Return To Work Credit Query

ohdearpuzzle

I have been on contribution based ESA which finished at the end of April. I have very luckily secured a part -time job starting in 2 weeks. I will work 16 hours on minimum wage. Does anyone have experience of claiming and successfully receiving the Return to Work Credit? I am still currently on ESA NI credits only and will qualify under all the guidelines online but am just wondering if there are any 'hidden' criteria? Thank you.

pmlindyloo

ohdearpuzzle wrote: »

I have been on contribution based ESA which finished at the end of April. I have very luckily secured a part -time job starting in 2 weeks. I will work 16 hours on minimum wage. Does anyone have experience of claiming and successfully receiving the Return to Work Credit? I am still currently on ESA NI credits only and will qualify under all the guidelines online but am just wondering if there are any 'hidden' criteria? Thank you.

Return to Work Credit

Return to Work Credit is a tax-free payment of £40 per week for people that have, or have had, a health condition or disability.
It can be payable for up to 52 weeks as long as:

• your job is expected to last at least five weeks
• you are working on average over 16 hours a week
• your gross earnings do not exceed £288.46 per week, or £1,250 per month
• you are earning at least the National Minimum Wage
• you have been getting an incapacity benefit for 13 continuous weeks or more
• you have started work or will be starting work within the five-week period immediately after being entitled to a qualifying benefit

You might not qualify if you claim either of the following benefits in the five weeks before starting work:

• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income Support as a lone parent

Please contact your adviser or Jobcentre Plus for more details.

Would you qualify under this (bold)?

ohdearpuzzle

Hi there, thank-you for that. Yes, because I am officially still on ESA so even though it will be 7 weeks since I received money I am still on it - NI credits. I am just wondering if anyone has experience of actually receiving it and how it works in practice. Thank you for your response.

shiprob195

I receive in work credit. I was on IS for over two years. The job centre sorted out all the paper work. They write to you a few weeks after starting work to ask for wage slips. I get £40 in my bank every Wednesday.

pmlindyloo

ohdearpuzzle wrote: »

Hi there, thank-you for that. Yes, because I am officially still on ESA so even though it will be 7 weeks since I received money I am still on it - NI credits. I am just wondering if anyone has experience of actually receiving it and how it works in practice. Thank you for your response.

Just for my own interest and information, may I ask about your ESA and NI credits?

Do you mean that your contribution based ESA was stopped in April and you were assessed for income based ESA and wasn't awarded it? Or something else?

I thought that if you were only receiving NI credits then you would not meet the qualifying criteria re the 5 weeks.

Hope you don't mind my asking

ohdearpuzzle

Hi, thanks for the info. I have checked with Job Centre, I should still qualify because they couldn't find anything to suggest that NI credits don't count. I suppose I will find out once I actually apply.

ohdearpuzzle

I didn't qualify and here is why. I returned to work on a term time only contract for which I am paid 43.1 weeks of the year. I work 16 hours a week. RTC worked this out that over 52 weeks I work 13.46 hours per week and therefore am not eligible for RTC. I am earning £7/hour. Very unhappy with this decision especially since I was advised at the jobcentre that I would definately qualify. I am very relieved to be working again but am currently not able to work full time so was relying on qualifying to help me get back on my feet. Ho hum. I work 16 hours a week every week that the school is open so this seems a very unfair way of working it out.