ESA - can I apply for jobs

janzbro

Hi, I am currently ill with depression and anxiety and receiving CB ESA for last 5 months - I have completed the ESA50 form and received a letter stating the max I can claim this for is 365 days but it doesn't mention going for an assessment or that I have been put into a support or work group. I have to submit "sick notes" from my GP to carry on recieving this and they send me warning letters when the sick note is close to ending.  
Although I am not completely better I feel I must/ should find work as we are struggling financially and it would also help my mental health to get a job - my question is can I apply for jobs while claiming ESA as I don't want them saying your applying for jobs you must be ok and then stop the little money i do get. 

poppy12345

Face to face assessments have been suspended for at least 3 months. They are doing phone or paper based assessments at the moment, where possible. If this can't be done then you will need to wait until face to face assessments are back up and running again.

New style ESA is paid for 365 days unless placed into the Support Group and then it's paid for as long as you remain in that group.

Yes, you can look for work BUT if you do work you must work less than 16 hours per week and earn no more than £140 per week after deductions. This is called permitted work. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Permitted-Work-Rules

You also need to get permission to do this. Do be aware though that if the work you do contradicts the reasons why you're claiming ESA then this can go against you when the decision is made and it's possible that you could be found fit for work.

Robbie64

You can apply for jobs without having to inform the DWP that you are doing so. As poppy12345 has posted, you can work for less than 16 hours per week and for less than £140 and keep your ESA (under the permitted work scheme). Or you can look for work for 16 hours+  or £140+ but your ESA claim would end.

See also https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form/permitted-work-factsheet

janzbro

I wasnt planning on doing work and claiming ESA , in fact I did not think you could do work and claim it as you would be fit to work - my hope was to get full time work and stop claiming.
So I can apply for jobs and if I am lucky enough to get one, then tell ESA to cancel my claim as my GP thinks that getting a job would help in my recovery of my mental health issues - I am just so worried that even if I am fortunate enough to get a job, that I wont be able to cope and then have my mental health problems increase again and have to leave or I am sacked.

calcotti

janzbro said:

I wasnt planning on doing work and claiming ESA , in fact I did not think you could do work and claim it as you would be fit to work. 
So can I apply for jobs and if I get one then tell ESA to cancel my claim as my GP thinks that getting a job would help in my recovery of my mental health issues - I am just so worried that even if I am fortunate enough to get a job, that I wont be able to cope and then have my mental health problems increase again and have to leave or I am sacked.

Yes you can look for work. As poppy says you can even do limited work and remain on ESA. If you do more than the permitted work your ESA will end. Just keep DWP informed about any work.

Spoonie_Turtle

janzbro said:

I wasnt planning on doing work and claiming ESA , in fact I did not think you could do work and claim it as you would be fit to work. 
So can I apply for jobs and if I get one then tell ESA to cancel my claim as my GP thinks that getting a job would help in my recovery of my mental health issues - I am just so worried that even if I am fortunate enough to get a job, that I wont be able to cope and then have my mental health problems increase again and have to leave or I am sacked.

That's probably one of the reasons why they allow some work without it affecting your claim, in case you can't cope and have to give up the job or cut down hours but without having to go through the whole rigmarole of having to reapply for ESA a sort of safety net! And the thing with recovery is that it can be slow, and it's a process. You most likely would be best to make sure any work isn't over the hours or earnings threshold and keep your ESA claim, at least until you know whether you'll be able to keep doing the job long-term [and then that also takes away any worry about what would happen if you couldn't keep doing it].

koops

I thought CB ESA wasn't means tested,ie income or savings except for pensionable income over £85 per week. Isn't it Income Based ESA where the 16 hour work rule applies?

poppy12345

koops said:

I thought CB ESA wasn't means tested,ie income or savings except for pensionable income over £85 per week. Isn't it Income Based ESA where the 16 hour work rule applies?

It isn't means tested but you can't expect to work unlimited hours and still be entitled to claim ESA. Regardless of which ESA it is that's claimed, permitted work rules still apply.

koops

Ok I understand. But, I'm on long term sickness (8 months now) and as my SSP expired after 28 weeks I was awarded CB ESA even though I'm on half pay which does exceed the permitted earnings rule....Do you think I shouldn't be claiming even though my paper work was filled in correctly

Robbie64

koops said:

Ok I understand. But, I'm on long term sickness (8 months now) and as my SSP expired after 28 weeks I was awarded CB ESA even though I'm on half pay which does exceed the permitted earnings rule....Do you think I shouldn't be claiming even though my paper work was filled in correctly

You qualify for ESA as you are not fit for work and your SSP has expired. What you get from work (half pay) is not the same as permitted work. Permitted work allows someone on ESA to try out work for less than 16 hours and £140 per week and still keep their entitlement. The difference is under permitted work the person would be actively working, you are not.

suegoody

Hi please can anyone help? I have applied for contribution based ESA at least 14 weeks ago and have no communication back from them at all. I have tried every channel I know to try and contact them but no joy-does anyone know how I can contact them-I don't even have a confirmation of my claim-thanks