Working On ESA

venomx

Was sectioned for 4 years with paranoid schizophrenia and was discharged 2017. Still taking meds and seeing psychiatrist.

Looking to do a a tiny bit of work to keep myself busy.
Local charity shop have vacancies for 7hrs per week. Would this be classed as " Permitted Work " and not affect my ESA ?

Thanks :j

poppy12345

venomx wrote: »

Was sectioned for 4 years with paranoid schizophrenia and was discharged 2017. Still taking meds and seeing psychiatrist.

Looking to do a a tiny bit of work to keep myself busy.
Local charity shop have vacancies for 7hrs per week. Would this be classed as " Permitted Work " and not affect my ESA ?

Thanks :j

Yes, it's permitted work and you need to get permission before starting work. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Permitted-Work-Rules


You also need to fill out a PW1 form. Do be aware that if the work you do contradicts the reasons you claim ESA then this could go against you the next time you're re-assessed and it could also promt an earlier assessment.

calcotti

The PW1 form is available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form

TELLIT01

If it's paid it is Permitted Work. If it is voluntary and unpaid it's a different form to complete.

calcotti

TELLIT01 wrote: »

If it's paid it is Permitted Work. If it is voluntary and unpaid it's a different form to complete.

That’s not what the guidance for the PW1 form says.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form/permitted-work-factsheet

“Before you start any work, whether paid or unpaid, you should fill in a PW1 form and send it to the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your benefit.”

venomx

Thanks guys it's paid work for 7 hrs a week at about £8.50 per hour so well under the £131 per week cap.

Just read this on another site
"The idea of permitted work is that it allows you to test your own capacity for doing some work and perhaps gain new skills. To help make this possible earnings under permitted work are ignored in the benefit calculation, up to a limit of £131.50 a week (April 2019). "

Which makes sense, so if I do get it I'll inform DWP asap

TELLIT01

calcotti wrote: »

That’s not what the guidance for the PW1 form says.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form/permitted-work-factsheet

“Before you start any work, whether paid or unpaid, you should fill in a PW1 form and send it to the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your benefit.”

Fair enough. Things change. When I was there they had a separate form for unpaid voluntary work. That doesn't apply in this case as it's paid so PW1 will apply.

TELLIT01

Even DWP advice contradicts itself. One section says you must inform them before starting work, but the form itself says "If you are starting, or have started"...
My advice would certainly be not to contact them before you have confirmation of the job offer. A friend of mine simply enquired about the rules surrounding PW and his benefit was suspended because the idiot he spoke to assumed he had started work.

venomx

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Even DWP advice contradicts itself. One section says you must inform them before starting work, but the form itself says "If you are starting, or have started"...
My advice would certainly be not to contact them before you have confirmation of the job offer. A friend of mine simply enquired about the rules surrounding PW and his benefit was suspended because the idiot he spoke to assumed he had started work.

That's not right though is it? Surely they can only cancel benefit if your working full time or earning more than £131 per week

Speaking of DWP I'm still waiting for the results of my assessment from 3/4 months back

calcotti

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Even DWP advice contradicts itself. One section says you must inform them before starting work, but the form itself says "If you are starting, or have started"...
My advice would certainly be not to contact them before you have confirmation of the job offer. A friend of mine simply enquired about the rules surrounding PW and his benefit was suspended because the idiot he spoke to assumed he had started work.

I agree. As far as I can tell the PW1 form is an administrative matter rather than a legal requirement. It isn’t, to the best of my knowledge, a legal requirement to get DWP approval for permitted work. If the work meets the defining qualifications it is permitted work. Completing the PW1 reduces the risk of DWP misunderstanding the claimant’s situation.

TELLIT01

venomx wrote: »

That's not right though is it? Surely they can only cancel benefit if your working full time or earning more than £131 per week

If the work being undertaken contradicts the reason for claiming ESA then payment could potentially be suspended until the situation is clarified. For example (extreme) somebody claiming a serious back injury working in a role which required heavy lifting.