Working and ESA income

Mupette

Finally got my job interview this morning, I've had 'the' call.
I didn't get the job

BUT the woman on the phone who was one of the women who interviewed me said they were very pleased with me, i am their 2nd choice, the person they choose had more experiance than me.

She said they liked me that much that they have decided to offer me a casual basis job (same job), so if someone goes off sick they will call me in to cover. I accepted straight away, i like the job that was on offer, and for 2 hours a day, about enough for me to cope with for now.

Having already spoken to my benefits advisor about working and esa i know what i am allowed to earn and how many hours, so don't need any advice on that as i know where 'offically' i stand with all this.

But this is a bit different now as i won't be working any set hours, just as and when.

Is it a case of providing time sheets per week/ per month etc as proof of what i did or didn't do?

rogerblack

Be careful!

Permitted work is not automatically granted, and just because you come within the hours and earnings limit does not mean that you are doing permitted work.
Get approval first.

If you do _any_ work outside permitted work, it will possibly not be ignored (as permitted work is supposed to be) when you are assessed, and worse, you may be treated as 'in work' - and your ESA claim ended.

Your claim also ends (not suspended for the week) if you earn 1 pound over the permitted work limit (higher level).
In principle, there are averaging rules that let them average earnings in different weeks - but this is usually only if there is a 'regular cycle'.
This is again something you need to negotiate beforehand.
If you have not filled in a permitted work form, you need to do this now, with the start date, and possible hours.

(this is based on the conversations I've had with a decision maker dealing with my claim, and my readings of the DWP guidance)

Mupette

My benefits advisor has not long called me.

This is permitted to work for me, it has already been agreed to be something i am allowed to do.

I also clarified the hours and pay all fall way below the threashold.

and the permitted to work only starts on the day i am called in to cover a shift, once i have that information as advised by my advisor (i can email and she calls me - very nice lady) she will then send out the forms that i need to have.

I asked about HB/CT and asked what would happen there as i will never know what hours per week if any i would be doing, i was told that as far as DWP are concerned permitted to work is disregarded, but to check with my local council.

So i think i have covered everything.... haven't I?

rogerblack

Mupette wrote: »

I asked about HB/CT and asked what would happen there as i will never know what hours per week if any i would be doing, i was told that as far as DWP are concerned permitted to work is disregarded, but to check with my local council.

So i think i have covered everything.... haven't I?

i got a response from my council saying that as long as I'm on ESA-IR, doing permitted work, I'm entitled to maximum CTB.
I've been assuming this is correct.
Don't know about HB.
Glad it's looking good!

Mupette

rogerblack wrote: »

i got a response from my council saying that as long as I'm on ESA-IR, doing permitted work, I'm entitled to maximum CTB.
I've been assuming this is correct.
Don't know about HB.
Glad it's looking good!

nice one, helps us back to work.

not spoken to my local council yet, what i get told on the phone i would prefer to have in writing for future c0 ckups.

HMRC are still hounding me for a £400.00 fine for not completing my P35 and P14 by the 19th of May this year, even though i have names dates and times of phone calls to do this, they have lost it in their system, even listened to the calls clearly telling me that i have nothing else to do i was all done with PAYE (Direct payments last year for all of a month and a half).

Even after the first fine letter they kept telling me not to ignore pay or appeal, i kept telling them to look at their systems.

I have all the information i need to know i have done it all, think i'll sit back and let them take me to court and then show the judge all the paperwork with all the times and dates and names of all those that told me that i had done it all.


Lesson learned always make a note of who you are speaking to with dates and times and never trust what they tell you on the phone lol

Mupette

I spoke to HB today and they confirmed that permitted to work money as long as it is under 16 hours and less than £95 will be disregarded.