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Really need help with ESA/DLA and going back to work...

Hello, I've been on DLA and ESA for coming up to 4 years now, due to stress, anxiety and having aspergers syndrome turning my head into mush. I'm a single 27 yr old male, living by myself.

I've recently plucked up the courage to return to work and i'm set to possibly start tomorrow.It's agency work unfortunately so it will most probably be for 11 weeks, and on minimum wage.

The trouble is I think i'm set to be earning much, much less than i am now if i go back to work. Surely this can't be right ?? How are you meant to save for anything if you only have £5 disposable income a week. I'll be 50 before i'm be driving.

I've had a look for loans and grants that I might be entitled too, and looked at benefits calculators but they did nothing but confuse me.

Not sure what to do, or if i'm just messing up my calculations. Really need some advice before I show up tomorrow and possibly screw my life up.

Comments

  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 18,279 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    Give us more information - how many hours per week will you be working. What rate of DLA are you on? Are you in the WRAG or Support Group on ESA?
  • TonyPony
    TonyPony Posts: 7 Forumite
    edited 6 October 2014 at 6:33PM
    it'll be 42.5 a week. and i'm currently getting support group ESA rates I believe it's 217.12 a fortnight and get 172.40 DLA which im not sure about. Luckily I have an autism charity that helps me with my bills and stuff like that because it confuses me.
  • Torry_Quine
    Torry_Quine Posts: 18,887 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    You can still get DLA when working as long as the job doesn't contradict what you get it for. For example someone claiming it for mobility reasons getting a job as a postie.
    Lost my soulmate so life is empty.

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  • Indie_Kid
    Indie_Kid Posts: 23,097 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You should also be entitled to working tax credits, depending on your income. DLA doesn't count as income.
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