ESA - What can I earn whilst on benefits?

cftm123

Hi everyone, wondering if anyone can help me understand what I can earn whilst on ESA due to mental health issues.
A family member is my appointee and receives my ESA
(due to my mental health issues) - they receive approx £255 ESA every 2 weeks (no idea which type of ESA but I know it's around £255 every 2 weeks).

I am looking for part time work but don't want to lose my benefits (for a number of reasons but mainly that I'll have something to fall back on if my mental health doesn't "agree" with my job).

I checked gov.uk but I'm a bit confused on the following points:
1) If I work less than 16hours/earn less than £125.50 a week and let the benefit office know, will they "reconsider" my ESA or will they let me automatically keep my ESA?

2) Is any job that is no more than 16hrs a week and earning no more than £125.50 a week, ok to do, or only specific jobs?

3) Can I deal with the benefit office myself or does everything need to go through my appointee e.g. letting them know I found a job etc ?

4) Can I speak to Citizens Advice Bureau myself or would my appointee have to speak to them?

5) Would I be able to do an apprenticeship whilst on ESA or would they conflict?

Thanks

calcotti

cftm123 wrote: »

Hi everyone, wondering if anyone can help me understand what I can earn whilst on ESA due to mental health issues.
A family member is my appointee and receives my ESA
(due to my mental health issues) - they receive approx £255 ESA every 2 weeks (no idea which type of ESA but I know it's around £255 every 2 weeks).

You are getting £127.15/week which indicates you are in the Support Group and receiving income based ESA. This may be entirely income based or may be contribution based with an income based top up.

I am looking for part time work but don't want to lose my benefits (for a number of reasons but mainly that I'll have something to fall back on if my mental health doesn't "agree" with my job).

I checked gov.uk but I'm a bit confused on the following points:
1) If I work less than 16hours/earn less than £125.50 a week and let the benefit office know, will they "reconsider" my ESA or will they let me automatically keep my ESA?
They shouldn't automatically review your ESA but if the work you undertake appears to contradict the reasons you have been put in the Support Group they may do so. THE DWP are allowed to review the ESA award at any time. Unfortunately it is a risk.

2) Is any job that is no more than 16hrs a week and earning no more than £125.50 a week, ok to do, or only specific jobs?
There are no restrictions on the type of job but see my previous comment about contradictions between the work and the reasons for getting ESA. For example, if you have said that you can't interact with people but then get a job as a receptionist that is likely to raise questions.

3) Can I deal with the benefit office myself or does everything need to go through my appointee e.g. letting them know I found a job etc ?
I don't know the answer to this. The DWP will normally only accept an appointee if they have agreed that you are not capable of managing your own affairs. It could be argued that if they deal with you they may be putting you at risk if you are not actually capable. Hopefully somebody else with experience of appointees can post more about this.

4) Can I speak to Citizens Advice Bureau myself or would my appointee have to speak to them?

5) Would I be able to do an apprenticeship whilst on ESA or would they conflict?

Thanks

Sorry - have just got interrupted. Posting what I have already written

poppy12345

cftm123 wrote: »

3) Can I deal with the benefit office myself or does everything need to go through my appointee e.g. letting them know I found a job etc ?

You would not be able to deal with your benefits yourself, you would need to ask your appointee to do this for you.

TELLIT01

Before starting any work a Permitted Work form should obtained from ESA (PW1), completed and returned. There is mixed guidance on whether or not you must get the OK before starting, but doing so will remove any potential risk to benefits.

serenity2012

Supported permitted work' is work that’s either:

Supervised by someone from a local council or voluntary organisation whose job it is to arrange work for disabled people or part of a treatment programme under medical supervision

So if it is neither of the above it will affect your benefits, as it should.

calcotti

serenity2012 wrote: »

Supported permitted work' is work that’s either:

Supervised by someone from a local council or voluntary organisation whose job it is to arrange work for disabled people or part of a treatment programme under medical supervision

So if it is neither of the above it will affect your benefits, as it should.

This is wrong. Permitted work does not have to be supported work.

Permitted work can be any work that is less than £16 hours/week and earning less than £125.50/week and you can do it for an indefinite period.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/working-while-getting-esa/

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility

The difference is that supported permitted work does not have the 16 hour time limit.

TELLIT01

serenity2012 wrote: »

Supported permitted work' is work that’s either:

Supervised by someone from a local council or voluntary organisation whose job it is to arrange work for disabled people or part of a treatment programme under medical supervision

So if it is neither of the above it will affect your benefits, as it should.

Quite simply, the statement in bold is wrong. As long as DWP approve it, 'Permitted Work' allows a person on ESA to work up to 16 hours per week (i.e. 15 hr 59 min) and earn the equivalent of 16 x NMW without benefit being affected. The purpose is to help people to get back into full time employment. There are rules on how long PW can be done for.
'Supported Permitted Work' is for a very specific group of people and not everybody fits the criteria for that.

poppy12345

TELLIT01 wrote: »

There are limits on how long PW can be done for.

That's not correct, it can be done for an unlimited time.
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Employment-and-Support-Allowance-Permitted-Work/What-is-permitted-work-Employment-and-Support-All

TELLIT01

poppy12345 wrote: »

That's not correct, it can be done for an unlimited time.
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Employment-and-Support-Allowance-Permitted-Work/What-is-permitted-work-Employment-and-Support-All

Under certain circumstances that is true. More generally PW is limited to 52 weeks.

poppy12345

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Under certain circumstances that is true. More generally PW is limited to 52 weeks.

Do you have a link to confirm that please?



It's my understanding that those in the WRAG used to be limited to 52 weeks for permitted work but that was changed some time ago. Permitted work can now be done for an unlimited time in either group.

poppy12345

Taken from this link.

Permitted work can include paid employment or self-employment. There is no limit as to how long you can do permitted work for.

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/work-people-living-disability-or-health-conditions