ESA and partner working

tazwhoever

I'm on CB ESA just over two years and my partner works part time. In the two years, I have received part time / volunteer work form few times to return, which I have.

My question is as I'm on CB ESA why do they send me these forms, which won't affect my allowance but they want to know?

Thanks

epitome

Presumably you are declaring to them that you (not your partner) starting part time work (paid)
or voluntary work?

In each occasion they have to send you either a PW1 or a VOL1 respectively
Because a decision maker has to look at your declaration as either one can affect your benefit. So it depends on your answers that you put on the form whether it will affect your benefit.....

And, yes, even unpaid voluntary work can affect your benefit because there are questions on the form that cover things that you may not have considered such as expenses and who you are working for.


On the other hand, if it's not you working, but your partner who is working.... then the forms are unecessary.

But you have to be careful to know is your ESA claim ESA C & IR or ESA Conts only.
You will not normally know this because you have to phone and ask what your claim is showing...because most claimant's don't have a clue what they claimed and what their awards are showing..
If your claim is ESA conts only then on your claim screens at DWP your ESA IR should be entirely blank. If ESA IR says £0.00 then you do have ESA IR claimed..... and your partner's work has to be declared. But still no forms are required, all they require is proof of the employment of your partner. i.e. wage slips and/or a letter from the employer to say when your partner started working
.
If your claim has only ESA conts and the ESA IR is entirely blank,,,, (this does not include £0.00), then you do not need to report that your partner is doing part time work or voluntary work.....so stop telling them this and you will not be sent incorrect forms.

tazwhoever

epitome wrote: »

Presumably you are declaring to them that you (not your partner) starting part time work (paid)
or voluntary work?

In each occasion they have to send you either a PW1 or a VOL1 respectively
Because a decision maker has to look at your declaration as either one can affect your benefit. So it depends on your answers that you put on the form whether it will affect your benefit.....

And, yes, even unpaid voluntary work can affect your benefit because there are questions on the form that cover things that you may not have considered such as expenses and who you are working for.


On the other hand, if it's not you working, but your partner who is working.... then the forms are unecessary.

But you have to be careful to know is your ESA claim ESA C & IR or ESA Conts only.
You will not normally know this because you have to phone and ask what your claim is showing...because most claimant's don't have a clue what they claimed and what their awards are showing..
If your claim is ESA conts only then on your claim screens at DWP your ESA IR should be entirely blank. If ESA IR says £0.00 then you do have ESA IR claimed..... and your partner's work has to be declared. But still no forms are required, all they require is proof of the employment of your partner. i.e. wage slips and/or a letter from the employer to say when your partner started working
.
If your claim has only ESA conts and the ESA IR is entirely blank,,,, (this does not include £0.00), then you do not need to report that your partner is doing part time work or voluntary work.....so stop telling them this and you will not be sent incorrect forms.

Thanks,

When I filled in the ESA form and I put mine and partner’s details in. For few months, I got IB ESA rate. When my partner found part time work, the rate was reduced to CB ESA.

For over two years, this ‘part time / volunteer work’ form keeps coming every year. I fill it in and return it.

I guess even my ESA is CB (it’s actually IB ESA), so therefore they send me this form.

epitome

tazwhoever wrote: »

Thanks,

When I filled in the ESA form and I put mine and partner’s details in. For few months, I got IB ESA rate. When my partner found part time work, the rate was reduced to CB ESA.

For over two years, this ‘part time / volunteer work’ form keeps coming every year. I fill it in and return it.

I guess even my ESA is CB (it’s actually IB ESA), so therefore they send me this form.

You claimed ESA C & IR
You still have ESA C & IR
But your claim is currently classed as ESA Conts.

Who does the form relate to?
Have you ever done part time work or vol work whilst on this claim?
Your partner works part time.

If the forms relate specifically to your partner, then yes, they are correctly issued, because the DWP wants to be updated on her work.

However, If you are sure you are getting paid only the conts based element, and you are sure you would not be entitled to any more based on an ESA IR award. If you refuse to return the forms.... the worst that should happen (assuming they are specifically for her work and not yours) is that your ESA IR will be reduced to £0.00, and your ESA Conts will continue to be paid.

In the future if you want ESA IR to resume for both of you, you would just need to tell them her work has finished...and it will be resumed.