New claim for ESA live - when will payment be made?

[Lillipops]

My Fiancé has been off work sick since November 24 and has exhausted the company sick pay. He was advised to apply for ESA which he has done, he got a text to say he would hear within 14days and that was over 3 weeks ago. All we could gather from the advisor when we chased it was that the claim was “live”.

It was requested to start from 4th September as that’s when his pay ran out, not had any request to send his Drs sick line in yet so my question is when should we expect payment? Does “live” mean he will get money paid in the next payment run or does he have to wait until he gets the letter in to send his evidence off and processed then his claim would be backdated?

We’ve never claimed anything before so unsure of the process. Thanks Lisa

You'd be best calling them or CAB.

It's my understanding ( form being on other forums) that ESA claims are taking a long time at the moment. Some seem to have bene waiting a few months .I think he will need to have a brief commitments phone call to accept commitments and then I think gets first payment after that. Then he needs to keep handing in fit notes until he's been assessed which involves filling out a form and then a telephone assessment. they start paying an assessment rate and then after he has been assessed and if he is put in the support group would get extra money added on.