SSP1 and New Style ESA

MW123
MW123 Scope Member Posts: 886 Championing

My friend has been off work for six months due to anxiety and depression. She receives Universal Credit and was placed in the LCWRA group in August. Her Statutory Sick Pay ended in December, and she has now received her SSP1 form to apply for New Style ESA.

She is still employed and providing fit notes to her employer. Since New Style ESA requires fit notes, will she need to undergo another LCWRA assessment after submitting her claim, and will she be required to continue submitting fit notes for this benefit?

As you can imagine, she is very stressed about this situation and has said she won’t apply, as she doesn’t want the added stress of contacting the doctor for fit notes if she stops working, particularly since Universal Credit doesn’t require them.

My concern is that the DWP might question her if she doesn’t apply, and the last thing she needs right now is more stress, especially if they stop her money for not using the SSP1 form, which is based on her National Insurance contributions. What is the correct thing to do in this situation?

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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,473 Championing

    She will not need another another work capability assessment because when claiming both benefits, the decision applies to them both. They are the same assessments. Although she's been found to have LCWRA, ESA will very likely ask her to provide fit notes, even though they are not needed.

    The ESA will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement, so there's no financial gain to claiming both but definitely worth doing so. For the avoidance of doubt, DWP will not question why a claim is not be made, if she didn't BUT as it's not means tested then I would 100% advise her to claim it.

    The ESA will also include class 1 NI credits but for UC it's class 3. She will receive the lower rate of £90.50/week for 13 weeks, this will then increase to £138.20/week from the 14th week.

    The deduction from UC for the lower rate will be £392.16/month. Increasing to £598.86/month when ESA increases.

    Once the ESA is all up an running there shouldn't be any issues at all.

    I hope this helps your friend.

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 886 Championing

    Thank you so much for your helpful advice, Poppy! The system is incredibly complicated, and it’s been difficult for my friend to make sense of everything. It’s great that you can understand this bureaucratic system, as when she put a note on her diary (I think that’s what it’s called), the advisor typed back and told her they didn’t know the answer and that she should phone the helpline, which my friend had no intention of doing. Begs the question, if they do not understand the system, how do they expect their claimants to?

    Your explanation has really helped clear up the confusion and will allow her to make a more informed decision about how to move forward. I think I made matters worse by telling her if she did not apply they might stop her Universal Credit, but you have certainly cleared that thought up for me. Your support is greatly appreciated and will definitely ease some of the stress she’s been feeling. Again thank you.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 63,473 Championing

    You're very welcome! The diary you mention is known as the journal. That's not somewhere where I'd want to ask any questions about any benefits, including UC. The service centre staff who mostly reply on the journal are not benefits advisors. Many of them do not understand UC rules, without thinking about other benefits.

    All benefits are/were complex but I think UC is worse than all of them. If you're friend needs further advice, please just ask, I'm always happy to help!