After affects of medication

Hi, I have not received anything as yet in the post, regarding being switched from SDA to ESA. I know it's not suppose to happen yet. They say that all IB will be transferred first, but you never know do you? Anyway, I have angina and as well as taking pills, I also take a GTN spray to use when the pain strikes. My two stepsons now live with me and my husband permanently, along with my son and Daughter, so there are six of us here and it's stressful. I find I have to use my spray more, but there are side effects to using it, which are headaches and dizziness.Do I inform them of these side effects when I go for a medical? I also take other medication which makes me drowsy for a while after taking it, and I am on a lot of painkillers for Arthritis and osteoporosis.Will this make any difference or help my claim?Thanks

Amber wrote:

Hi, I have not received anything as yet in the post, regarding being switched from SDA to ESA. I know it's not suppose to happen yet. They say that all IB will be transferred first, but you never know do you? Anyway, I have angina and as well as taking pills, I also take a GTN spray to use when the pain strikes. My two stepsons now live with me and my husband permanently, along with my son and Daughter, so there are six of us here and it's stressful. I find I have to use my spray more, but there are side effects to using it, which are headaches and dizziness.Do I inform them of these side effects when I go for a medical? I also take other medication which makes me drowsy for a while after taking it, and I am on a lot of painkillers for Arthritis and osteoporosis.Will this make any difference or help my claim?Thanks

If the effects / after effects of prescribed medication mean you fit within one of the descriptors then they may be included.

There is more about the descriptors in the 'Understanding Employment & Support Allowance' guide in the members area here:

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/esa

Pete

Hi Pete and thanks. I have just checked the link you gave and it seems that because of ill health I have not paid in enough contributions to claim ESA and because of my husbands earnings and my Daughters, I will not be able to claim the income related ESA
What happens when I receive my letter? Do I still go through with the medical even though I can't claim when my SDA end.? Thanks

Hi Gorden, thanks for replying, it's just all so confusing and so complicated!
If I am placed in the support group, does this mean it will not be reviewed yearly? And will my husbands income get ignored if I am placed in the support group and I then just continue to claim, as I would on SDA? Sorry, I am just so worried.
Thanks

Amber wrote:

Hi Gorden, thanks for replying, it's just all so confusing and so complicated!
If I am placed in the support group, does this mean it will not be reviewed yearly? And will my husbands income get ignored if I am placed in the support group and I then just continue to claim, as I would on SDA? Sorry, I am just so worried.
Thanks

Hi,

Sadly being placed in the Support Group does not exempt you from further reviews at various times. It does seem claimants will have to get used to more regular reviews under ESA than with the older SDA and Incapacity Benefit.

If oyu are placed in tne Support Group on Contribution Based ESA then your claim will continue (subject to passing the reviews) like your old SDA claim. If you are placed into the Work Related group (WRAG) then as well as having to attend Work Focussed Interviews, your Contribution based claim will only last for one year.

After this time your claim would become Income Related ESA (which is where your husbands salary etc will be taken into account). So due to your husbands salary and any other factors such as savings which are included in the means testing your ESA payments may cease.

Pete