Permitted Work = ESA

Roxy07

How do I go about doing this?

I want to work but I'd like a safety net of doing it in a measured way (because there is no guarantee I can handle it) - so don't want to give up my ESA for nothing until I'm confident enough that things won't go wrong.. because it would be my first paid job.

rogerblack

First thing is - why are you on ESA.
What are the actual descriptors you were awarded it on.

If, for example, you were awarded because you can't walk, and the job involves walking, then no, you can't do it, even under permitted work, report your improvement.

If the work you are going to be doing does not conflict with the reasons you were granted ESA, then you can either earn up to 20 pounds a week - permitted work lower level, forever.
Or 16 hours for up to 102 pounds a week (around this) for one year if you are in the work-related group, and then one year when you are limited to the lower level.
If you are in the support group, there is no limit of time.

You need to contact them first, and ask for a permitted work form.

Roxy07

rogerblack wrote: »

First thing is - why are you on ESA.
What are the actual descriptors you were awarded it on.

If, for example, you were awarded because you can't walk, and the job involves walking, then no, you can't do it, even under permitted work, report your improvement.

If the work you are going to be doing does not conflict with the reasons you were granted ESA, then you can either earn up to 20 pounds a week - permitted work lower level, forever.
Or 16 hours for up to 102 pounds a week (around this) for one year if you are in the work-related group, and then one year when you are limited to the lower level.
If you are in the support group, there is no limit of time.

You need to contact them first, and ask for a permitted work form.

Thanks

My job centre adviser never mentioned about it depending on the work I do.. she just said I can earn an extra £20 a week for a year or two then I come off ESA totally (if things work out when I'm settled in). The safety net is that I might not be able to handle it but atleast I'm trying, no? some people don't even try.. so I think the government should help the people who are trying, not make things harder for them !

rogerblack

Roxy07 wrote: »

Thanks

My job centre adviser never mentioned about it depending on the work I do

It doesn't depend on the work you do.
But some work will imply that the reasons you were granted ESA no longer apply.

Anyone on ESA can do permitted work-lower level (20 pounds) forever.
It is time limited if you do the upper-level permitted work (up to around 105/week and 16h) to one year if you're in the work-related group.

Roxy07

rogerblack wrote: »

It doesn't depend on the work you do.
But some work will imply that the reasons you were granted ESA no longer apply.

Anyone on ESA can do permitted work-lower level (20 pounds) forever.
It is time limited if you do the upper-level permitted work (up to around 105/week and 16h) to one year if you're in the work-related group.

So what work will imply that ESA is no longer needed for someone with mental health such as ASD?

rogerblack

Roxy07 wrote: »

So what work will imply that ESA is no longer needed for someone with mental health such as ASD?

That is an extremely difficult question to answer in general.
The best advice is to consider the descriptors under which you got points.
If for example, you got points under '(c) Engagement in social contact with someone unfamiliar to the claimant is not possible for the majority of the time due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual.', then it's going to be hard to argue that this is still the case if you're greeting customers 16 hours a week.

It may be quite possible however if you're doing several hours working in a business along with one other person and no contact with customers.