ESA

[jlineton]

Can anyone with experiece of claiming ESA tell me if you get paid during the assessment period? what if they find you fit for work do you then have to switch to JSA and do you get any money for the period when you were claiming the wrong benefit?

[Kazzen161]

You get a lower rate of ESA during the assessment period (13 weeks). Once the decision is made you get an increase in ESA if you are put in the WRA Group and a bigger increase if you are put in the support group. If the decision takes longer than 13 weeks, any increase is backdated.

 

If you fail the assessment, I think you get put on JSA. I don't think you have to pay anything back because the lower ESA rate is the same as the JSA rate.

[chris54]

If you were on IB you continue to get that rate untill a decision is made

[Special_talent123]

Can anyone with experiece of claiming ESA tell me if you get paid during the assessment period? what if they find you fit for work do you then have to switch to JSA and do you get any money for the period when you were claiming the wrong benefit?

 

ive been through this process myself. If you are on IB and IS then that will be continuing paying. The ESA u will get a form 'limited capability work questionarie' try and right down your worst scenario and u need at least 15 points to qualify for ESA. Some may have medicals i didnt have too . then u have to wait if u have questions ring them up - then once its time they looked at your case they will contact u and tell u if u qualify. they tell u if your in work related activit group or the support group. WRAG u will have to attend all the meetings but if your in support group u dont have to worry about it. ESA will then tell u if u qualify the date your paid- if you have both IB and IS u will have the last payment of that then it will change to ESA. In my opinion i calculated more income because of im in support group but then got a increase of april.