ESA Backdated ???.

[honeybee13]

Hello there. In case it helps, here is information from the directgov website that might help about the 13 week thing.

 

Money, tax and benefits

 

 

 

Employment and Support Allowance - introduction

 

Employment and Support Allowance provides financial help to people who are unable to work because of illness or disability. It also provides personalised support to those who are able to work. Find out more about Employment and Support Allowance.

 

About Employment and Support Allowance

 

Employment and Support Allowance offers you personalised support and financial help, so that you can do appropriate work, if you are able to.

It gives you access to a specially trained personal adviser and a wide range of further services including employment, training and condition management support. This is to help you manage and cope with your illness or disability at work.

Employment and Support Allowance involves a medical assessment called the Work Capability Assessment. This assesses what you can do, rather than what you cannot, and identifies the health-related support you might need.

Most people claiming Employment and Support Allowance will be expected to take steps to prepare for work. This includes attending work-focused interviews with their personal adviser.

Under Employment and Support Allowance, if you have an illness or disability that severely affects your ability to work, you will get increased financial support. You will not be expected to prepare for a return to work. You can volunteer to do so at any point if you want to.

 

• Employment and Support Allowance - Work Capability Assessment
  

 

• Employment and Support Allowance - Medical assessment
  

 

• Employment and Support Allowance - After your medical assessment
  

 

Who can get Employment and Support Allowance

 

You may be able to get Employment and Support Allowance if you have an illness or disability that affects your ability to work. Find out who can get Employment and Support Allowance using the following link.

 

• Employment and Support Allowance - eligibility
  

 

Employment and Support Allowance rates and how to claim

 

There are several ways you can claim Employment and Support Allowance. The easiest and quickest is by telephone or textphone. Find out how to claim Employment and Support Allowance using the following link.

 

• Employment and Support Allowance - how to claim
  

 

The amount you get paid depends on your circumstances. It also depends on what effect your disability has on your ability to do any work. Find Employment and Support Allowance rates using the following link.

 

• Employment and Support Allowance - rates
  

 

How it works

 

For new claims, Employment and Support Allowance consists of two phases:

 

• the assessment phase
  
• the main phase
  

The assessment phase

 

The assessment phase lasts for the first 13 weeks of your claim. This is while a decision is made on your capability for work through the Work Capability Assessment. During this phase, Employment and Support Allowance is paid at a basic rate.

The main phase

 

The main phase starts from week 14 of your claim. If the Work Capability Assessment shows that your illness or disability does limit your ability to work. During this phase, an additional amount (called a component) is paid on top of the basic rate.

 

 

My best, HB