Fit note / signing on income based JSA & ESA appli

My GP may be providing me with a 'fit note' following a specialists recommendations. If the GP supplies me with a month to 3 month fit note, which will then enable me to apply for ESA, will I be required to continue to sign on for income based JSA, which I am currently receiving? If not, which benefit would I be in receipt of whilst the ESA applicaition is in process?

Thank you Gordon. So I would receive ESA payment before the claim is processed?

No.

foss27 wrote: No.

Can someone outline the process for claiming ESA when currently on income based JSA?

From what I understand I can make an ESA application once I have a 'fit note' from my GP. But do I continue to sign on, or if not, what benefits do I receive whilst my ESA application is being considered?

cc120 wrote:

foss27 wrote: No.

Can someone outline the process for claiming ESA when currently on income based JSA?

From what I understand I can make an ESA application once I have a 'fit note' from my GP. But do I continue to sign on, or if not, what benefits do I receive whilst my ESA application is being considered?

Hi cc120,

As advised by Gordon earlier on in this topic, you need to close your JSA claim, then make a claim for ESA ASAP after doing so.

Once you have a "fit note" from your G.P., you can make your claim for ESA :

Claiming ESA Gov.UK

There is also an "Understanding ESA Guide" near the bottom of : This Page.

Unfortunately, you cannot receive JSA and ESA for the same period, so there will be a gap of a week or so between your JSA ceasing, and your ESA payments starting.

However, your ESA payments should be backdated to the start of your claim.

Once your ESA claim is up and running you will receive The Assessment Rate, (currently £73.10/Week for a single over 25 year old, paid fortnightly in arrears) plus any Income Related (IR) ESA top-ups that you may be entitled to.

See : Benefit Rates 2015/16

Within a week or so of your ESA claim being accepted you will receive an ESA50 through the post, this will be used as part of your Assessment. (WCA)

There are three options available after being assessed.

1. Fit for work. (ESA ceases)

2. Placed into The WRAG. (you will be paid the extra WRA component on top of your £73.10.)

3. Placed into The Support Group (SG) (you will be paid the extra SG component on top of your £73.10.)

When you receive The ESA50, you should use the guides on this page, 2nd & 3rd links down :

ESA Claims Guides

whilst filling it in.

The process is fully explained in our guide.

bro58