Back to Work benefits

50Twuncle

I am due to start work in 2 weeks time ( £96 per week for 16 hours) - after 15 months on ESA and understand that I will be entitled to £40 per week tax free "back to work credit" and a one off £100 lump sum (no kids)
Do I have to apply for either of these (if so - when ?) or do they get credited automatically ?
Plus when I finish on ESA - is there any "overlap" ?- because I don't know when my first pay will be made......

stazi

Info on RTWC & JG is here-
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Employedorlookingforwork/DG_10013908

Your ESA will end the day before you start work.

Benefits_Bod

Given the time you were on ESA, I'm assuming you were on income-related ESA.

If so, and if your new job is expected to last at least 5 weeks AND if the reason for the end of your ESA is starting that new job, there may well be entitlement to an "extended payment" (i.e. "run-on") of any HB and/or CTB you are on. This would give you a 4 week overlap with the new job.

Usually, the DWP will forward the info to your local council, but I'd advise asking the council directly for an EP in any case.

alfchild

21Twinkle wrote: »

I am due to start work in 2 weeks time ( £96 per week for 16 hours) - after 15 months on ESA and understand that I will be entitled to £40 per week tax free "back to work credit" and a one off £100 lump sum (no kids)
Do I have to apply for either of these (if so - when ?) or do they get credited automatically ?
Plus when I finish on ESA - is there any "overlap" ?- because I don't know when my first pay will be made......

I would ask about these as last year when I went back after claiming after maternity ran out I was told by DWP but had forms to sign too. There was no overlap either.
Hope this helps

50Twuncle

Benefits_Bod wrote: »

Given the time you were on ESA, I'm assuming you were on income-related ESA.

If so, and if your new job is expected to last at least 5 weeks AND if the reason for the end of your ESA is starting that new job, there may well be entitlement to an "extended payment" (i.e. "run-on") of any HB and/or CTB you are on. This would give you a 4 week overlap with the new job.

Usually, the DWP will forward the info to your local council, but I'd advise asking the council directly for an EP in any case.

I am on Contribution based ESA - Which means no Council orientated benefits - so nothing to do with the local council !!
The job is for 6 months - so if DWP "overlap" by 4 weeks - this would be good

DX2

21Twinkle wrote: »

I am on Contribution based ESA - Which means no Council orientated benefits - so nothing to do with the local council !!
The job is for 6 months - so if DWP "overlap" by 4 weeks - this would be good

There is no ESA run on/overlap.

rushofblood

Either ask for a Return to Work Credit application form from your local job centre/benefit delivery centre or download it off the net, search google uk pages for Return to Work Credit application form & it should be the first link you come to.

Once you've completed sections 1 - 4 send it off to your local Return to Work Credit team and make sure they have it within five weeks of your new employment starting or it will be automatically rejected.

You will be told whether your application has been successful in writing and your payments will start within 15 working days of the date on the letter, although the new RTWC letter sent out now says it can take upto 5 weeks... which is a quite a bit of a mystery to us all who deal with it :rotfl:

BTW only the Return to Work Credit team can say whether you are eligible for the credit or not, anyone else who says you are is telling you porkies.

sunnyone

Benefits_Bod wrote: »

Given the time you were on ESA, I'm assuming you were on income-related ESA.

If so, and if your new job is expected to last at least 5 weeks AND if the reason for the end of your ESA is starting that new job, there may well be entitlement to an "extended payment" (i.e. "run-on") of any HB and/or CTB you are on. This would give you a 4 week overlap with the new job.

Usually, the DWP will forward the info to your local council, but I'd advise asking the council directly for an EP in any case.

You seem to think that ESA is like JSA as in there is only a short period of contributions based benefit (6 month) before going on to income based benefit, you are wrong, ESA is available in either contribution or income based benefit but the contributions based benefit lasts as long as you fulfil the terms of ESA.

Benefits_Bod

sunnyone wrote: »

You seem to think that ESA is like JSA as in there is only a short period of contributions based benefit (6 month) before going on to income based benefit, you are wrong, ESA is available in either contribution or income based benefit but the contributions based benefit lasts as long as you fulfil the terms of ESA.

Hi sunnyone. No, my response was purely in the context of HB/CTB extended payments / run-on. That's why there was no reference to 6-month linkage (or not) in terms of ESA; it wasn't relevant.