a letter to attend an appointment (which should be by telephone) with your local Job Centre to create your 'claimant commitment'. This agreement will include different things you must do to be entitled to ESA, depending on your work coach your commitments will either be turned off or reduced but until an assessment has been carried out then there's nothing you can do in that aspect unfortunately. 

Shortly after this once payments commence you will receive an ESA50 health questionnaire to fill out, this is a good way to fully explain how your conditions affect you. It will take several months to even wait for an appointment, it really isn't a quick process unfortunately. Once you have had your WCA it will take between 2-12 weeks for the final decision to be made, if awarded the Support Group then you should be backdated from the 13th week.

You will still require to get repeat fit notes with no breaks until the final decision is made on your entitlement.

poppy123456

Have you taken a look at the Support Group descriptors to see which one you think applies to you? You can see them here. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-glossary/support-group-descriptors

Please also be aware that they will assess your ability to do any type of work because it's the work you can do and not the work you can't do.

If placed into the Support Group payments will continue for as long as you remain in that group, there's never been a time limit of just 1 year for this group.

sueg5

Thanks both for your replies. I am getting fit notes from the doctor which I can’t see stopping as my condition is not getting better. The bit which baffles me is that they would continue to give me the ESA if I’m in the support group, regardless of my partners income. I have checked and it seems I would meet the criteria due to mobility and pain issues.

calcotti

sueg5 said:... The bit which baffles me is that they would continue to give me the ESA if I’m in the support group, regardless of my partners income. ..

New style ESA has nothing to do with your partner. It is an individual benefit for you regardless of your financial circumstances (apart from some pension income). Entitlement to ESA, if you meet the health requirements, is based on your NI record in the previous two tax years prior to the calendar year in which you apply.

sueg5

Thank you. Think I’m just a bit surprised to see a benefit that isn’t based on the household…

poppy123456

sueg5 said:

Thank you. Think I’m just a bit surprised to see a benefit that isn’t based on the household…

There's always been at least 2 benefits that aren't based on household income. New style ESA and JSA are 2 of them now.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

sueg5 said:

Thank you. Think I’m just a bit surprised to see a benefit that isn’t based on the household…

There's always been at least 2 benefits that aren't based on household income. New style ESA and JSA are 2 of them now. 

Plus of course disability benefits which are not means tested.

poppy123456

calcotti said:

poppy123456 said:

sueg5 said:

Thank you. Think I’m just a bit surprised to see a benefit that isn’t based on the household…

There's always been at least 2 benefits that aren't based on household income. New style ESA and JSA are 2 of them now. 

Plus of course disability benefits which are not means tested.

Thanks calcotti, i should have included those too. Completely overlooked that.

sueg5

Thank you. This has all been reassuring. It’s a worrying time as it’s likely that I will be deemed unfit to work, which I agree with  and my contract will be terminated. Strangely, this doesn’t mean I will be approved for the ill health pension that I have applied for. Thanks again everyone.

L_Volunteer

This does sound really worrying @sueg5  Would anything help to make this more manageable for you at the moment? Sending you hugs and a listening ear if you wish to talk about it or if there's anything we can do to help