ESA Advice Benefits.

[fronzoni]

Hi My husband is at end stage emphysema and Bronchiectasis, he his at the moment on SSP we have made a claim for PIP assisted by age concern. My husband is only 58yrs he has had very frequent hospital admission's over the last few months constantly on steroids and very worrying time when we nearly lost him and he ended up on ICU the HDU ward. This came on very suddenly from infection in both his lungs its then gone on at alarming pace, he lots of meds and sleeps with a mask on through the night that blows air into his lungs he can not tolerate oxygen he retains its so the consultant's don't give it to him they have now put my husband forward for a Lung transplant assessment . My question is shortly his employers, I would think will cease with the SSP as I believe its only for 28wks how do you or when do you claim for ESA I think it used to be called incapacity benefit its a minefield out there I would be grateful if anyone could advice us please.

.

[Toci]

You are right, it is a minefield. The BLF have a benefits advisor whom you can contact on 03000 030 555 during normal office hours. They will be open on Monday at 9 a.m.

[SusieQs]

I was in the same situation a few months ago. When my SSP ran out I telephoned dwp and did an online application for ESA which takes about half an hour (freephone no.) and it went through with no problems. Its a bit of a learning curve I`m afraid when you get on the benefits route.

[fronzoni]

Thank You Toci and Susi. Do you have to wait until it runs out before starting the ESA application does any one notify you and is there a gap in payments. i.e one stopping before the other starts. I will telephone BLF next week also. Thank you.

[SusieQs]

I was still employed when my SSP ran out. The wages department were really informative and they told me that my SSP was about to run out and to ring dwp about claiming ESA. I did claim as soon as it had run out so there was no gap in payments. I get the ESA payments directly from the dwp but the SSP was paid to me by my employers. Hope this helps.

[fronzoni]

Thanks Susie My husband is still employed at the moment and they pay his SSP each week, so with a bit of luck it may go the same way for us. Thank you.

[minkymoo]

nd was told in the last wk of getting ssp l had to go to the doctors for a sick note hand it in at the benafits office dealing with my claim l then rang up on 0800 number to fill out a form over the phone and they sent me the form to sign and l got my first esa payment a week later its not incapacity benefit no more its esa related benefit or esa income benefit hope this helps

[KingoftheCocktails]

Best of luck with your claim

KOTC

Your daily humour tonic

[fronzoni]

Thanks to all of you for your advice.

[Offcut]

I do not think that you can claim ESA while employed? However while on ESA it is possible to earn £99.00 per week on top, Providing it is for a council or disability group approved by DWP.

Ring the BLF Helpline they are great and sent me a PDF to help with my appeal, which I do not think should be a problem with yourselves.

DWP are messing about with the fine print on all disability payments so make sure you are up to date with what they have to date.

Be Well

[mattcass]

Hi There I have just been through what you need to know.Your employer will send a form for you to fill in when your SSP runs out, then you get the DWP and ask them for a Employment & Support Allowance pack or you can do it over the phone and do this just before you make your claim,Make sure you send the employers note that tells that date your SSP ends they thrive in you making mistakes. Hope it helps you.Matt