Claiming ESA whist working

dinosaurus

Good afternoon,

I am hoping some of you might be able to offer me some advice on Employment and Support Allowance.

I have a neuropathic pain condition in my shoulder, which is generally managed well with biannual nerve blocks. However, in February I injured my ankle and it is now showing signs of the same pain condition. I was unemployed in February and claiming JSA. Last month I was offered full time but zero hour contract employment and accepted the position because my ankle was showing signs of improvement.

Now, three weeks in my ankle is going downhill and I have been recommended by my physiotherapist to reduce my workload in order to focus more closely on rehabilitation. I have contacted my employer about the possibility of reducing my workload to a maximum of 16 hours per week. However, I am yet to hear from him.

I know that if I was in receipt of ESA I would be able to do permitted work (up to 16 hours per week) but am I able to claim whilst already working?

I would like to get my claim in ASAP because I know only too well that it will take time to get set up!

I would be grateful for any information any of you might be able to offer regarding claiming ESA whilst being employed.

I thank you in advance for your time and help.

rogerblack

dinosaurus wrote: »

I know that if I was in receipt of ESA I would be able to do permitted work (up to 16 hours per week) but am I able to claim whilst already working?

Yes you can, as long as you are also within the income limits - it can't be more than 16*nmw.

Horseunderwater

I think that you would need to have been in receipt of SSP for 28 weeks first before you went down the ESA route and even then it is a very long process. One option is to get a fit note from your GP stating that you need to work less hours for a while to allow your ankle to heal and have them sign you off subject to that for say 2-3 months.

nicnak66

a new esa claim shouldnt take any more than 3 weeks to process and paid under the assessment stage. i would claim now if you are working less than 16 hours per week. how long were you unemployed for and were you on conts only jsa or income based. conts only esa is paid for 52 weeks - longer in certain cases.

are you getting working tax credits?

dinosaurus

Rogerblack - thank you for clarifying. I just wanted to check that I didn't have to be not working when I claimed and could then start permitted work.

Horseunderwater - I am not eligible for SSP because I have only been working since 14th May, so my average earnings over the last 8 weeks aren't high enough to be eligible.

Nicnak - Thank you for that information. I have been unemployed since last October, minus some temporary work over the Christmas period. I was on income based JSA.

I thought income based ESA is only paid for 52 weeks, so thank you for clarifying; I do not envisage my ankle being problematic for longer than this (I hope not anyway!) so this is not an issue. Also, I am not on Working Tax Credits as I am currently living with family.

Thanks again for all your help, I will be contacting the JCP to sort out my claim this afternoon.

Xign

dinosaurus wrote: »

Rogerblack - thank you for clarifying. I just wanted to check that I didn't have to be not working when I claimed and could then start permitted work.

Horseunderwater - I am not eligible for SSP because I have only been working since 14th May, so my average earnings over the last 8 weeks aren't high enough to be eligible.

Nicnak - Thank you for that information. I have been unemployed since last October, minus some temporary work over the Christmas period. I was on income based JSA.

I thought income based ESA is only paid for 52 weeks, so thank you for clarifying; I do not envisage my ankle being problematic for longer than this (I hope not anyway!) so this is not an issue. Also, I am not on Working Tax Credits as I am currently living with family.

Thanks again for all your help, I will be contacting the JCP to sort out my claim this afternoon.

Good luck, if you're working less than 16 hours a week (PW), the JCP will take information about work, and your payroll number. And that is pretty much it!