ESA and Major Surgery

[essexmat]

Hi all. As some of you may know I moved from JSA to ESA a few months back due to anxiety and depression. In addition to this I was also under a consultant who was trying to get to the bottom of a condition I had causing untold infections, fever and generally not feeling well all the time.

 

Well, I had my results after around 6 tests and have been told I need surgery - it is a personal condition so won't go in to much detail but it is a 3-6 hour op under GA plus 5 days in hospital and 2-4 weeks rest with minimal activity.

 

I was hoping to move back to JSA in around 4-6 weeks but this is now not on as I have impending surgery although no date has been set yet.

 

What is the procedure for claiming ESA for hospital surgery and stays in hospital and rest at home? Should I just continue as normal or will I need to contact ESA with the evidence from consultant when I have it?

 

Thanks

[Nystagmite]

Is this hospital stay relevant to why you claim ESA?

 

There is something about not having to undergo the assessment if you're in hospital. Have you recevied an ESA50 yet?

[essexmat]

It is one part of why I claim ESA but not 100% of the claim although ESA know about the condition as I decalred it with consultants notes when I claimed. I am on assessment phase and have been for about 2 months now - got GP appt Wednesday to renew my sick note as this one runs out October 28th

[**Margaret**]

essexmat,

 

As you do not have a date for surgery, all you need to do for now is to continue to submit Med 3 certificates (sick notes) as usual. And complete an ESA50 questionnaire if one drops through your letterbox. Rethink has a guide to ESA50s for mental health and CAG has a slightly outdated, but still very useful, one for physical and sensory problems.

 

http://www.rethink.org/

Search for work capability assessment factsheet.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?316210-ESA50-Guide

 

Should you find yourself called to Atos less than three weeks before a planned admission to hospital, the assessor can recommend that you be treated as having limited capability for work.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals

Pages 41 - 42.

 

Should a Med 3 run out while you are in hospital, ask your hospital doctor for a Med 10 certificate.

 

Starryeyes.

[essexmat]

Brilliant, thanks for this - very helpful. I am renewing my sick note on Wednesday (have a GP appointment) Current one runs out 28th October so they should have it at the latest 2 weeks before the current one runs out. As the sick note is for A&D but now I have a condition awaiting surgery do you think the sick note should also state this? I have already done my ESA50 - it turned up around 2 weeks after my claim but obviously not heard anything as yet although I know they have it as I have signed proof via recorded delivery.

 

Once again, many thanks

[Nystagmite]

Expect to wait a while to hear anything regarding the ESA50.

 

On a side note - (you probably know this anyway) it doesn't matter if the sick notes overlap. But you can't have any gaps.

 

Are ATOS / DWP aware that you're having surgery done?

[essexmat]

Thanks, sick note will be going off Thursday (GP tomorrow) so if my current one runs out Oct 28 should I get the GP to start the new one from tomorrow for the 12 weeks or from October 28th?

 

ATOS/DWP do not know about surgery yet as I have no date. In fact even though I need this procedure done it is not classed as urgent or life threatening so I can't see it being until the new year anyway as I need further tests before admittance anyway. I will of course keep all paperwork and appointment letters for evidence.

 

Many thanks

[Nystagmite]

It doesn't matter when the sick note starts. As long as it has no gaps.

[antone]

Yes. The only advantage to having a sick note start later is that it will cover a longer period of time.

 

If and when you do go into hospital, make sure you get a MED10 form as mentioned above. You should be placed in the Support Group for the duration of your stay. Even if that's only a few days, it's still £20 or so.

[essexmat]

Thanks all, my GP couldn't issue a new sick note for me today as his system wouldn't allow it as it was 'too early' He said to try again with him around a week before expiry but that will leave very little time to get it and send to DWP for processing won't it? I am going to call ESA in the morning anyway to clarify

[Nystagmite]

It should be fine. I never had a problem.

[essexmat]

Thanks, I got email otification of reply so came on straight away!

Called ESA - they said it was fine, my last payment on sick note is fine until 30th October so they don't physically need a new one until 7th November so will get one around 20th October and then send it off in good time - panicking over nothing again - even if late they said I can get JCP to scan across to them.

Now to sort my surgery out - not happy, very scared of general anesthesia and not being in control