Sent back my WC form. How long until I hear back? How long do I need to send fit notes for? — Scope | Disability forum
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Sent back my WC form. How long until I hear back? How long do I need to send fit notes for?

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D1985
D1985 Community member Posts: 12 Listener
edited November 2021 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hi I have sent back my form for work capability, which they have received. How long is the wait now to hear back from them please?

My other question is how long do I need to send fit notes for please?
I noticed online that it states 13 weeks from when you first ring and claim, esa then sort it all not the Drs fit notes...  Is this right?

Kind regards
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    edited October 2021
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    Waiting times for assessments vary but are longer at the moment due to a backlog. Normally they would be done within the first thirteen weeks. You will need to provide continuous Fit Notes until a decision on the Work Capability Assessment has been made.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • D1985
    D1985 Community member Posts: 12 Listener
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    Thank you for replying.

    So I could be waiting months then?

    Is there a number that I can ring to ask? if I leave it a while longer and have still not heard anything I could then contact them.
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    edited October 2021
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    Even pre pandemic people typically waited a couple of months for the assessment (assuming one is needed). You will be paid the assessment rate while waiting or the assessment. You cannot be paid the Support Group until the fourteenth week anyway.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • D1985
    D1985 Community member Posts: 12 Listener
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    So not everyone has an assessment?

    What is the support group please? And is that 14 weeks from when you first claimed?
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
    edited October 2021
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    Suggest you read about ESA here 
    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style-employment-and-support-allowance#work-capability-assessment
    During the assessment phase you will be paid £74.70/week (if you meet the NI conditions).
    If you are put into the Support Group (Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity) you will get £114.10/week and the award can continue indefinitely. If you are not put into the Support Group but do have Limited Capability for Work you will continue to receive £74.70 but the award will end after 12 months.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 54,243 Disability Gamechanger
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    D1985 said:
    So not everyone has an assessment?


    Most people do. Paper based assessments are rare. See link for Support Group descriptors.
    Some people are waiting several months for an assessment. If you need one it will either be telephone or face face, most are telephone but some people have had face to face recently.

    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
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  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,010 Disability Gamechanger
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    D1985 said:
    So not everyone has an assessment?

    What is the support group please? And is that 14 weeks from when you first claimed?
    Certain health conditions (primarily cancer patients who are having, about to receive or recovering from radiotherapy/chemotherapy) are automatically entitled to be treated as having LCWRA so do not have an assessment (but still have to return the ESA50/UC50 form).
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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