ESA Claim: question regarding fit note

Legend111

Hello all. I was diagnosed with cancer back in 2017, worked until 2022 and then was to sick to work so was getting ESA.

This year I felt better, so found job and closed my ESA case on 1st of March, unfortunately due to being to ill I and my workplace decided to let me go. So I do not work now. (i am taking chemo but tablets version and still have my cancer and also now have mental health issues)

I phoned ESA today and was told just to apply from scratch. I have done it. Now I received message to send them fit note. (but I am not on statutory sick pay, I left my job and I am jobless now).

Can anyone advice what I should send them if I do not have sick note. Should I just ask my gp to write my illness history or what?

Sorry for long post, any help and advices appreciated.

Have a nice day.

poppy123456

As you are outside of the 12 weeks timeframe for linking claims together then you will need to reapply from scratch and go through another work capability assessment. For this you will need to provide fit notes because that's part of the claims process. It will be New style ESA that you will need to claim.

You will only be entitled to payments if you have the correct NI contributions in tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23.

As you're currently going through treatment for cancer then you will automatically be placed into the Support Group. If you're not entitled to payments then your NI credits will be paid based on limited capability for work.

Have you also checked entitlement to Universal Credit? If you live with a partner you'll need to claim as a couple and your joint circumstances will be taken into consideration. If you have capital of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming.