Incapacity Benefit and Going Back to Work

recovering_spendaholic

I am currently in receipt of Incapacity benefit and child tax credit. I get no other means tested benefits and have no other income. I have only managed because when I became ill I had a fair bit of savings, which I have been using to augment my IB and CTC over the last three years. I would love to get a job but my illness is unpredictable and I have been in hospital 10 times in the last year, and I just don't think any employer would tolerate absence at that level. I have a heart problem. Recently someone I used to work with contacted me and asked me if I would do a few days consultancy work for them next month. My instinct was to say no, because I am on benefits, but when we talked he said that he could probably put more work my way throughout the year. It is fairly well paid and I could do it in my own time and, to some extent, at my own pace but I am worried about giving up my benefits and then having no work and having to jump through hoops to get back onto IB (or whatever it's called for new claimants). Is it right that if you start work and have kids you get extra WFTC for 6 months if you have been on IB? Or is there any way I could try working and see how I get on without losing my benefits? I don't want to go to the DWP and ask because they might say that I am not entitled to anything any more for even thinking about doing this work. Can anyone give me any advice? Sorry for the long read.

Barneysmom

You are allowed to work 15 and 3/4 hours a week if you're on IB.

recovering_spendaholic

Barneysmom wrote: »

You are allowed to work 15 and 3/4 hours a week if you're on IB.

thanks for this - do I have to tell them about it?

richard9991

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

thanks for this - do I have to tell them about it?

yes and they have to agree to the type of work you do i think they call it permited work and you cant earn more than £95 per week after tax also you can only uselly do this for 12 months.

healy

richard9991 wrote: »

yes and they have to agree to the type of work you do i think they call it permited work and you cant earn more than £95 per week after tax also you can only uselly do this for 12 months.

The limit is £92 pounds per week.

There are details on permitted work in the following link :

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/IncapacityBenefit/DG_10020667