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Need help on claiming ESA for the first time.

Connor
over 6 years ago

Hi there,

New here and wanted to know a few things and get some help with my application to ESA..

Im 22 and have autism, I've been on DLA since I was 16 and recently applied to PiP due to DLA ending and lost, I lost the mandatory reconsideration too. 

I dont want to persue PiP any further, The tribunal is something I dont wanna go through. 

I was looking for other avenues and saw ESA, My question is, I need a "fit note" from my doctor, How do I go about that? What do I ask my doctor, Physically Im able to work, But having autism it isnt that easy.. lol 

Some help in what to say to my receptionist or doctor in order to get a "fit note", that would be great!

Appreciate all the help.

Thanks, 

Connor

Parents
  • over 6 years ago

    Hi Connor,

    You need to be signed off as unfit for work, and not in work, to claim it.  It's the 'unfit for work' person's equivalent of Job Seeker's Allowance.  You can't just claim it on the basis that 'having autism isn't easy'.  None of us find it easy, but plenty of us still have to work.  I claimed it once, when I lost my job after long-term sickness following a suicidal breakdown.  You need to convince your doctor that you are unfit for work in order to get the note you want.  Then - providing you don't have a job in the first place - you would make a claim for ESA rather than JSA.  A few weeks after you start your claim, you'll then be called in for a Work Capability Assessment, which is deliberately designed to catch people out.  Many people, including very sick and disabled people, fail their WCA... which then means going down the appeal/tribunal route that you're now on with the PIP claim.  It is by no means an easy option.  It's a very unfair system.  My claim actually went to tribunal.  I failed my WCA and my subsequent appeal was rejected, even though I had back-up statements from my GP, my therapist, and a key worker at a MH unit.  I won the tribunal, though - which was nowhere near as bad as I expected it to be.  They were actually very sympathetic.

    Do you know why you lost the mandatory consideration?  Does this mean that you have no option but to claim Jobseeker's now?

    Have a look at this site.  They should be able to give you good information...

    Benefits and Work

Reply
  • over 6 years ago

    Hi Connor,

    You need to be signed off as unfit for work, and not in work, to claim it.  It's the 'unfit for work' person's equivalent of Job Seeker's Allowance.  You can't just claim it on the basis that 'having autism isn't easy'.  None of us find it easy, but plenty of us still have to work.  I claimed it once, when I lost my job after long-term sickness following a suicidal breakdown.  You need to convince your doctor that you are unfit for work in order to get the note you want.  Then - providing you don't have a job in the first place - you would make a claim for ESA rather than JSA.  A few weeks after you start your claim, you'll then be called in for a Work Capability Assessment, which is deliberately designed to catch people out.  Many people, including very sick and disabled people, fail their WCA... which then means going down the appeal/tribunal route that you're now on with the PIP claim.  It is by no means an easy option.  It's a very unfair system.  My claim actually went to tribunal.  I failed my WCA and my subsequent appeal was rejected, even though I had back-up statements from my GP, my therapist, and a key worker at a MH unit.  I won the tribunal, though - which was nowhere near as bad as I expected it to be.  They were actually very sympathetic.

    Do you know why you lost the mandatory consideration?  Does this mean that you have no option but to claim Jobseeker's now?

    Have a look at this site.  They should be able to give you good information...

    Benefits and Work

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