Applying for new style ESA

exhaustedpidgeon
exhaustedpidgeon Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener
edited November 27 in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Hi, i have ADHD and work part time while looking after my children who are both neurodiverse. My youngest child is autistic and he is receiving DLA. Ive been off sick for just over 3 months as I had a nervous breakdown from parental burnout and inexpected medication interactions, and developed psychotic depression and was sectioned for 3 weeks.

Ive started a claim for PIP for myself, but i also want to claim ESA when my sick pay runs out. We dont qualify for universal credits. I just want to be able to cover my side of the bills, and i am hoping to be "better" in 3 months time however the stress of everything is making it difficult to recover.

Citizens Advice says i should apply for ESA within 3 months of sick pay running out, but I'll need an SSP1, and work only give an SSP1 when sick pay is "about to run out". Am I allowed to request this early?

I might not even need it as I might be well enought to return to work before that but so far recovery is incredibly slow.

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  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 2,409 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @exhaustedpidgeon and welcome to the community. I'm so sorry for everything you've been going through. Are you getting some support?

    I found this information for you:

    "If an employee is not eligible or their SSP ends

    Employees may be able to apply for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). They use form SSP1 to support their application.

    If your employee’s SSP is ending you must send them form SSP1 either:

    • within 7 days of their SSP ending, if it ends unexpectedly while they’re still sick
    • on or before the beginning of the 23rd week, if their SSP is expected to end before their sickness does

    If your employee does not qualify for SSP you must send them form SSP1 within 7 days of their first day off sick.

    If your employee thinks this is unfair, they can appeal to HMRC - the form tells them how to do this.

    Long-term illness

    You can complete form SSP1 before the end of SSP if you know an employee will be off sick for more than 28 weeks. This means they can apply for ESA before their SSP comes to an end."

    So, if they know you'll be off sick longer than 28 weeks or they expect your SSP to run out before you feel better, then can complete the SSP1 form early. Hope that helps 😊

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