Should I try to apply for ESA?

alissa
alissa Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
edited July 2022 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
hiya
I need some advice .
i m on uc.
I was told by my work coach to claim lwcra but a year later of forms appeal and stress , its still having a decision made. All I wanted to do was get esa but my coach said it dosent work like that uc.
Should I just try and apply for esa?

Comments

  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Good morning @alissa and thanks for your query, to help everyone find it and share their thoughts more easily, I've moved your post over into our ESA category.

    You'd be welcome to have a look around the forum in the meantime, browse different topics on our categories page or chat with members in the Coffee Lounge. 

    If you feel we can help with anything further let us know :)
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    edited July 2022
    The only ESA that's possible to claim now is New style ESA and you'll need to have paid the correct amount of NI contirbutions from working in tax years April 2019 to March 2021.
    Even if you did claim this, it would be deducted in full from any UC entitelement so there's no overall financial gain.
    UC isn't just for those that work, people with health conditions also claim it but you need to go through the work capability assesment process, which is exactly the same as ESA was.
    Did you go through the work capability assesment and weren't happy with the decision? If so are you at Mandatory Reconsideration stage or Tribunal?
    If you are eventually found to have LCWRA then you'll receive extra money each month from the 4th month after you first reported your health condition.
  • alissa
    alissa Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    so I first applied I think last feb.its at the appeal stage now . so a waiting game.  I was confused with the esa but thanks ur clarified it.
  • alissa
    alissa Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    no still waiting. I've got all the paper work through and was told they have respond with a date by 1st july
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    DWP don't always respond by the date they're given by HMCTS. If this happens, it makes no difference, the hearing wil go ahead as normal.
  • alissa
    alissa Online Community Member Posts: 4 Listener
    oh right I didn't realise 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    poppy123456 said:
    DWP don't always respond by the date they're given by HMCTS. If this happens, it makes no difference, the hearing wil go ahead as normal.

    Just to add further to this, HMCTS can also extend the time in which DWP repsonf, if they dont do so by the first date.

Categories