New to ESA

[lostfaith]

Hello

I have always been on JSA and my GP has advised I am aunable to work for some time. I was wondering however I am on Industrial Injury Benefit also from two accidents, at work. I was forced to resign and I was told I will be put on ESA - with being on Industrial Injury Benefit would I get half Industrial Injury Benefit and half ESA

Thanks

[bluebottle]

Re: New to ESA

Who told you you would receive ESA? You say you are in receipt of Industrial Injury Benefit (IIB). I cannot see that claiming ESA would affect this. However, you do need to clarify the position with DWP. They are only human and mistakes can be made. I go by an old adage: "If in doubt, check it out."

[lostfaith]

Re: New to ESA

Thanks, I went to sign on as normal Friday week on JSA and did forms for ESA on 1 July when I went in on 13 July they said I had been transferred to ESA

[bluebottle]

Re: New to ESA

If your GP has told the DWP you are not fit to work, then, yes, you will be transferred onto ESA. It is likely you will be on the basic rate of £67.50 per week for about three months, then be called in for a face-to-face assessment with ATOS Origin. I would strongly advise you to take someone into the assessment room with you. I have undergone one of these face-to-face assessments myself and it is wise to have a third party in the room. Although you can ask the assessor to record the assessment, if the person you ask to go with you is a trained nurse or healthcare professional or a social worker, even better. There are, at present, a number of ATOS assessors under investigation by the regulatory bodies in the healthcare field for inappropriate conduct and professional misconduct relating to these assessments.

[Magrew]

Re: New to ESA

If you are invited to an interview it is also worthwhile understanding what keyword descriptors they tune into in the interview. It would also have been useful to have known this for filling in the forms.

http://www.uki.net/php/files/welfare...net/pb8esa.pdf

[paul123]

Re: New to ESA

ask him or her for their GMC number and good luck with your assessment

[bluebottle]

Re: New to ESA

ask him or her for their GMC number and good luck with your assessment

ATOS also use nurses and physiotherapists. Nurses are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). In the case of physiotherapists, they are regulated by the Health Professions Council (HPC)

[lostfaith]

Re: New to ESA

Hi

Thanks. I got a letter - ESA260 today saying I have been approved for it - it said I need a certificate from my GP - downfall is I was forced to resign - shall I just send letter from GP saying i am unable to work

It is also saying £105 a week - is this assessment rate or have they automatically set me up after assessment phase, they took the twenty percent off leaving me £71 a week and says total amount £471 - is this over just 13 weeks? then I would go back to JSA?

[lostfaith]

Re: New to ESA

I misread form it was very hard to read - says £101 from 4 July to 13 July

[bluebottle]

Re: New to ESA

Most DWP letters are difficult to decipher. I think they do it deliberately to confuse people. Only joking. What you have posted up in relation to the weekly rate is a little confusing. The £471.00, I think you will find, is arrears you are owed by DWP.

[lostfaith]

Re: New to ESA

Hi

Thanks, turns out first payment went in 23 July for 4 to 13 July so does that mean still due to computer issues I should get the remaining £140 later. Letter says income related ESA do I have ot pay for prescriptions like this/? Would my GP charge me for my medical certificates, I assume I just need to go in each week for a fit note for each period of the ESA being paid e.g. I would need one from 23 to 30 July for next one etc

Thanks

[lostfaith]

Re: New to ESA

Well saw my GP hes made ut a three month certificate

[bluebottle]

Re: New to ESA

Hi

Thanks, turns out first payment went in 23 July for 4 to 13 July so does that mean still due to computer issues I should get the remaining £140 later. Letter says income related ESA do I have ot pay for prescriptions like this/? Would my GP charge me for my medical certificates, I assume I just need to go in each week for a fit note for each period of the ESA being paid e.g. I would need one from 23 to 30 July for next one etc

Thanks

Income-Related ESA is classed as a "gateway" benefit as it means you are eligible to other benefits, like Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit. I would ask the DWP how you stand for exemption from paying prescription charges whilst in receipt of Income-Related ESA. If the DWP are asking for Med 3s (Fit Notes), your GP should provide these free of charge. It is only if an employer asks for a Med 3 outside the normal parameters that your GP would charge you.

[lostfaith]

Re: New to ESA

Don't know how much to say thank you for all this and my other thread, I wish I found two years ago - it is a shame the depression was from bullying

[bluebottle]

Re: New to ESA

That is the unfortunate thing about bullying - the damage it causes. It is a form of abuse and, thankfully, there is now case and statute law that deals with workplace bullying, namely Majrowski -v- Guys and St Thomas's NHS Trust 2005 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.