New ESA contributions?

Sanmichelle
Sanmichelle Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
edited May 2020 in Benefits and income
Hi. Need some advice my husband has claimed new esa contributions and been successful he has had his first payment but now has received a letter saying he needs a fit note or  future payments will stop as he is technically not sick but his site has closed due to virus don't know what to do next. Also when he receives the grant in June would he stop claiming esa. Many thanks 

Comments

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,213 Championing
    Hi @Sanmichelle - & welcome to the community. There's some guidance on Scope during the Coronavirus outbreak which may be helpful here: https://community.scope.org.uk/discussion/70317/employee-rights-and-coronavirus/
    ESA is for people that have a disability/health condition which affects their ability to work. If this isn't the case, & his employer didn't agree to put him on furlough, then I think he should have perhaps claimed Universal Credit. It might be an idea to try a benefits checker such as the one on this site, which also has some helpful info. See: https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
    What is the grant that you mention, please?
    I hope some of the above is helpful. :)


  • Ails
    Ails Online Community Member Posts: 2,237 Championing
    Hi @Sanmichelle and welcome to the Community.  It's nice to meet you.  I hope you have found the above information which @chiareds has provided to be helpful.  Please keep in touch and let us know how things are going.  If we can be of any further help or support then please just let us know.  All the best.  :smile:

  • Sanmichelle
    Sanmichelle Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
    Hi it's the government's help grant that should start in june
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,213 Championing
    Hi @Sanmichelle - Thank you for your reply. I've been trying to look into this as you didn't give the name of the grant. Is he self employed, sorry I hadn't realised ? It may be this grant in the following link, which seems to be starting in June. It would be classed as income if receiving a benefit if you have a look at this:
    I hope this helps. Has he tried the benefit checker to see if he's claiming the right benefit? :)

  • Sanmichelle
    Sanmichelle Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
    Sorry yes he is self employed so it's the government grant that is been given in June
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,892 Online Community Programme Lead
    Hello @Sanmichelle. If your husband isn't sick or unable to work due to illness or disability, it may have been that New Style JSA (Job Seeker's Allowance) would have been the better benefit for him to claim. Are either of you claiming anything else at the moment?
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,213 Championing
    Hi @Sanmichelle - May I ask if your husband has tried the benefits checker yet?  https://www.entitledto.co.uk/
    I don't think he will be able to claim New Style JSA after all as he is self-employed.
    Might you answer @Adrian_Scope 's query too. Sorry for all the questions, but they are to help. :)



  • Sanmichelle
    Sanmichelle Online Community Member Posts: 9 Listener
    He's had a payment of esa contributions. But now received a letter to say he needs fit note all the feed back l Can find is no fit note need so wondering if it is just a circular letter the dwp set out. 
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,213 Championing
    Hi @Sanmichelle - 'Your doctor will only give you a fit note if your health affects your fitness for work.' This quoted from the DWP's 'The fit note: guidance for patients and employees.' Please see this here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/464395/fit-note-patients-employees-guidance-sept-2015.pdf
    Might you say where you've read he didn't need one?
    The DWP asked for a fit note, without which his future payments will stop, as you wrote.
    As mentioned above, ESA is for people that have a disability or health condition which affects their ability to work. This doesn't seem to be the case with your husband. He's self-employed, & out of work due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We are only trying to suggest other benefits that may help now instead, as ESA wasn't the right benefit to claim.
    It's likely that Universal Credit is an option, however this is means-tested. Using the benefits checker, putting in the correct financial details, etc. would help.


     

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