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ESA and returning to work. Advice please
- Mike
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4 years 3 weeks ago #258121 by Mike
ESA and returning to work. Advice please was created by Mike
Hello,
I would appreciate some advice as I'm in a bit of a quandary.
I am currently in the Support Group for ESA because of my generalised anxiety disorder and panic attacks. I was very anxious and stressed when I was last assessed a couple of years ago because I feared that my benefits would be stopped.
I would dearly love to be able to work and support myself. I live with my elderly mother and I realise that she won't be around forever so I worry about being able to support myself when she is gone.
My anxiety disorder and panic attacks are very debilitating when they flare up which is why I started claiming benefits. Obviously living in a pandemic is an extra challenge for anxiety sufferers..
It feels like the DWP's view is you're either fit for work or not with nowhere inbetween which isn't very realistic. I'm definitely not ready to fully commit to job hunting but sometimes I see a job advertised which I think I might be able to cope with and would like to apply. The danger is coming off my benefits to apply for this job and being unsuccessful in my application. I've then lost the security of being in the ESA Support Group. My question therefore is can I apply for jobs whilst receiving ESA and would I have to inform the DWP before applying? It's difficult not to feel like a fraud for asking this even though I know that I'm not ready for a full return to work. I'm just desperate to find a way off benefits and into work in a manageable way.
I'd be very grateful for any advice.
Many thanks,
Mike
I would appreciate some advice as I'm in a bit of a quandary.
I am currently in the Support Group for ESA because of my generalised anxiety disorder and panic attacks. I was very anxious and stressed when I was last assessed a couple of years ago because I feared that my benefits would be stopped.
I would dearly love to be able to work and support myself. I live with my elderly mother and I realise that she won't be around forever so I worry about being able to support myself when she is gone.
My anxiety disorder and panic attacks are very debilitating when they flare up which is why I started claiming benefits. Obviously living in a pandemic is an extra challenge for anxiety sufferers..
It feels like the DWP's view is you're either fit for work or not with nowhere inbetween which isn't very realistic. I'm definitely not ready to fully commit to job hunting but sometimes I see a job advertised which I think I might be able to cope with and would like to apply. The danger is coming off my benefits to apply for this job and being unsuccessful in my application. I've then lost the security of being in the ESA Support Group. My question therefore is can I apply for jobs whilst receiving ESA and would I have to inform the DWP before applying? It's difficult not to feel like a fraud for asking this even though I know that I'm not ready for a full return to work. I'm just desperate to find a way off benefits and into work in a manageable way.
I'd be very grateful for any advice.
Many thanks,
Mike
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- Gary
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4 years 3 weeks ago #258137 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic ESA and returning to work. Advice please
Hi Mike
You do not have to come of benefits whilst looking for work, you will need to inform the DWP once you start work. Once you come off ESA you may not be able to get back on to ESA but you will have to apply for UC instead. (There are some exceptions).
You may be able to claim Permitted Work/therapeutic earnings.
What you must do if you want to work, before you start any work, whether paid or unpaid, you should fill in a PW1 form and send it to the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your benefit.
Permitted work lets you:
~ work for less than 16 hours each week
~ earn up to £140 every week after tax
~ receive your normal amount of benefit
~ build up your skills and experience
~ be supported while you work – we call this supported permitted work
~ do voluntary work – there is no limit on how many hours a week you can do voluntary work for
There is no limit on the number of weeks you can do permitted work for.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/emplo...itted-work-factsheet
It would be advisable to seek advice from your local Welfare Rights Organisation before applying for permitted work. You can find your local Welfare Rights Organisation to help you with benefit advice by clicking on the link below and putting in your post code, it will then come up with a MAP with a list of agencies.
advicelocal.uk
If you have any further questions then please come back to the forum.
Gary
You do not have to come of benefits whilst looking for work, you will need to inform the DWP once you start work. Once you come off ESA you may not be able to get back on to ESA but you will have to apply for UC instead. (There are some exceptions).
You may be able to claim Permitted Work/therapeutic earnings.
What you must do if you want to work, before you start any work, whether paid or unpaid, you should fill in a PW1 form and send it to the Jobcentre Plus office that deals with your benefit.
Permitted work lets you:
~ work for less than 16 hours each week
~ earn up to £140 every week after tax
~ receive your normal amount of benefit
~ build up your skills and experience
~ be supported while you work – we call this supported permitted work
~ do voluntary work – there is no limit on how many hours a week you can do voluntary work for
There is no limit on the number of weeks you can do permitted work for.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/emplo...itted-work-factsheet
It would be advisable to seek advice from your local Welfare Rights Organisation before applying for permitted work. You can find your local Welfare Rights Organisation to help you with benefit advice by clicking on the link below and putting in your post code, it will then come up with a MAP with a list of agencies.
advicelocal.uk
If you have any further questions then please come back to the forum.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Mike
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4 years 3 weeks ago #258155 by Mike
Replied by Mike on topic ESA and returning to work. Advice please
Hi Gary,
Thank you for your very helpful and prompt reply.
Just to clarify, I don't have to inform the DWP if I want to apply for a job? It is only when I accept a job offer that I would have to inform the DWP?
Do I have to enrol on the Permitted Work scheme in order to apply for jobs or is this so that I can work less than 16 hrs/wk earning up to £140 alongside my benefits?
I remember that I enrolled in Permitted Work several years ago so that I could do the occasional photography assignment. My advisor helped me with a form which removed the limit on the number of weeks I could do permitted work for. I was in the work group of ESA at the time but I have since been reassessed and I'm now in the support group. Do you know if my application for Permitted Work will still stand?
Thank you so much for your help. I'm reluctant to get in touch with the DWP and poke the sleeping bear!
Mike
Thank you for your very helpful and prompt reply.
Just to clarify, I don't have to inform the DWP if I want to apply for a job? It is only when I accept a job offer that I would have to inform the DWP?
Do I have to enrol on the Permitted Work scheme in order to apply for jobs or is this so that I can work less than 16 hrs/wk earning up to £140 alongside my benefits?
I remember that I enrolled in Permitted Work several years ago so that I could do the occasional photography assignment. My advisor helped me with a form which removed the limit on the number of weeks I could do permitted work for. I was in the work group of ESA at the time but I have since been reassessed and I'm now in the support group. Do you know if my application for Permitted Work will still stand?
Thank you so much for your help. I'm reluctant to get in touch with the DWP and poke the sleeping bear!
Mike
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- Gary
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4 years 3 weeks ago #258214 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic ESA and returning to work. Advice please
Hi Mike
It is not an area where I have an awful lot of knowledge, I would go back to your original advisor and ask, the form is called a PW1, you could contact DWP and ask whether you Permitted Work form will still stand, I realise that you are reluctant but to get an answer you may have to wake Winnie the Poo.
It will also probably depend how long ago the form was completed.
Click on the link in my previous post and look at the fact sheet.
Gary
It is not an area where I have an awful lot of knowledge, I would go back to your original advisor and ask, the form is called a PW1, you could contact DWP and ask whether you Permitted Work form will still stand, I realise that you are reluctant but to get an answer you may have to wake Winnie the Poo.
It will also probably depend how long ago the form was completed.
Click on the link in my previous post and look at the fact sheet.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- Mike
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4 years 3 weeks ago #258312 by Mike
Replied by Mike on topic ESA and returning to work. Advice please
Hi Gary,
Thanks again for your helpful message. Just to clarify, I could apply for a job now without enrolling on Permitted Work or getting into trouble if my intention is to stop my ESA on a successful job application? The only point I'd need to tell the DWP that I've applied for a job is if I accept a job offer?
Kind regards,
Mike
Thanks again for your helpful message. Just to clarify, I could apply for a job now without enrolling on Permitted Work or getting into trouble if my intention is to stop my ESA on a successful job application? The only point I'd need to tell the DWP that I've applied for a job is if I accept a job offer?
Kind regards,
Mike
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- Gary
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4 years 2 weeks ago #258355 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic ESA and returning to work. Advice please
Hi Mike
The answer to your question is yes, in your case. You need to report a change in circumstances as soon as possible if not you may be hit with a penalty charge of £50.
Some claimants have to inform their workcoach if they apply for a job as part of their claimant commitment contract but that is usually for claimants in the work group depending on their claimant commitment contract.
Gary
The answer to your question is yes, in your case. You need to report a change in circumstances as soon as possible if not you may be hit with a penalty charge of £50.
Some claimants have to inform their workcoach if they apply for a job as part of their claimant commitment contract but that is usually for claimants in the work group depending on their claimant commitment contract.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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