Just having a think (dangerous business that!!)

SSP is currently £75.40, payable for upto 28 weeks.
If a person is unable to return to work they will need to claim ESA.
Will they be paid £60.50 for 13 weeks and then assessed? This would mean a drop in income of £15 a week (in round numbers) for singles and couples not entitled to income-related/IS.

OR will they be paid £60.50 and place on immediate assessment with backdating of any component to the day of ESA claim (sounds too kind).

There were some dark mutterings eons ago about pulling employers into the assessment process but this has gone very quiet. Maybe the employers' organisations came back with an impolite reply.

Anyone know the answer to this?
Also has this been raised in any lobbying?

Cheers, enjoy the day.
M

It was raised repeatedly with DWP in our discussions with officials but they wouldn't budge on the issue - so yes, your basic analysis of the drop in income for 13 weeks during the assessment phase does appear to be correct I'm afraid. No backdating either. And if you're under 25, the drop in income is even more severe, due to the lower levels of ESA payable for this group during the assessment phase.