I'm sure it's been asked before... Help?

Hi there, I'm new here and really struggling to get my head around what I'm entitled to claim and if I'm receiving the right type of benefits.

Long story short, I was injured when in labour by the medical staff. I was sent home then rushed back in an ambulance and eventually had an MRI scan and surgery.

Jump forward to now. I'm being treated for PTSD, social anxiety, peripheral neuropathy (permanent nerve damage and loss of power in left side & horrific back pain). Also, a mystery condition that after 3 years I'm only just being referred to consultants about as GPs dismissed it as part of the mental health issues. As a result of that, I am a basket case if I weren't before and I have developed an OCD/ self harm illness due to it.

I'm single with 2 kids and after being told to claim a while back, eventually got the courage (daft I know) to stop my IS claim and claimed ESA.

I got a letter after 4 weeks of no money saying I've been awarded ESA and will receive £18.62 from 4th-15th Oct and then £73.10 after.

I am not going to lie, I just don't understand it. £18.62 then £73.10? Can anyone explain it please?

I've also been wondering if I can make a claim for pip. My daughter is basically my carer. I can't even begin to imagine how I'd manage with my toddler alone and in the pain I'm in. Can I claim both?

I'm terrified of using the phone so I was thinking I could write to ask for a form?

Any advice would be very much welcome. My mind is in a constant state of confusion and it means I'm stressed about not understanding all these things.

Thanks in advance

Hi Kathleen-Ann and Welcome to the forum, you might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is

Welcome to Benefits and Work

As far as your ESA payment is concerned, it sounds as if you might have payment for part of a week - is it possible that your last payment of IS was also partial? The sum of £73.10 is the weekly sum during the assessment period. Once a decision has been made on your claim it will increase if you are awarded long-term ESA.

Have you been sent an ESA50 to fill in yet? This is an in depth form that asks about your limitations. If you have not filled in this form please make good use of our ESA guide when you do so.

ESA claims and appeals

The ESA is an income replacement benefit. PIP is awarded to help make up for some of the extra costs associated with long term illness/disability. It is perfectly possible to be on both.

Again, have a look at our PIP guide. There is a self-assessment questionnaire that you can look at to see if you think you would qualify.

It is supposed to be possible to initiate a PIP claim in writing. However, DWP put a lot of pressure on people to do it over the phone. It would actually be easier if someone could help make that phone call - details of the information needed is also in the PIP guide.

PIP help for claimants

May I suggest that you bookmark/favourite this on your web browser now so that you can find it easily in future? This will allow you to read replies and ask further questions without having to start a new topic each time. It helps us enormously when everything relating to one claim is kept in the same topic - and I hope you will find it useful too

MrsHurtyback, thank you. I thought maybe it was part payment but after checking, it's not.

I had nothing from 4th.

Anyway, I am very grateful for your help and as of yet, no forms received and very glad I found this site before they arrive.

I feel your hurty pain in the back lol

Many thanks

Hi Gordon, yes they actually have two now.

My GP had been giving them to me for some time before I plucked up the courage to stop the IS claim and submit the ESA claim and I saw a GP I wasn't used to just before I made the claim who gave me a note for just 1 month until I got another appointment for my regular GP.

I sent it off with the ESA claim form on the 5th and on the 20th (or there about) I received a letter dated 17th Oct. stating that the note I sent was only for the period beginning 4th Oct - 10th and unless I submitted a new note by 10th my application would be stopped.

I saw another gp who kindly printed off a duplicate of the first and signed another for a further month which takes me up to 25th November.

Lesson learned.. scan everything before sending it off.