Permitted Supported Work

doublet_3

I'm asking this on behalf of a friend:

Okayy, just to explain what permitted supported work is to put my query in context... when someone is on incapacity benefit they are entitled to work up to 16 hours a week for an organisation/person who fits certain criteria (charity, disability support etc). They can earn up to about £85 a week on top of their IB indefinitely but they have to be 'supported' by a mentor from the place they are working for. This mentor will assess whether the person is at anytime capable of going back to work on a normal healthy basis.

I am on IB (I worked for 15 years as a teacher so no 'worskhy' comments please) and there is no way I am capable of going to work in the conventional sense as I am too ill. I find it difficult to even leave the house and I am in a wheelchair as I am not strong enough to walk. Any exertion leaves me exhausted and I have to sleep.

Despite all that, I have been ill for seven years now and I am sick of having no life so I started up my own small business. At first I did it all on a non profit basis so everything was sold at cost price, after all it was more therapy than anything else. After a bit though the business started getting popular and I realised I was getting taken advantage of so I put my prices up. Before I did that though I did some research and enrolled in the supported permitted work scheme. I have a mentor from a London 'Action on Disability' organisation and I am keeping records. At the moment my business is not making any money as the profit margin is small and anything I make goes into the business.

Okay...to the issue...the DWP wrote to me asking how much I was earning (nothing if you count costs, do they?) and about my mentor and my situation as they wanted to assess whether I fitted the critera of working under the permitted supported work scheme. I'm very worried now in case a) they stop my benefits or b) they tell me I have to give the business up. I can't do either at the moment. The business is the only thing that keeps me going, it's a whole concept more than just a commodity, the website has a blog charting my struggles and triumphs and I have a lot of emails from people who find inspiration from what I do. If I ever do get to a stage where I am making more than the amount I am allowed to make I will come straight off IB. I'm not well enough to commit 100% to the business however and I certainly can't go to work. Does anyone have any experience of this kind of thing and if they say I don't meet the criteria does anyone know of any other scheme that would help me?
Thank you

hermum

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/IncapacityBenefit/DG_10020667
Explains all about permitted work.
Is the work done from home? If so then it probably doesn't need to be supported, it would come under the permitted work rules.
When I spoke to the Jobcentre about doing permitted work from home I was told that the money they class as income would be after expenses. So £95 a week is the amount that can be earned & still receive IB.
Good luck to your friend.

doublet_3

Hi hermum
thanks for that. the problem is, the permitted work rules don't say anything about working for yourself, they only refer to being employed... this is why my friend is worried.

olias

You'd be better off posting this in the disability or benefits forums.
As far as I can see, the permitted work info does not mention being employed as you state, it mearly mentions 'work'.

Olias