ESA Permitted Work - Queries

Alex_Shafner

Hey all.

I am on ESA cont based support group.

I still work a few hours a week in my old company; it's adapted work but they gave me the job after I had my car crash. DWP know this. This is my permitted work.

Now a question. Permitted work I believe is there for gaining an idea of what a return to work would be like and if you could manage.

I'm under the impression I can keep doing my PW indefinitely and still receive full ESA while in the SG?

I must say I feel a little guilty. I receive:

ESA Support group of around £106 +
EDP or around £15 +
DLA MRC and HRM around £105
+ £70 PW.

Is this the case forever? The DWP know I can never return to work above my hours I work now; so will the work I do always be PW?

Thanks for the advice ladies and gents.

bloolagoon

Don't knock it, if you hit the support group and are able to work, take what they allow as long as they allow it.

I can't respond on the benefits side but morally do not feel guilty

nannytone_2

you can earn up to £20 a week without it affecting ESA permanantly.
other than that you can work less than 16 hours and earn no more than £99,60 for 52 weeks.
it doesnt say that it is any different for the support group


just seen something else.
[You can also do ‘supported permitted work’ for less than 16 hours a week and earn up to £99.50 a week if your illness or disability very severely limits your ability to work

this is work that is supervised bu they local authority or voluntary organisation, and can be done without time restriction.

that doesnt appear to apply to the OP/B]

Xign

nannytone wrote: »

you can earn up to £20 a week without it affecting ESA permanantly.
other than that you can work less than 16 hours and earn no more than £99,60 for 52 weeks.
it doesnt say that it is any different for the support group

Support group is indefinite higher limit permitted work. 'Those in the Support Group of ESA can do Permitted Work indefinitely. Others can do a further 52 weeks after a break of 52 weeks or a break of 8 or 12 weeks if you stop claiming the following benefits completely for those 8 weeks (12 weeks for ESA) – Incapacity Benefit/Income Support/National Insurance Credits/Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit.'

2gorgeousgirls

I had to contact the permitted work team recently for a client. He was migrated from IB to Esa and was placed in WRAG.

He had been doing permitted work for several years while on IB and wanted to know if he could continue on ESA.

Permitted Work team confirmed that as he was in the WRAG he was limited to 52 weeks but if he had been placed in Support Group he would be able to do Permitted Work indefinitely.

It would probably be best to contact ESA benefit office and ask them.

nannytone_2

i dont disbelieve you but the gov.uk site seems to say that it is 'supported work' that is supervised and not just a job of the claimants choice.

i'll have to keep looking to see if i can find anything clearer

Horseunderwater

What I was told as I am in same situation ESA SG IR is that you can do PW for the equivilant of 16 hours at NMW £6.19 = £99.50 using the round up to nearest whole 50p rule. This goes on for as long as you are able to do so and you get to keep that money on top of all the benefits. Also applies if on Contributions ESA SG. The 52 week rule applies for WRAG ESA of both types. At the moment I am away from my PW due to health problems being worse at moment, but I am getting there and hope to in near future go back to it.

Alex_Shafner

Horseunderwater wrote: »

What I was told as I am in same situation ESA SG IR is that you can do PW for the equivilant of 16 hours at NMW £6.19 = £99.50 using the round up to nearest whole 50p rule. This goes on for as long as you are able to do so and you get to keep that money on top of all the benefits. Also applies if on Contributions ESA SG. The 52 week rule applies for WRAG ESA of both types. At the moment I am away from my PW due to health problems being worse at moment, but I am getting there and hope to in near future go back to it.

I don't know about you Horseunderwater but even though I am disabled I like doing some work. It makes me feel a bit useful lol. I know I'm fairly fortunate I'm in the SG and can work. But like my GP said 'the work done is the maximum I can do; Alex is severely limited in employment capability.'

It's just when I was working out my income I couldn't help feel a little... Guilty(?) my income is reasonably high for someone whom is disabled. .

Two4Tuesday

Alex_Shafner wrote: »

It's just when I was working out my income I couldn't help feel a little... Guilty(?) my income is reasonably high for someone whom is disabled. .

Ignoring the DLA as it's also an in-work benefit, an income of £191 per week is hardly high for someone who is working and has a disability. Besides, if your company is willing to let you continue for a few hours a week, that speaks very highly of them and their flexibility when perhaps they would rather have someone there full time.

I earned over £7000 per month when working in my last full time contract, netting over £4000 after tax and expenses were taking into account. I am also disabled.

Alex_Shafner

Two4Tuesday wrote: »

Ignoring the DLA as it's also an in-work benefit, an income of £191 per week is hardly high for someone who is working and has a disability. Besides, if your company is willing to let you continue for a few hours a week, that speaks very highly of them and their flexibility when perhaps they would rather have someone there full time.

I earned over £7000 per month when working in my last full time contract, netting over £4000 after tax and expenses were taking into account. I am also disabled.

Very true. I guess it's just you hear these horror stories of people on benefits living on a scrap.

Cheers though. You are very true.

tigerlily

Xign is totally correct,
You may work under this rule for up to 52 weeks as long as you do the work for less than 16 hours a week and earnings do not exceed £97.50 a week.
The 52-week limit does not apply if you are exempt from the personal capability assessment or if you are within the support group for Employment and Support Allowance.