ESA Support Group & working?

IanG1471

Hello everyone,

I am new here, just trying to seek an answer to my queries about ESA. I hope this is the right place to ask about them. If not can my posting be moved to the correct place?.

Basically I have been put into the contributory ESA Support Group . I want to do some form of work if I can. Is it correct that I can work upto 16 hours per week and earn ninety something pounds per week on top of my ESA?. Is this amount net or gross (i.e. before or after tax, NI etc)? Also is there a time limit asto how long I could do work whilst claiming ESA? Is there any limit on the type of job I could do (within my own limitations)?

I understand I can also volunteer to do the work interviews etc. Are these really worth doing?

Sorry if these questions have been asked before. I have only just been given the ESA so it is all new to me.

Thank you in advance.

rogerblack

'Permitted work higher level' is for a maximum period of one year.
If you earn 1 pound over the lower limit of permitted work, then you start the clock on a period of PWHL.
This continues to run, even if you come off and go back on benefit, or start and stop the permitted work.
For one year, you can earn up to around 100 pounds, then for one year you cannot do PWHL - though you can do the lower level - for ~20/week.

Earnings are:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch49.pdf
(49027)

Total income, subtracting:
Expenses 'wholely and unavoidably incurred at work'. (If you have to buy a chicken suit to work their our of your own funds, and they don't provide one, for example. Travel to work does not count)
Tax.
class 1 NI contributions.
Half some pension contributions.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dmgch41.pdf - permitted work - 41188

IanG1471

Thank you RB,

Crikey, I didn't realise it was so involved. I didn't realise there was a higher level of permitted work and all that stuff.

I should also perhaps have mentioned, my ESA is reduced a bit because I get a pension but even then it all seems so complicated.

I think though I still want to try it. Are those voluntary work interview things worth going to?

Thanks.

rogerblack

My WFI have not been positive.
I'm in the WRAG, and they have basically been me struggling to get there, and explaining why I can't consider work.
One thing I missed - work you do is not automatically treated as permitted work,
You need to apply for it.

Oh - and in addition, self-employment is a nightmare on top of this that compound it.

IanG1471

rogerblack wrote: »

My WFI have not been positive.
I'm in the WRAG, and they have basically been me struggling to get there, and explaining why I can't consider work.
One thing I missed - work you do is not automatically treated as permitted work,
You need to apply for it.

Oh - and in addition, self-employment is a nightmare on top of this that compound it.

Sorry, but being new to all this, what is WRAG?

also just found this:

Generally, you are not allowed to work while you are getting Employment and Support Allowance because of an illness or disability.


You may be able to do some types of work and within certain limits. This is called 'Permitted Work' and it allows you to test your own capacity for doing some work and perhaps gain new skills.


Although you do not need permission to do Permitted Work, you must check that the work you want to do is allowed under the Permitted Work rules. You should discuss this with your personal adviser.


You do not need approval from your doctor or have to have a medical assessment just because you are doing Permitted Work. If a medical assessment is due as part of your ongoing benefits-related review, it will go ahead as planned.


Permitted Work is a benefit arrangement - employers do not offer 'permitted work'.


and


The Permitted Work rules

Under the Permitted Work rules you can:

• work for less than 16 hours a week on average, with earnings up to £97.50 a week for 52 weeks
• work for less than 16 hours a week, on average, with earnings up to £97.50 a week if you are in the Support Group of the main phase of Employment and Support Allowance

(I cannot post a link being new, but it is on the Direct Gov website entitled
'Permitted Work' - working while claiming Employment and Support Allowance )



So, as i have been put into this support group thing, can I do this 'permitted work' for say 15 hours and earn say £97.00 per week indefinitely?


Is there any difference between 'permitted work' and just plain old 'work'?


Or am I naively being over simplistic in all this?

(sorry for so may questions)

IanG1471

Sorry just to add, the money really isn't important.

Just I would feel better working and earning a little bit as opposed to earning nothing if that makes sense.

Ian

Cpt.Scarlet

You can't work while receiving ESA and any Permitted Work must be consistent with your illness/disability. You don't need permission to carry out Permitted Work, but the DWP needs to confirm that what you are doing is counted as Permitted Work, so you need to contact them first. As you are in the Support Group there is no limit to the length of time you can carry out PW but the weekly hours and earning limits still apply.

IanG1471

Thank You Captain Scarlet,

That sort of makes sense now. Although I am not too sure what the difference is between 'permitted work' and actual 'work' - is there any difference?

I have now found what this WRAG group is, would I be better asking to be put into there instead of being in this Support Group, so I can get the interviews etc or would it mean I could only do this 'permitted work' only for a year?

Sorry for the basic questions - this is all new to me.

Thanks
Ian

Cpt.Scarlet

You can volunteer for the Work programme even though you are in the Support Group. If you are in the WRAG the Permitted Work at the higher earning level is limited to one year.

IanG1471

Thanks CS.

So I am better staying in the Support Group and doing this work then as opposed to asking to be put into the Work Related Group?

I am not exactly sure what the Work Programme actually entails but it sounds like one of them things where no real jobs materialise. I just want to try a job to see what I can/cannot do and move forwards from there. I can not bear the thought of years ahead without working for a living despite my disabilities.

Thanks,
Ian.

IanG1471

Well I rang up the local Job Centre this morning to enquire about volunteering to have the job focused interviews. I was eventually put through to a lady who when I explained I was in the support group and wanted to volunteer for the interviews I was more or less told to go away. She stated although yes in theory I can volunteer for the job interviews, I would be at the back of a very long queue for them as they had to see all the people in the working group as a priority. It may take many months before they could fit me in and even then there maybe nothing they could do for me. She really seemed to be trying to talk me out of wanting the interviews etc.

Does anyone know if this is normal? I thought they would jump at someone volunteering but apparently not?

Thanks
Ian