Esa support group > UC fit note
Hello I Started a claim for UC after moving house I was previously on ESA (support group) it wad my understanding that I wouldn't need to provide a fit note but now I'm being asked to is this correct or not any advice would be much appreciated
Thanks
Comments
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Yup, it's part of the claims process to ask you for a fit note because you reported your health conditions. UC do not yet know that you were in the Support Group and they won't know until ESA send your details across and this can take a few weeks. Once they do your claim will be updated.
You do not need to provide a fit note so you can ignore that message. You should also put a message onto your journal to tell them you were in the Support Group.
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This is what I was sent and when i questioned in journal all I got in response was yes please
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This doesn't apply to you because you are in the Support Group for ESA. Yes, you haven't had an assessment for UC but this isn't needed because you had one for ESA because you're in the Support Group.
My advice remains the same as above.
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Don't know if I should provide a screen shot showing you what I said to them in journal so I'll just quote it.
"Hello l've seen a journal entry asking for a fit note.l am moving to universal credit from ESA (support group) I was advised by citizens advice when receiving support to claim that I wouldn't need to provide a fit/sick note. Giving this do I still need to provide one?"
You said to leave a note saying I'm in the Support Group is what I sent them above sufficient enough?
Many thanks for your advice
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Telling them you're in the Support Group for ESA is fine. You will not need to provide any fit notes. If you do provide one then you could be referred for a work capability assessment so please make sure you don't provide this.
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Ok thank you even though they said yes please I'm going to take your advice.
Thank you so much
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You're welcome.
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Hi @finnisking, we've seen many cases of this actually and it is something that is making the migration more stressful for many coming from the Support Group. I hope this has helped reassure you anyhow, and please do let us know if anything happens.
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Hi I put a message on journal and was told I can ignore it. The advice from here was really helpful and eased my anxiety so thank you to all that responded
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I have seen these two comments posted below an article in the comments section on the website benefitsandwork.co.uk. I can relate to these comments, I will be asking that I am paid twice monthly payments when my turn comes as well. A payment every 14-17 days, or twice monthly, is way better than that pitiful monthly frequency. They would be insufficient for me. When I see many comments elsewhere from people on the internet saying they can’t budget, it makes me that I am glad I am not alone. I know I wasn’t alone anyway in having limited budgeting skills but it still pleases me that I am not alone in that regard. That other comment “I don’t like this monthly payday”, I couldn’t agree more with. Why would being on UC be better for me if when I can’t live off a monthly payday, regardless of receiving more money? They have to accept my APA request, no questions asked. If they try to be awkward with me, then they’ll totally be messing around with the wrong person.
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It’s absolutely ridiculous they ask for fit notes from ESA claimants or try to make them have another WCA, regardless that the systems don’t detect an ESA Support Group claim from the word go. They’re forcing us all over to UC, they want us all to be on it. Well, they should have a system that’s better than the one that causes stress on ESA claimants. I don’t want to move over until next year. It gives them time to iron out the issues, that’s if they can do that. I wouldn’t hold my breath that they will do that!
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The currently monthly amount for someone who’s single and over 25 years old and in receipt the LCWRA element, it’s a total of £809.64. Obviously benefits see an increase in how much they pay each April. That total will rise to £823.41 next April, an increase of over £13.00. I just need to see that £823.41 divided into two payments a month, twice monthly payments. Imagine if I just accepted £823.41 a month on, say, the 20th of every month. I am not waiting until the 20th of the following month to see another £823.41.
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That’s a lot of money, over £820, but I cannot be made to stretch that over a whole month. I have to see that amount divided ➗ by two, that would be £411.70 every 14-17 day period.
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I notice that amount is higher than what I get on income related ESA. I only receive £318.10 every fortnight/2 week period from the ESA Support Group so I will be better off in terms of the mathematics. But, for the payment frequency, I have to receive that under my terms, not under their terms, because the budgeting skills aren’t there to stretch £823.41 over a whole month.
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I will be asking for a note to be added to my claim that I am moving across from ESA and that I shouldn’t be made to provide a single fit note or have another WCA. I will be doing the claim by phone. I am tech savvy, I do know how to use technology, but I don’t want to sign into an online account and deal with the claim that way. I don’t even do my banking online. It’ll be a telephone claim - my choice.
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Yes, I know twice monthly payments aren’t exactly going to be every fortnight. Sometimes there will be just a few extra days between payments but it will still beat monthly. It’s still not as big a gap as monthly. I prefer not waiting as long for the next pay day when my budgeting skills are poor - twice monthly payments will still meet my requirements.
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I agree it is a little silly that it takes so long for UC to be informed of Support Group status.
As someone who has also had budgeting issues in the past I do also happen to agree that a payment every two weeks would be easier for me to manage. Do let us know how you get on with requesting it.
It is something that is covered under the following: Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs) - GOV.UK
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thanks @Jimm_Scope for leaving that link but I have had enough knowledge behind me for some time in regards to the APA, I know how they work and I’m thankful that they exist.
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Even with the APA it won’t be exactly every 2 weeks that I get payments, some occasions it could be a few more days, it’ll depend on the layout of each month with weekends and any bank holiday that is in a month. However, twice monthly is still miles better than getting a payment on a set date and waiting a whole month for more money.
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Twice monthly is more frequent than monthly - of course it’s better than monthly. 🤣
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