Esa backdate experience advice

lauraslost
lauraslost Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Hi,

I've just been put on Lwcwa. On Friday. And it says they'll pay esa from when I first gave evidence. Which my first fit note is September 21. 

There's a gap of 10 days between fit notes about 6 months ago and over a 2 month gap before I uploaded my last fit note a month ago. 

I didn't realise gaps in fit notes would affect the esa being backdate.

I'm really nervous because I need the backdate really. I'm planning on ringing the doctors first thing tomorrow and getting a backdated fit note to cover the gaps. 

Do you think this might be enough for the esa to be backdated to when I actually did first get in touch, If I get it uploaded before everything's calculated?

I'd really appreciate hearing anyones experience of a similar situation? 

I don't really understand how any of this works. 

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,001 Championing
    You have referred to LCWRA (which is a term used for UC) and ESA. ESA is a different benefit to UC. Can you clarify whether you are claiming UC or ESA or both.
  • lauraslost
    lauraslost Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    I'm just claiming uc but have been put in LCWRA after s year of waiting for health assesment 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Yes, fit notes need to be provided continuously without any gaps until the decision is made. The gap for 2 months may affect when they pay the LCWRA element from. Getting a fit notes and backdating it may not help you. It will be down to a decision maker to make the final decision on when it's paid from.
    If they go from when you first reported your health condition in Sept 2021 then the LCWRA element will be paid from either January or Feb 2022.
  • lauraslost
    lauraslost Online Community Member Posts: 3 Listener
    Thanks for your advice, surely a backdated fitnote covering the gaps is better than not having it? is there any way to challenge the date they pay from or give reasons for the fit note gap?

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    As i advised, it will be down to a decision maker to make that final decision and that decision hasn't yet been made. Part of the process is you must provide fit notes without any gaps until a decision is made.
    All you can do at the moment is wait.

Categories