New Style ESA. Lots of questions

mrs_peachy65

I’m a 55 year old self employed cleaner and have been for the last 10 years. I have ongoing issues with my shoulder and suffer with sciatica and the job I do is becoming a lot more difficult. I am currently taking some time away and have self certified for sickness and for the first time in my life turning to the DWP to ask for help. I am awaiting a telephone call which is happening next week. I find the information online quite overwhelming.

From what I understand I am able to claim for this new style ESA as a self employed person. My NI contributions are fully paid for all the years I’ve worked. I have decided that I’m going to look for a part time job and become employed and no longer be self employed so whilst this is happening will I still be able to claim it? I envisage I’ll be off work for around 8 weeks to try and recover and hoping in this time I can find a job.

I am not eligible to apply for UC due to my partners work as apparently he earns to much money (if only)

Any advice would be appreciated.

TYSM

Spoonie_Turtle

Your ESA claim can continue if you work for under 16 hours per week and earn below £203.50 each week, after tax and National Insurance. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form/permitted-work-factsheet

mrs_peachy65

Thank you spoonie for replying.
So if I find a part time job where I’m employed once I’ve recouped are you saying the ESA can still continue? How does this work though? Surely it’s not an indefinite thing. I read it that new style ESA is for self employed workers who are unable to work due to illness?

Spoonie_Turtle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82000773#Comment_82000773

It depends on the result of your Work Capability Assessment.

If found Fit for Work (according to their criteria) ESA will stop immediately.

If found to have Limited Capability for Work and put in the Work-Related Activity Group (WRAG) it would stop after a year.

If found to have Limited capability for work and Work-Related Activity and put in the Support Group, it would continue indefinitely, until you either are reassessed as being FFW or having LCW, or you stop claiming for whatever reason (improved health, or working/earning more than the thresholds).

huckster

I find that most who claim ESA because they temporarily cannot work due to injury or need operation plus recovery time, only claim for 4 or 5 months. As soon as they are due the work capability assessment, knowing that they will be found fit for work, most come off the benefit.

The work capability assessments are taking 4 to 5 months to arrange at the moment.

It is very unlikely that someone with shoulder problem and sciatica would be found to have limited capability for work. I have seen examples of people with amputated legs being found capable of work.

Spoonie_Turtle

^ Excellent points, I got stuck focused on answering the question and forgot to give any wider context to help the OP calibrate their expectations.