New Style ESA and Universal Credit

Spoonie_Turtle

calcotti said:

baconandegg said:

Thank you.
It's a shame I won't be able to carry on with my permitted work as it's more generous than the UC work allowance.

You can carry on with the work but you won’t get to keep as much of the earnings. 

You can also do more work on UC than you can with permitted work if you can and want to, both earnings-wise and in terms of hours. You wouldn't have to worry about any possible increase closing your (UC) claim and leaving you with no money.

baconandegg

That's so useful to know, thank you.
Amazing advice on here - thanks for responding for the inevitable 'what if' questions that arise as my brain absorbs the information!

calcotti

baconandegg said:

That's so useful to know, thank you.
Amazing advice on here - thanks for responding for the inevitable 'what if' questions that arise as my brain absorbs the information!

Do be mindful though that if you exceed the permitted work limits you would need to tell ESA and your ESA claim would end. Obviously if your ESA ends your UC entitlement would increase and you would begetting the same amount of benefit income. However if you think being on UC will be temporary then it is worth protecting your contribution based ESA claim by staying within permitted work limits.

baconandegg

Calcotti, thank you. I do think (hope) being on UC will be temporary.