New ESA Claim

Frogman9 wrote: I have not been claiming ESA for just over two years due to pension lump sum but nothing lasts forever and I am now well below the £16,000 threshold. I phoned the DWP last week and asked to start a new claim and was told that I would have to see my GP for a fit note .............which I did this morning and she gave me a fit note for six months will the DWP accept this fit note ? It's obvious that I am no better than I was when I last claimed , in fact my health is worse but I suppose I will have to be ready to jump through the same old hoops to get any benefits.

Did you close your previous ESA claim? If you did then there was no reason for you to do so, having more than £16,000 prevents payment but does not require the claim to be closed.

If you didn't close it then you should still have an active claim for ESA and you should be able to notify the DWP that your savings have reduced, they'll financially assess you and if they agree, put your claim back into payment. You will not need a Fit Note, but should expect to be re-assessed.

If you did close your claim then you will need to make a new claim and will need a current Fit Note to do this. Even though you have been off sick for a while I don't think the DWP will accept a six month Fit Note, their policy is that during the first six months of a claim, the Fit Notes cannot be more than three months long, so I'm afraid you will have to see your GP again.

Remember the £16,000 covers your savings, any assets and any cash that you have.

Gordon