New style esa

Jon7777777
Jon7777777 Online Community Member Posts: 162 Contributor
in Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)

I have applied for this today as I feel I fit the criteria, process was very quick and easy, recieved text message with link to forward fit note.

Am a little confused does this mean i meet the criteria, or is it normal to have to send a fit note before u even know if you are accepted, if its the latter then am just. Wasting the doctors time if I am refused thanx in advance

Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,795 Championing

    Hi,

    As you are already on Universal Credit with LCWRA, you do not need to supply a fit note to ESA. That must be an automated text.

  • Jon7777777
    Jon7777777 Online Community Member Posts: 162 Contributor
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1105361#Comment_1105361

    Aww ok thank you so it's just a case of waiting for a confirmation letter

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 4,210 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    Hopefully you won't be waiting too long for that letter @Jon7777777

  • Jon7777777
    Jon7777777 Online Community Member Posts: 162 Contributor
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1105427#Comment_1105427

    Thank u, I got my fit note today, do u think I should send it, even thou I am in the lwca uc

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 14,387 Online Community Programme Lead
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1105436#Comment_1105436

    Hello @Jon7777777, I’m afraid we can’t tell you what you should do in this situation.

    If they are asking for fit notes, it could be that your LCWRA status on Universal Credit hasn’t yet been carried across. I’m not sure whether this has now been resolved, but historically some people experienced issues because there wasn’t a direct system in place for ESA to check UC awards. Unlike when someone moves from ESA to UC, the information wasn’t automatically shared the other way around.

    If you’re able to, it may be worth giving ESA a call to explain that you already have a confirmed LCWRA award on Universal Credit, and to ask whether they still require you to provide a fit note, as you should be placed in the Support Group.

  • Jon7777777
    Jon7777777 Online Community Member Posts: 162 Contributor

    Phoned esa and they said because it's a different benefit I need to supply fit notes I explained I was in lwca uc and they said it does not matter, so prob full assessment again

  • Jon7777777
    Jon7777777 Online Community Member Posts: 162 Contributor

    Just recieved letter we cannot pay you esa from Feb 2026 because you have not paid or been credited with enough ni contributions,

    To continue to get contribution based esa u may need to attend a work focused interview with a advisor.

    To continue to get esa u may need to fill in a capability for work questionnaire, of you don't fill in questionnaire or payments will be stopped,

    I hope somebody understands this as if I don't fit the criteria why go to see a advisor, or fill out the capability assessment thank u

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 8,559 Championing

    It's possible to not qualify for payment, but still qualify to get NI Contributions paid, the criteria ie appointments etc are the same.

  • Jon7777777
    Jon7777777 Online Community Member Posts: 162 Contributor
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1107923#Comment_1107923

    Oh rite well with me already having enough contributions to get state person it's pointless

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,795 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1107934#Comment_1107934

    It isn't pointless. It keeps your LCWRA status if you lose UC due to excess savings. When you start a new UC claim after savings drop, then you do not have to go through another WCA.

    I don't know where the ESA advisors are getting their information from here as the WCA is exactly the same for both UC & ESA. You do not need to go through separate WCA's for each benefit.

    I have been through this process myself. I get the NI Credits without payments and did not have to go through another WCA or attend any appointment is there is no money being paid. (I suppose it is possible the process has changed in the last few months but that seems unlikely).

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