× Members

New-Style ESA application - string of questions / thinking it through

More
5 days 7 hours ago #306983 by cynical_optimist
Hi all,

I've posted a little on a subreddit, but this is a longer and maybe rambling post that I appreciate the "closed garden" here for. It's partly to make sure I'm understanding the process, partly to make a record of this, and partly to ask if anyone sees any problems with what I'm doing.

Basic info:

I'm self-employed, working part-time from home, for the last 9 years. In part this is because working from home means my access needs are much easier to meet than if I had to be in a shared space or working to other people's schedules. I'm primarily a calligrapher, but also do occasional audio description scripting and recording.

I receive PIP - standard daily living, enhanced mobility. I have bilateral hip dysplasia, chronic lower back pain, and am on the Autistic spectrum also with Dyspraxia (which is a beautiful irony given the work I do, but my co-ordination issues seem to be much more associated with cognitive processing rather than motor skills - I don't process changing stimulus quickly enough to always respond appropriately - if I'm in a quiet space with no competing stimulus my movement is fine. Put me next to a busy road and I can't walk in a straight line!)

I have a problem with my dominant hand that needs surgery to repair. Without the surgery I am likely to lose wrist mobility which will stuff my calligraphy. With the surgery I will be off work for maybe 8 weeks, doing rehab and some work for another 6-8 weeks, then I should be back to normal. I walk with crutches or use a manual wheelchair to get about. While my hand is in plaster, I won't be able to self-propel my chair, and I don't know how well I'll manage on crutches, so my mobility is likely to be reduced.

I've applied for New Style ESA to help tide me over the period I will be unable to work, and this pre-op period where my work capacity is limited by the hand problem. My GP signed a fit note for 12 weeks, and after the surgery this will be reviewed. I'm still doing a little work, it's less than the limit for Permitted Work.

I had a call from DWP last week saying I had a gap in my Class 2 NI credits, but I could back-pay them and they would keep my claim open for me, once the payment was made and HMRC had allocated the credits, to call back and the DWP would process the claim. I paid the NI credits last week.

In the interim, I've received my ESA50 form. I thought it would take a few weeks for this to come through, but apparently not!

I have a job open to me when my hand is healed. I don't want to be expected to look for other work when I have work that works for my access needs, I'm just off sick temporarily. My hand problem has a knock-on effect on my mobility, but will the DWP / Ingeus understand that? Looking through the form, I'm perfectly able to pick up a phone or tap a button with my left hand, and reach above my head, but so many jobs break my brain I really can't handle being told I should find call-centre work for 8 weeks or something.

Am I panicking over nothing? Is a short term, fixable problem occurring in someone with other long-term issues something that the Ingeus assessors can grasp?

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
1 day 2 hours ago #307179 by latetrain
Hi cynical_optimist

To apply for NS ESA, you must have:

1. In one of the two relevant tax years, paid Class 1 contributions (and worked at least 26 weeks in one of these years), or paid Class 2 contributions, at least 26 times the lower earnings limit and
2. During both the relevant tax years, paid or been credited with Class 1 or 2 contributions at least 50 times the lower earnings limit.

Relevant Tax Years: the relevant years are the last 2 complete tax years (6 April - 5 April) before the current benefit year.

Benefit Year: runs from the first Sunday in January

New Style ESA is payable for a maximum of 12 months if you are placed in the work related activity group. The 13 week assessment phase will form part of the 12 month payment period if you are subsequently placed in the work related activity group.

If you are places in the support group, the time limit does not apply and you will continue to receive New Style ESA for as long as you meet the qualifying conditions.

The WCA has two parts: the limited capability for work assessment and the limited capability for work related activity assessment.

The first part of the WCA considers whether you have a limited capability for work. If the total score reaches 15 points or more then you have a limited capability for work.
The second part of the WCA considers whether you have a limited capability for work related activity. The assessment has a list of descriptors relating to both physical and mental/cognitive functions. If you meet at least one of these descriptors, you will receive the work capability amount.

We would advise you to read B&W guide when completing the WCA form.

Gary

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
3 hours 55 minutes ago #307220 by cynical_optimist
Thanks Gary, I’m slowly going through the guide bit by bit.

From my reading I won’t be eligible for the support group, unless the stars align and I get an assessor who accepts the way my issues combine to make “normal” work unrealistic (I’ve tried many times to hold down a regular job from leaving school to age 35, and every time has tipped me over the edge. My self-employed work has now been sustained for 9 years!)

Anywho, with luck I’ll not be on ESA for long enough to get beyond the assessment phase, especially if there are backlogs with processing claims.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

More
3 hours 14 minutes ago #307225 by latetrain
Hi cynical_optimist

Have you tried B&W self-test for the LCWRA element, if you click on the UC tab at the top of the page there is a drop down box called "take the UC WCA test" it takes about 5 mins to complete, it will give you an indication as to whether or not you will be successful.

Gary

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: GordonlatetrainBISCatherineWendyKellygreekqueenpeterKatherineSuper UserChrisDavid
We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.