Do I tell ESA/PIP that I earn money from Surveys?

Lips_and_Lashes

I use Swagbucks and a number of other survey sites. I've only been doing this for the past month or two. I have earned between £5 to £20 a month doing this. I only do it to earn money to repay my debt.

Do I inform ESA and PIP that I am gaining money from this?

I have not yet started a claim for either benefits but I plan to do so soon. I don't want to get into any trouble for not informing them.

[Deleted User]

i wouldn't ever advocate fraud but as the money goes into your bank account(i assume it does)then if you claim any income related benefits(and pip isn't esa can be)they may/will at some point want to see 3 months worth of statements,it won't matter that you use the income to repay debts

JaneDoeJohnDoe

PIP isn't means tested so no problem there. As for ESA , well you can earn £20 /wk anyway with 'permitted work' (I think) so I wouldn't worry about it, until you made big money. How is the survey money paid? Is it real money or vouchers or gift cards etc?

rogerblack

JaneDoeJohnDoe wrote: »

PIP isn't means tested so no problem there. As for ESA , well you can earn £20 /wk anyway with 'permitted work' (I think) so I wouldn't worry about it, until you made big money. How is the survey money paid? Is it real money or vouchers or gift cards etc?

While it is true you can earn 20 pounds a week (in some cases more) under permitted work, you need to let them know you are doing this.
This is because they can decide that any work you are doing is _not_ permitted - and hence end the claim from the date the work was done, causing an overpayment, and possible fraud investigation.

This is especially true if you earn over 21 pounds a week ever.
If you do this in the work-related group, then do it again a year later, you are not entitled to ESA at all unless they choose to average your competition earnings.

Permittetted work higher level (over 20/week) for those in the work-related group has a 12 month limit, after which you can't do it again for 12 months.

Lips_and_Lashes

Thanks for your responses.

I usually cash the money out via paypal then transfer it into my bank account.

I'll be on the safe side and tell them so they can decide what to do. I don't think I'll ever earn 'big money'.

It just concerned me that I'm by no means guaranteed to make any money each month so if they deducted £20 a month from my claim then I could be left short on the months I never managed to earn anything - if that makes any sense. Although if they did deduct the money from my claim then I'd probably not bother using the survey sites as I wouldn't be any better off and it does take quite a lot of time and effort.

Obviously this is health permitting, there are often days/weeks when I cannot even use the computer.

rogerblack

Any earnings though permitted work do not count at all for your claim.

SPELLKASTER

If you are on contributions based esa then you have nothing to worry about.

rogerblack

SPELLKASTER wrote: »

If you are on contributions based esa then you have nothing to worry about.

You cannot safely do any work on ESA - unless it is permitted work.
While any work may be neglected, it does not under the rules hae to be, and if it is not, it can end your claim.

In principle yes, tiny amounts can be earned - the problem is that this is not laid down in legislation - and what is viewed as negligible will vary by DM.