What Do I Do In The Meantime?

I applied for ESA from March 28th for an entirely unrelated condition to the one I failed an appeal for.

I've been told I can't have ESA without having another medical because I failed my appeal an had my ESA withdrawn on 3/12/09 and have just sent off a new ESA50. What do I do to live on while I'm waiting?

I was told if I apply for JSA now it will be paid from the date I apply. For almost 3 weeks after I made the new application (28/03/10)I was either in agony with the new problem or stoned and sleepy with the medication to stop the agony. I wouldn't have been allowed to sign on in either state as I obviously couldn't work.

So, if I claim JSA now I will have had nothing to live on since the last payment of JSA which was March 30th. I can't afford to lose that much money and I'm terrified that when I have the medical they'll turn me down and I'll have to apply for JSA and have lost weeks and weeks worth of money I can't afford to lose.

This whole situation has triggered my depression which I had previously had pretty much under control for 6 years.

I'm at my wits end, they are trying to frighten me into claiming JSA now and just accepting the loss. But when I have, I have been told several times that they may withdraw my JSA because my health problems mean I'm breaking the law by signing on because my health problems mean I can't fulfil some of the mandatory requirements such as travelling for 90 minutes each way 5 or 6 days a week to get to and from work.

And while I am worrying about all this, I have nothing to live on.

You need to seek 'face to face' from an advice agency as we cannot offer advice on individual claims as is explained in Frequently Asked Questions

Your local CAB should be able to assist you, or contact Community Legal Advice who can put you in touch with an adviser in your local area.