ESA and starting a job?

SteampunkFossil

Hey so, I've been on ESA since I left school and I've just found a job. I need to ring them and let them know, but im worried they're going to immediately stop my money? I don't get a paycheque until the end of June. I'm teriffied as obviously I have bills to pay, so how am I supposed to pay them if they stop my money from today?

Is there anywhere I can get help from? Or does anyone know if theyll keep paying it? I have no savings as, as I said, I've been on ESA forever, basically living on £10 a week after bills, which I've used to get to my interviews. Im running on dry and Im not sure what to do or how to pay my bills/ rent for June. I know that theyll put my council tax way up too as the job I got earns over 18k a year.

Does anyone have any advice or services I can contact with this? Obviously I do want to let them know ASAP as I don't want to be doing anything illegal. But im really scared of being cut off from our internet/ etc if I can't pay for a month.

I still get my PIP so I know even though I tell them I should still get that, but im worried about literally everything else.

Any help would be great thankyou.

Spoonie_Turtle

When do you start the job?

I don't know the answer about when they stop it, others should know.  [Don't do anything until you've had that answered.]

However, financially it might be prudent to see if you'll have any entitlement to Universal Credit (use a benefits calculator and put in the salary you'll have).  If you do, you could claim that before starting the job - your ESA status (Support Group or WRAG) will be transferred across so no need for a new assessment, and that doesn't have a cliff-edge of entitlement like ESA does.

If you're in the Support Group you'll almost certainly have entitlement to some UC, and if you're in the WRAG it will depend on other circumstances.

If you claim more than one calendar month before the paydate you would get a full first payment of UC, because they only take into account money earned during the assessment period.

You might even still get a two-week run-on of ESA, but with starting a job I can't say for certain.

If not, UC can give an advance but repayments for that would be taken out of future UC payments - although with earning a decent salary, that might not be too much of a problem.

SteampunkFossil

Spoonie_Turtle said:

When do you start the job?

I don't know the answer about when they stop it, others should know.  [Don't do anything until you've had that answered.]

However, financially it might be prudent to see if you'll have any entitlement to Universal Credit (use a benefits calculator and put in the salary you'll have).  If you do, you could claim that before starting the job - your ESA status (Support Group or WRAG) will be transferred across so no need for a new assessment, and that doesn't have a cliff-edge of entitlement like ESA does.

If you're in the Support Group you'll almost certainly have entitlement to some UC, and if you're in the WRAG it will depend on other circumstances.

If you claim more than one calendar month before the paydate you would get a full first payment of UC, because they only take into account money earned during the assessment period.

You might even still get a two-week run-on of ESA, but with starting a job I can't say for certain.

If not, UC can give an advance but repayments for that would be taken out of future UC payments - although with earning a decent salary, that might not be too much of a problem.

I just did some training yesterday, they siad I can start my shifts next week. So I do want to be proactive in making sure im doing the rigth thing with letting the benefits people know.

I'm in the Support Group on ESA. So I know I can't be on it and work. I'm fine with them paying and me owing it back from whatever person, it's literally just this first month before the first paycheque thats worrying me. (and obviously my wife is looking for work too so once she gets a job too we'll be fine) 

I'll look into the UC repayment thing for sure, ill get them contacted ASAP I don't think I start until mid next week.

Spoonie_Turtle

Oh, UC can only give an advance if you actually make a claim - don't do that until you get an answer about when ESA would stop though.

Financially I can't imagine any benefit in not claiming UC but you still need to know what happens exactly with ESA to be able to make an informed decision, and to get the timing right if you do decide to claim UC (which is for anyone on a low income for their circumstances; as a couple and with you in the Support Group - i.e. having LCWRA - you would certainly have entitlement to UC still with your salary). 

[It would also mean that should the job be too much for you, you'll have a claim still open and you'll get extra financial support straight away again rather than having to go through a new claim.  Of course I hope it will work out and you'll be fine, but it's a good security net to have, just in case ]

If your PIP includes the daily living element then if your wife provides 35hrs care for you each week, she could claim the carers element of UC as well.

https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/new-to-universal-credit/how-much-youll-get/

I recommend doing a benefits calculation with your forthcoming salary as if you no longer receive ESA https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

poppy12345

You haven't said how many hours per week you'll be working. If you're the main claimant of your ESA claim and you're working less than 16 hours per week and earning no more than £152 per week then you can do permitted work. You will need to tell DWP that you're working. See link. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form/permitted-work-factsheet

If you'll be working 16 hours or more per week then once you start working you'll need to report the changes to DWP and your ESA would end.

You can use a benefits calculator to check entitlement to UC in the meantime. If you claim UC while still claiming ESA then you'll be entitled to the LCWRA element from the start of your claim.

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator/Intro/Home?cid=a63d1ecd-6df3-4a4f-90cf-49dbf5e77d9c

Spoonie_Turtle

^ they mentioned their salary will be over £18,000; according to a Google search after tax and NI that's just over £300 per week.

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

^ they mentioned their salary will be over £18,000; according to a Google search after tax and NI that's just over £300 per week.

Ah yes, thanks, i missed that.

SteampunkFossil

poppy12345 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

^ they mentioned their salary will be over £18,000; according to a Google search after tax and NI that's just over £300 per week.

Ah yes, thanks, i missed that.

Yes sorry about that! It'll be 30+ hrs. I tried the calculator and it looks like before my wife starts work I'd be able to get maybe £100 a month from UC if I did it correctly, It sounds like it's all basically what I assumed it would be, it looks like itll just be a big struggle for June and then finally have things calm down once that first paycheque comes in.