Benifit

pigeon55

My esa was stopped after 52 weeks. For the last 16 months I have been in dialogue with the dwp. I'm no awaiting date for independent court tribunal. I have medical evidence from mri scans and letters from hospitals and gp stating my medical evidence for me not being able to work but dwp say I'm fit for work. Surely during this period I should have recived some benifit while awaiting court date. Would have thought that they should pay me job seekers if they state I'm fit to work untill the case is resolved. I can not apply for it as I'm the one who disagrees with there fit for work assessment. Any advice.

susan48

@pigeon55,
i would contact the Law centre or CAB as I’d have thought you’d be entitled to something.
i maybe wrong but I’m sure I read on this site that esa has a tribunal rate.

im not 100% sure but check DWP online it may help or call DWP 

debbiedo49

Good luck. I lose ESA and had to take myself online to job seekers allowance as it’s not automatic. Luckily for me I have a compassionate advisor who has me on minimum availability for work hours. It’s still really hard but 2 years on I’m doing 6 hours per week plus Jobseeker’s Allowance. I couldn’t go any further after tribunal as my cab advisor didn’t tell me I could go to upper tribunal and I ran out of time. By then I was exhausted.

poppy123456

If your ESA stopped after 52 weeks this tells me you were claiming Contribution based ESA. This is time limited to 365 days unless you're placed into the Support Group. If you were claiming CB ESA to be eligible for Income Related will depend on house hold income. If you have a partner that works then you will need to be placed into the Support Group at Tribunal, if this happens your money will be backdated to the date it stopped.

pigeon55

Yes I was on contribution based esa. So mine stopped after 365 days. I was told by advisor that I should get a reduced rate while awaiting court date. So I rang the dwp to be told that they would only reinstate my stamp contribution as I was in the Wrag group. I think this is unfair after 14 months of no income. It's not my fault it is taking time especially as my medical evidence points to me being unable
bless to work.

[Deleted User]

Hi pigeon55

Good luck with your appeal.  Have you clearly stated in your appeal paperwork, preferably in the appeal, why you believe that you satisfy either one of the descriptors for being in the support group, or the alternative conditions (Regulation 35, for example, there's a substantial risk to your health if you undertake any work-related activity)?

In case you haven't seen these already, do have a look at the information in the leaflet published by  the Law for Life on www.advicenow.org.uk - How to Win a PIP Appeal, and also the definitions of terms in www.pipinfo.net.

Best wishes

Gill_Scope