Where to send ESA?

LolliUK

Edit: Title meant to say ESA permitted work form.

I'm struggling to find an address to send this, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to send to the Job Center I sign-on with or I've also been given this freepost address: 'FREEPOST DWP ESA 26'

Is this freepost address correct/valid?

I've multiple voluntary roles set-up but the form only allows you to enter details for one - so I've written in the most consistent one (6 hours per week), rather than the others which are a brief if/when needed situation and haven't really started yet. I don't get paid for any work and I'm sure they fit into criteria. Do I need to fill in another form?

How do I know if they get the form?

The only other concern is if the job center or DWP get fussy over the type of work I'm doing: I struggle to use a telephone, one of the volunteer roles involves a little telephone work, also in general I struggle with social skills whereas these roles do involve working with people...I worry they'll see this as some sort of proof that I don't still have the same issues I'm struggling with.

I had my reassessment for ESA in April and got through straight away, also the adviser at the job center thinks I should be on the support group rather than ESA-WRAG (they're wrong, but the point is that they seem to have assumed that I'm more disabled than I am). So I'm worried they'll see volunteering - the only way I'd be able to get paid work again - as a reason to stop benefits.

I guess I'm just scared of how they could punish me for volunteering.

TELLIT01

If you attend the JC anyway I would be inclined to take it in with you and ask them to pass it on. However, if you are doing unpaid voluntary work you shouldn't have been given the Permitted Work form as there is a different form for voluntary work. Hopefully the processing office will be able to get all the information they require from the information you have completed.
What will certainly help is if you can provide the registered charity number for the organisation you volunteer for, if they have one.

poppy12345

LolliUK wrote: »

The only other concern is if the job center or DWP get fussy over the type of work I'm doing: I struggle to use a telephone, one of the volunteer roles involves a little telephone work, also in general I struggle with social skills whereas these roles do involve working with people...I worry they'll see this as some sort of proof that I don't still have the same issues I'm struggling with.


I guess I'm just scared of how they could punish me for volunteering.

This work may go against you in the future especially as you're volunteering for something you say you can't do, which is the reason you're claim ESA in the first place. I'm not saying it will but it MAY.

LolliUK

TELLIT01 wrote: »

If you attend the JC anyway I would be inclined to take it in with you and ask them to pass it on. However, if you are doing unpaid voluntary work you shouldn't have been given the Permitted Work form as there is a different form for voluntary work. Hopefully the processing office will be able to get all the information they require from the information you have completed.

I don't attend the JC - I haven't for a few months, the adviser said she recognized that I struggled being there - I have the advisers email address but she hasn't been replying (to my email about this or a previous email in reply to something she sent me) so I'm not sure when I may be back in the job center. I've also seen it somewhere that it shouldn't be handed into the job center.

The PW1 was one someone online told me I needed, and it covers 'unpaid work' - if I need a different form for voluntary work can anyone tell me where to find that form?

LolliUK

poppy12345 wrote: »

This work may go against you in the future especially as you're volunteering for something you say you can't do, which is the reason you're claim ESA in the first place. I'm not saying it will but it MAY.

I know, thus the concern - but without voluntary work I stand absolutely no chance at all of ever being able to work again. I'm dammed if I do and damned if I don't.