Help - New ESA Claim - interview?

[shovednotpushed]

I've just submitted a claim for new employment and support allowance. I am currently on long term sick leave from my full time job and as my SSP is coming to an end I've applied for this.

It looked like I met the criteria online but I've now been told I have to meet/have a call with a work coach?

Can anyone help me understand what the interview will entail? I'm still technically employed but unsure if I will be able to return to work due to my health condition but it's too early to tell. My existing line runs until mid July.

Any help gratefully received as my pay has taken a massive hit and I really need the top up of ESA. I am currently not entitled to any other benefits

Many thanks.

Sounds like a mistake to me. I presume you have handed in a sick note?

Are you sure you didn't apply for new style JSA instead ?

@Babyroobs yes I submitted the sicknote and have had confirmation they received it

@Gensola I've just checked my confirmation application sent and it says "you must agree to your Claimant Commitment appointment with a work coach which is normally over the phone. Your work coach will talk to you about what you need to do to get new style ESA including asking you to:

Explain how your illness or disability affects your ability to work
Provide medical evidence
Agree to tell us if your circumstances change

You must agree to your Claimant Commitment before you can get New Style ESA

I'm so confused

@Gensola sorry did not mean to tag you

Please don't worry.
All New claims have to have an appointment, whether is it Universal credit, JSA or ESA. The advisor will check your claim form, confirm your circumstances and that you have a fit note, tell you how to submit new fit notes and the process for having a work capability assessment when the time comes, and create a claimant commitment. Most people on ESA have basic commitments agreeing to notify changes of circumstances and so on, and they'll ask if there's anything you could be doing to be moving closer to work. Don't forget that ESA is for people with all types of health problems from the long term chronic issues to a badly broken leg.

@Reachersloveinterest thank you so much.
I know there's no guarantee but is it likely that my claim will be accepted? I am so worried as my loss of income due to recent surgery and a recently diagnosed health condition was not planned for (I know it never is!) but a massive shock

[quote shovednotpushed]@Reachersloveinterest thank you so much.
I know there's no guarantee but is it likely that my claim will be accepted? I am so worried as my loss of income due to recent surgery and a recently diagnosed health condition was not planned for (I know it never is!) but a massive shock [/quote]
If you have paid sufficient NI contributions over the relevant tax years ( 2019-20 and 2018-19 ) then you will start to be paid ESA assessment rate which is exactly the same as JSA rate. After some time of handing in sick notes you will be sent an ESA50 work capability form to complete giving details of your health condition and once assessed there will be one of 3 outcomes. You can be found fit for work in which case the ESA stope altogether, you can be put in the WRAG group meaning you are not currently fir to work but may be able to in the future and may be able to make some moves to returning to work, and 3 You are not fit for any type of work or work related activities ( support group). If awarded WRAG there is no extra money you just continue on the £74 odd a week, if you are put in the support group you get extra money. If in WRAG group then New style ESA would only last for 1 year, if put in support group it can continue indefinately. It is very variable how long it takes to get the work capability assessment as they have been largely put on hold during covid or phone assessments and there is a big back log. i have heard recently of people who have still not been assessed and the 365 days has run out.

@Babyroobs thanks again. I've been told someone will be in contact by 6 June so will wait and see. Do you know if the fit for work questions are in relation to the role I'm employed in/for? Or is it any work?

This is causing me so much confusion I'm sorry!,

[quote shovednotpushed]@Babyroobs thanks again. I've been told someone will be in contact by 6 June so will wait and see. Do you know if the fit for work questions are in relation to the role I'm employed in/for? Or is it any work?

This is causing me so much confusion I'm sorry!,[/quote]
They will assess your ability to do any type of work. I help people with the forms and even though I think on the form it says not to send medical letters etc, I always do. For certain types of treatment like cancer treatment you will automatically be put in the support group if having Chemotherapy or radiotherapy and would not need to go through a face to face assessment. I'm just saying this to put your mind at rest if it is cancer related.

@Babyroobs thank you so much. Not cancer related but potentially life long and life changing as well as life threatening but dependent on so many variables. So much to take in.

I really appreciate you taking the time to reply.

@Babyroobs sorry to jump on someone else's thread, but you seem to know what you're talking about.

I did a contribution based claim, and was put into the support group last May. The paperwork suggested I'd be reassessed in a year, but not heard anything. I take it this is due to the backlog and I shouldn't worry?

My contributions have long since run out (I was medically retired in late 2017 and applied for ESA in August 2019 (then had huge delays because they said I hadn't paid enough contributions and I had). Now that I'm on it, can I stay on it indefinitely as long as I'm always in the support group?