ESA and work & CTC

tati

Hi,
My partenr is receiving ESA for me and himself.
He is unable to work and receives DLA but can I work one day without affeting his ESA? is there any allowance for any income, i.e. can we have income which is not higher than the estimated 'amount we need to live on' (used in calculating how much we are entitled to). I am currently on maternity leave but have to come back to work this month or leave the job as it's been a year since my M. Leave started. So need to make decision quick whether I should come back to work or im better off staying at home.

Also, what happens if I get child tax credits? does it reduce ESA automatically?

Many many thanks in advance!

tati

Come on guys, 50 views and no reply? lol :cool:

benefitbaby

Hi, how income will affect his ESA will depend on whether it is contribution-based or income related.

If it is CESA then your eanings would not have an impact if it is IESA then it would impact this less any disregard.

If you have HB/CTB then this would also be impacted subject to disregard.

tati

Hi,
his ESA is income-related.

benefitbaby

A disregard is the amount of money that DWP let you keep from earnings before they take earnings into account.

So if you earned £40 per week, they would disregard (ignore) £20 (as you are a couple with children) and then £20 would be taken into account. As a result ESA would be reduced by £20 per week.

benefitbaby

Also Child Tax Credits has no impact on ESA (as CTC is payment in respect of a child not your partner).

tati

Great! thanks benefitbaby, thats the information I was looking for.

I have also found this piece of information:
'An earnings disregard of £20 a week is allowed against earnings from employment or self-employment. This can be increased to a maximum of £95 for certain types of ‘permitted work’ that you may be allowed to do while claiming.'
Does anyone know in what circumstances the disregard can be increased up to £95?