ESA / Housing benefit and part time work

ska_lover

Hello there

I advocate for a young gent who has been on ESA (wrag) for a while now. He is on contributions based, as had always worked until became ill

He is tentatively taking steps to seek out part time (under 16 hours per week) work...but he is worried, understandably, as he has a life time illness which can prove limiting

-What if it doesn't work out in terms of his illness
-What might the effects on benefits be? ESA and housing benefit
-What does he need to do, or be aware of?

Any experiences gratefully received

Alice_Holt

He should talk to the Job Centre about ESA permitted work, complete the permitted work form, and get their permission before starting work.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/working-while-getting-esa/

He should be aware that if his work activities could conflict with the descriptors he has been awarded in the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). It’s possible he’ll be referred for another WCA.

Any changes should be notified to his HB dept, and his HB / CTs will be amended.

ska_lover

Alice_Holt wrote: »

He should talk to the Job Centre about ESA permitted work, complete the permitted work form, and get their permission before starting work.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/employment-and-support-allowance/while-youre-getting-esa/working-while-getting-esa/

He should be aware that if his work activities could conflict with the descriptors he has been awarded in the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). It’s possible he’ll be referred for another WCA.

Any changes should be notified to his HB dept, and his HB / CTs will be amended.

Thanks Alice
that link I had looked up myself we have downloaded the form - we have had a good look through the official guidelines and sent a query to the cab..but are just coming up with the official guidelines, which do not equate to how ££££ benefits will change, as in will it be worth putting yourself though the pain and discomfort of trying to work or will you be penalised for making an effort?

was looking for real life stories - have you been in this situation?

It is such a minefield really and there are no published guidlines that say anything, as to what permitted work actually IS - ie what industry one can work in?
and how much of his esa he will lose, and what if it gets agonising to work, will be then be penalised for quitting, even though he is only working because he wants to, and is signed off, long term? He has been ill for a long time and is trying to 'manage' his condition

Literally every day will be difficult for him, if he proceeds with this. Every shift will be extreamly hard work. and he needs to go into it with his eyes open.

poppy12345

Whilst doing permitted work you don't lose any of your ESA or any other benefits., providing you don't work any more than 15.59 hours per week and earn no more than £125.50 per week. Anymore than this and the ESA will be affected.



As Alice has already stated permission is needed before starting the work. Whether it will go against him is another story as no one here knows the reasons he claims ESA and why they are in the WRAG.

calcotti

poppy12345 wrote: »

Whilst doing permitted work you don't lose any of your ESA or any other benefits., providing you don't work any more than 15.59 hours per week and earn no more than £125.50 per week. Anymore than this and the ESA will be affected.

Think that depends if the ESA is income based or contribution based. The permitted work earnings will certainly be ignored for ESA either way and if ESA is income based this will trigger maximum HB but if ESA was contribution based only wouldn’t the earnings then be taken into account for HB.

ska_lover

Hi all


Apologies I should have stated, it is contributions based ESA - ill edit my OP for ease of reading

bigbill

calcotti wrote: »

Think that depends if the ESA is income based or contribution based. The permitted work earnings will certainly be ignored for ESA either way and if ESA is income based this will trigger maximum HB but if ESA was contribution based only wouldn’t the earnings then be taken into account for HB.

No, still fully disregarded by HB.

poppy12345

ska_lover wrote: »

Hi all


Apologies I should have stated, it is contributions based ESA - ill edit my OP for ease of reading

ESA Contributions based WRAG is only payable for 365 days, as you stated in your first post that they've been on it for a while now. If it's more than 1 year since the start of their claim and they live alone, or no other household income then it would have transferred to Income Related. Either way as stated it makes no difference to permitted work.

calcotti

bigbill wrote: »

calcotti wrote: »

Think that depends if the ESA is income based or contribution based. The permitted work earnings will certainly be ignored for ESA either way and if ESA is income based this will trigger maximum HB but if ESA was contribution based only wouldn’t the earnings then be taken into account for HB.

No, still fully disregarded by HB.

I'm probably being dense about this but I can't see why the permitted work earnings would be disregarded for HB if claimant was only getting contribution based ESA rather than income based ESA.

I realise this may not actually be relevant to OP but would like to understand it myself.

bigbill

Always been ignored under old Incapacity / SDA etc see link near the bottom for more info.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Permitted-Work-Rules

calcotti

bigbill wrote: »

Always been ignored under old Incapacity / SDA etc see link near the bottom for more info.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Permitted-Work-Rules

Thanks Bill. I can see that it says "Earnings from permitted work (below the limit) are also ignored completely in Housing Benefit". I can see that it is also confirmed by advice on other similar websites. I didn't know that applied for HB when only contribution based ESA was involved. My logic was income based ESA gives full entitlement to HB anyway whereas contribution based ESA would be taken into account for HB so I couldn't see why the earnings would be disregarded. I now know differently so I'm better informed than this morning. Thanks for posting.

Of course no such disregard in UC (but of course no cliff edge at 16 hours either).