Reclaiming ESA (questions about resigning from job)
 

Has anyone reclaimed ESA?

I was put into the support group at the beginning of october. I was offered a job and wanted to give it a go, so ended my claim. It's not working out due to severe IBS and worsening depression and panic attacks.

I rang the ESA people the other day and they said if I make another claim within the next 6 weeks they will link it to my previous claim under the 12 week linking rule so that I will go back into the support group straight away. They explained it's because lots of people on ESA want to try working and some find they can't cope and go back onto the benefit for a while, but they do like to see people trying.

My question was that when I make my claim did I need all new medical evidence or do they use what I submitted earlier this year? The man wasn't too sure but said he thought they'd use my previous medical evidence as based on that I was put into the support group.

Do I have to ring for the forms? Is there anywhere on the form to say you're reclaiming? I'm just worried something will go wrong and I'll be left with no money.

Does it matter if I have resigned from my job? Will they want my employer to say I've had time off etc?

I've not resigned yet but it's looking like my only option. I see my gp this week to talk about it, last time I saw him he told me to think whether I was going to stay at work or go back to the support group but that he'd write me the medical notes if I went back. He could see I wasn't coping very well.

I'm just scared about resigning. They might want me to serve my notice, and I physically can't. Though I expect a medical note would cover that.

If I were in your situation I would get the medical notes from your go as evidence that you're not coping with work and you're still unfit for work. I think your best bet is submitting the forms again then when they receive it and it goes through the system they'll see your old claim, and your new evidence that your struggling and probably just link it for you from that.

I don't know how else they'd do it otherwise.

Good luck: I'm sure it will be fine because you've not been in workfor long and they're quite good once you've been assessed as being in the support group. X

Thanks I'll do that.

I don't have much more advice to add other than you should be able to go into your local job centre and they can either give you the form or point you in the right direction.

I did however want to say I'm sorry the job didn't work out. Well done for trying :)

x x x

I don't know anything about ESA but I'm sorry to hear the job hasn't worked out. It sounds like they weren't very accommodating and you really did give it your best, so I'm proud of you for that xx

I have another question-

I just rang and started my claim for ESA (you have to apply on the phone which I hate) and I said I'm resigning from my job today and she said when do you want your claim to start, so I said I'll be getting a medical certificate today saying I'm not fit to work, but then she said if you get any holiday pay paid that you're owed then thats classed as being employed and I can't claim until my holiday pay has ended or something.

I'm kind of worried because I had holiday booked in March 2015 with my employer. Now, surely they can't force me to wait unti march to claim ESA? I wont have any income.

She said to ring my employer and ask. I bet you anything they wont know.

Going to ring them now, that's going to be fun.

I am so oiehiegieghiehgie right now it's unreal

Okay I spoke to the nice team leader and it was okay.

The manager will be ringing me later. I will need to bring in my resignation letter and medical certificate later.

Apparently I either wont get any holiday pay, or it'll only be a few hours, so I don't think it'd be a case of waiting until next year to claim ESA.

And my mum's not really talking to me.

My life is such a mess

What do I need to say in a resignation letter?

sorry for all the questions.

For part time work my holiday pay has been calculated based on the percentage of hours worked and I got that usually as an extra weeks pay. So if my last week of work was week 1, week 2 I would get my holiday pay.

For the letter I would be quite brief. I would like to resign from my position X effective XX/XX/XXXX, owning to personal issues. If you are able to work out your notice period say this, if you have a medical letter signing you off sick for your notice period state this also.
End with thank you for the opportunity Kind regards ...

I'm sorry things are so hard love. What is going on with your mum?

Things are hard now but they will pass, it feels like everything is a mess but you've still got a lot of strengths. Once you've moved on from this process of leaving work, things will be easier.

Xxx

Thanks. I've officially left work and handed in my notice and sick note, and I've put my claim in for ESA.

I argued badly with my mum because she thought I did the wrong thing in leaving, even though the manager was about to let me go due to absences- I had 8.5 shifts absent. 6 of those were food poisoning and 1.5 was due to irritable bowel syndrome. I had no control over any of that, but my mum said the IBS related sickness I should have gone in/stayed at work and not 'given in'. She kept saying stuff about how I'd be on benefits for the rest of my life, how my boyfriend might break up with me over it and so on.

I got incredibly upset and self harmed quite a lot. She then decided I had self harmed solely to punish her and so we argued again then she didn't talk to me.

We seem to be okay today.

I just really don't know what to do in the long term. It would be ideal if I could work from home, but currently there's not really any opportunity to do that.

I feel kind of lost, and scared that I'll never have a good job or be able to hold one down.

My IBS is really bad, I've got the hospital tomorrow, and I'm in a lot of pain.

Sarah, don't beat yourself up lovely. You gave it a really good go and it isn't your fault you were unwell. It just means this isn't the right time for you, and it definitely doesn't mean you'll never be able to hold down a job. It's all a learning curve, I promise.

I'm job hunting at the moment and I came across a few work from home roles - they wouldn't bring in big money, but if you like I can try and track them down again and send you the links?

What's most important is that you tried and you've learned something from the experience. Resigning and reinstating ESA is also really scary and stressful and you've managed that so try and focus on the small victories. Don't let your Mum get you down either, she doesn't know what it's like to be you so she doesn't really have a leg to stand on in terms of what's right for you. Just take it a day at a time.

My inbox is always open :) x x x