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ESA and Autism for adult

Abra

Hi

I recently was diagnosed with Aspergers and it's honestly a relief. It answers a lot but I won't go into that.

I've been on JSA for a short while and I'm having major issues with the work program not understanding my anxiety and social issues. I've been working on it a lot with a nurse since I was diagnosed but I am reluctantly accepting I may need to be on ESA for a while. I want to be in a support group if they will allow it.

How can I go about organising this? I called up the Jobcentre and they made me feel terrified, they were not at all understanding or polite. All I know is I need to sign off JSA and then sign up for ESA but during the 14 days I won't receive any money? 

I only have my diganosis right now. I don't have any sick note and I'm scared to ask my doctor for one, I'm not sure what to say to them. I'm not really sick I just need some help.

Thank you

  • I didn't happen like that for me as I was on income support for years then they 'through' me off that and was on JSA. I applied for ESA and you get basic rate at first I think it £70 a week. When you win the medical you get full rate. I failed mine and went to appeals only they didn't tell me the date for appeals so did not go because only knew about it when they sent the decision back. It then went to Tribunal and that lasted barely 10 minutes and won and I had two years worth of ESA back dated. It was worth receiving.

    Are you saying you are on JSA now? 

    Stay on JSA. First you make the appointment with your Doctor to get the sick note. Then Take the Sick Note to the Job Centre and ask at the reception what do you do with the sick note. That how I did it. I think they gave me a paper with series of numbers on to ring up for the ESA form. But you need the sick note first for they will ask for that anyway.

    I was already obtaining sick notes anyway for depression. When I was referred for the assessments they referred me as aspergers. The doctor was willing to put that on because they could see from their computers this was actually happening.

    Waiting for the assessment to take place took over a year. 

    I got put into the work group because I actually do want to do part time work. I thought the work group might help and half way through a two year work programme scheme which for me is okay. I can't claim they understand the autism as I barely know. My autism occupational therapist suggested didn't need to be in the work group to have part time work. That can be in the other catagory. I found out that can't swap groups but the job centre told me that I can bring anyone into the work programme sessions so my occupational therapist came with me one session. I no longer do the job search route but on the voluntary work route. That taken a lot of pressure off and do find them quite good. That just my experience. 

    But before you apply for ESA you need the sick note first. If you are affraid of what to say to the GP, why not write it down? That is what I do sometimes. Write it down what happening for you.

    Ps take a photocopy of every sick note you get and keep the copy.  They sometimes go astray for people so it worth having a copy. It been okay for me but heard stories and well if you got  a copy, or take two copies so you have one spare if you need to use the copy at all

    All the best

  • Hi, You need to keep on getting JSA until you get a sick note.  Then you can claim ESA.  You get ESA for 13 weeks, then you can either get put in the work or support group - you don't automatically get put in the support group.

    M.