Disability, Universal Credit Work and Work Coaches

pennyjay

Hello I would be glad to know of rules and /or personal experience on this subject.  I have multiple chronic health issues including PTSD . I have recently been moved to Universal Credit ( which was smooth thankfully). I would like to try to do a few hours online work per MONTH this would be for very little money ( well below permitted level) as i think it will help my self esteem a little bit.  When i was on ESA i was given the ok to do permitted work but was not able to... I would like to try again but it seems permitted work is not linked to UC.  I am concered that if I ask about this in the online journal I will be asked to attend an appointment or regular appointments with a work coach ... this is not something i could cope with and would trigger my PTSD  ...it would not be worth the stress on my health.  Does anyone know if i ask about this or do a few hours will i be subject to coaching appointments/pressure.  I would love to hear from anyone else doing this and their experience thanks very much:)

poppy12345

pennyjay said:

Hello I would be glad to know of rules and /or personal experience on this subject.  I have multiple chronic health issues including PTSD . I have recently been moved to Universal Credit ( which was smooth thankfully). I would like to try to do a few hours online work per MONTH this would be for very little money ( well below permitted level) as i think it will help my self esteem a little bit.  When i was on ESA i was given the ok to do permitted work but was not able to... I would like to try again but it seems permitted work is not linked to UC.  I am concered that if I ask about this in the online journal I will be asked to attend an appointment or regular appointments with a work coach ... this is not something i could cope with and would trigger my PTSD  ...it would not be worth the stress on my health.  Does anyone know if i ask about this or do a few hours will i be subject to coaching appointments/pressure.  I would love to hear from anyone else doing this and their experience thanks very much:)

Permitted work rules don't apply to UC. Instead there's the work allowance, which means you can earn a certain amount of money each assessment period before the 63% deductions apply.

If you claim for help with the rent then your work allowance will be £293, if you don't claim for help with the rent it will be £512.

If you start working you need to report the changes onto your journal.

Details here regarding the work allowance. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-work-allowances/universal-credit-work-allowances

The work allowance details assumes you either have LCW/LCWRA or you are responsible for a child.

calcotti

I assume you are receiving the LCWRA element and you are concerned about losing this.
Permitted work rules do not apply to UC. You are allowed to work while claiming UC and receiving the LCWRA element and there are no limits on this. If you do decide to work you should inform UC.
If your UC award includes the housing element the first £293 of earnings are ignored, if the housing element is not include the first £515 of earnings are ignored. 63% of any earnings above this is deducted from UC payable.
If you decide to work you must inform UC but is only likely to prompt a reassessment if the type of work contradicts the reason you have been found to have LCWRA.