Hi, my name is sam2022! Not heard about ESA payments

sam2022

I started handing in sick notes to job centre round about June 2022 time not sure on the exact date, I then received my work capability assessment through 23rd july 2022 I filled it out and sent it back that day then received my decision on the 13th September 2022 and they said I have limited capability to work and that they will write in my journal within 7 working days about any money owed and when I’ll start receiving esa payments but I still haven’t heard anything back yet 

poppy123456

You won’t receive ESA payments if you’re claiming UC because they are different benefits.
If the decision was Limited Capability for work (LCW) there is no extra money each month.

If the decision was Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA) then you will receive extra money from the 4th month after you reported your health condition.
Please take another look at the decision letter to see exactly what the decision was.

sam2022

The decision was “limited capability for work and work related activity”

poppy123456

Without knowing the exact date you reported your health condition and the date you usually receive your money each month I can’t tell you exactly when it’s paid from. 

Based on the information you gave the extra money would be paid from either Oct or November. No LCWRA element is owed, which is why you haven’t received a letter. Your decision was made extremely quick.

sam2022

I normally get paid the 20th of each month and I reported my health condition start of June 2022

poppy123456

Then your waiting period will be June/July, July/August, August/Sept.. LCWRA starts from assessment period 14th Sept to 13th October, first payment will be 20th October. The LCWRA element is £354.28/month.

sam2022

Is that on top of my universal credit payment

poppy123456

Yes because LCWRA is part of UC.

calcotti

sam2022 said:

Is that on top of my universal credit payment

It's an increase to your future UC payments.

sam2022

Why did they write in my letter that they will write to me in my journal within 7 working days 

poppy123456

sam2022 said:

Why did they write in my letter that they will write to me in my journal within 7 working days 

Because it's a standard letter sent to everyone. It also says "If this means we owe you money, you will receive a letter within 7 days" If they don't owe money, there's no letter to send to you.

sam2022

I just double checked my journal and the first sick note I handed into them was the 23th May 2022

poppy123456

sam2022 said:

I just double checked my journal and the first sick note I handed into them was the 23th May 2022

That doesn’t change when your extra money is paid from and your first payment will still be 20th October.
It has to be 3 full assessment periods and the May to June assessment period doesn’t count here because you sent your first fit note in the middle of the assessment period.

sam2022

I just received my universal credit payment statement and the LCWRA isn’t listed on my statement when I asked universal credit on my journal they said that they are still waiting on it getting updated etc but I got my decision letter on the 13th September 

poppy123456

I would have expected it to be added to this statement.

sam2022

That’s what I was expecting as well

sam2022

I called them and they said that I will receive my first payment 3 months after I got my decision 

poppy123456

Yet again absolutely disgusting advice you were given, which is not correct.
The waiting period starts from when you reported your health condition, supported by a fit note within 7 days of that.

calcotti

You need to post a payment query on your journal saying that have been told on the phone that you will not be paid LCWRA until 3 months after the LCWRA decision was made but that you expect to receive the LCWRA from the fourth complete assessment period after when you first reported your health condition on xxxxx.

If they then say you are not owed until later you will have to request a Mandatory Reconsideration.

(This is such a fundamental administrative matter it is truly appalling that so many UC staff do not understand what the regulations say - because they appear not to get enough training.)

sam2022

This was their reply “hi Samantha, the decision can take upto 3 months to be fully processed” I’ve already had my decision letter I’m so confused with it all

poppy123456

You need to request the Mandatory Reconsideration, that's the only thing you can do now. You can do this on your journal.