Employment Support Allowence

suzanne

Hi apinner1970,

I am in a similar position to you, I work on average 10 hrs a week.

I seem to be continually in this linking situation even though JCP has advised that I should be claiming ESA.
So every 52 weeks I am asked to either increase hrs(not poss), come off benefits or stop working?
I did try last year to increase hrs to 16 and became very ill.
I don`t want to stop work as it keeps me going through my illness.

I hope you get the help you need.

Suzanne

angus1

None of it seems to be very easy to understand, especially for those people who are suffering from mental illness (I'm in this situation too). I've just started out on ESA and have finally got my claim through after lots of mixed information at the start.

I, like yourselves want to to start looking for a job a few hours a week but from what you both say it sounds so confusing, with all this linking stuff and only able to work for a certain time before having to make decisions about whether to carry on or work more hours, or give work up ... well I just know that my head will never get around all of that.

So much for helping things and encouraging you back into work gently. Can understand that you would just give up. And that's such a shame because people with mental illness really need to feel useful, get structure back and regain their confidence and working just a few hours a week to do this is all a lot of us can manage.

apinner1970

Thank you for responding. Life really is tough enough at the moment without the stresses of work and the benefits system. I hope in the near future I can return to work as it did result in me gaining a lot of confidence.
I wish you good luck in the future.

apinner1970

To Suzanne
I wish you all the best. I hope you health improves quickly.And thank you for responding.

apinner1970

Still waiting.

Stroof

All parts of the benefits system are really ground down with overwork, I have been unable to work and waiting since December for an assessment decision to determine what benefit if any I might be entitled to.

I wonder, in your case are you entitled to emergency payments while waiting ... might be worth asking at the Jobcentre or via CAB ?

apinner1970

I have just found out today I was not advised properly by my" back to work adviser."
He told me to send 2 medical certificates, a permitted work form which i had to ask my C.P. N to sign,E.S.A form i filled out, letter from my G.P. ( I sent all these recorded delivery as i know how things get lost in the post)
I did not need to do any of these things
After speaking to very kind lady who took the time to listen to me (from Income Support) .All i needed to do was tell my "back to work adviser" I was leaving work.who then should have informed the Incapacity benefit as i have 104 week clause that means i go straight beck to the benefits i was on before.
As simple as that.
So when I send in my last payslip and within a fortnight my claim should be sorted.
Housing Benefit( as someone said in this thread is Income Based) is sorted also.
Thanks to everyone who joined the thread and for all your advice.

suzanne

Hi apinner1970,

Glad you got sorted, some advisors are excellent.

Just wondered if you can still do reduced hours?

Even the odd hour here and there helps my confidence and esteem.

Best wishes
Suzanne

NASA_2

You are allowed to do permitted work while on ESA or IB so long as it isnt injurious to your health and some other conditions are met.

ladylumps45

what other conditions are they?