ESA Permitted Earnings

Sambella

nannytone wrote: »

ESA is for sick/disabled people.

this means they have a limited ability to work.
permitted work allows them to try a phased return to work whilst still being able to live.

they may not be able to manage more than 16 hours EVER, but you would like them to be forced to live on a possible £115 a week by cutting off their ESA?

you really are priceless.
i wish everyone was as considerate and caring about the ill/disabled as you obviously are

But if they find they CAN manage 16 hrs they would then be entitled to probably the more generous tax credits, no?

nannytone_2

Sambella wrote: »

But if they find they CAN manage 16 hrs they would then be entitled to probably the more generous tax credits, no?

not deinitely, but quite possibly.
the issue isn't usually money though. it is the very real worry that you may not be able to do the work on a long term basis.
if one type of benefit is stopped and another one starts, a change in circumstances ( stopping work) can lead to weeks if not months of suspended benefit whilst the claim is sorted.

i agree some type of taper would be more appropriate to help those back into work that feel able, but to say the the OP's friend should just do more hours and stop the ESA claim is inappropriate when no one knows why the ESA claim has been made.

some people will never recover at all, let alone recover enough to return to full time employment.

16 hours may not seem like a lot, but for those living with high levels of pain, it can seem like a mountain to climb.

most people that do permitted work do just a few hours a week.
or maybe they shouldn't bother at all and just keep their benefit and not try?

Sambella

With the minimum wage the key would be to apply for a job that would be for less than 16 hours. Then if all goes well and they wish to carry on they can ask for an increase in hours perhaps.

allison445

Sambella wrote: »

But if they find they CAN manage 16 hrs they would then be entitled to probably the more generous tax credits, no?

Another problem in itself 16 being the magic number.
I cant at present work 16 hours a week I want to try 1 or 2 to begin with and gradually fingers crossed increase that .
I need to get back to work for my own sanity unfortunately when you are put in the esa work programme they rave about how they don't do 0 hour contracts its 16 hours or more.
You either get no help or the wrong help seems to depend were you live.
What about people who don't fell at present they can manage 16 hours were does that leave us.
I'm now looking for a wee 1 or 2 hour a week job myself and I don't care if the money is deducted from my esa .
I have in the 11 months ive been on esa never been given any details at all about permitted work ( is it a secret )
Its all personnel circumstances what's good for some isn't always good for others and just because everyone else does it doesn't mean I have to.

Sambella

allison445 wrote: »

Another problem in itself 16 being the magic number.
I cant at present work 16 hours a week I want to try 1 or 2 to begin with and gradually fingers crossed increase that .
I need to get back to work for my own sanity unfortunately when you are put in the esa work programme they rave about how they don't do 0 hour contracts its 16 hours or more.
You either get no help or the wrong help seems to depend were you live.
What about people who don't fell at present they can manage 16 hours were does that leave us.
I'm now looking for a wee 1 or 2 hour a week job myself and I don't care if the money is deducted from my esa .
I have in the 11 months ive been on esa never been given any details at all about permitted work ( is it a secret )
Its all personnel circumstances what's good for some isn't always good for others and just because everyone else does it doesn't mean I have to.

You should have been told about permitted work as it may actually encourage some to try returning to or starting work again.
Of course it is different strokes for different folks and you each should do what you feel able to do and not fit some regulation. Sometimes the government is backwards at moving forwards!!
Some jobs may pay an amount that means you loose ESA. But it still pays more than ESA. Rightly or wrongly some people feel that some simply want maximum wage they can earn + ESA. Maybe an easy return to ESA if things don't work out would take away any fear of not being able to get ESA again?

epitome

TELLIT01 wrote: »

If she is claiming ESA she must get Permitted Work clearance before taking on a job, irrespective of the number of hours worked.

Not strictly true,

If the claimant is in Support Group, and they are not going to work 16 hours a week or more, and not earn over the £115.50. Then there is no issue.

If the work is going to be Supported Permitted work, there is no issue

**If they are on assessment phase, or in WRAG and they KNOW they have not already had a permitted work period on this claim or on any previous linked claim then there is no issue

In all above circumstances they can safely start the work and phone up for a PW1, I know of no reasons why Permitted Work won't be granted. (always happy to learn new things though if you know different. )

In the last category ** If they have already had a period of PW they should seek advice from ESA BC before starting the work.

Confuseddot

TELLIT01 wrote: »

If she is claiming ESA she must get Permitted Work clearance before taking on a job, irrespective of the number of hours worked.

That wasn't what she was told when she phoned for the permitted work form and on the form itself it talks about work you have already started.

Confuseddot

Who knows if she will actually manage the hours she just wants to try and see how she goes her CPN and doctor aren't sure she is ready but she hates being on benefits and wants off them. Obviously if it works then she will get more hours and come off ESA thats her plan. She currently get SMI as well and as soon as ESA stops then that stops too so its a lot of money to loose for the sake of 50p a week.

The problem is that the pay for the job she has been offered is more than minimum wage which takes her over the limit.

We did look at tax credits when she was looking at a 20 hour job the other week but she would lose her house and again who knows if she can manage the job.

epitome

Don't forget the earnings limit is net earnings, not gross, I dunno if this will make any difference (i.e. I have no idea if there will be a deduction from gross), but ask the emplyer how much the net earnings will be.

Confuseddot

epitome wrote: »

Don't forget the earnings limit is net earnings, not gross, I dunno if this will make any difference (i.e. I have no idea if there will be a deduction from gross), but ask the emplyer how much the net earnings will be.

Do you know if pension contributions will be taken into account ?