Changing jobs permitted work / self employed

bubsxo

Hi all, 

Just looking for some advice and you've been really helpful in the past. 

I'm currently doing permitted work and have been for the last year. The company I work for were very good in the beginning, aware of my situation and understanding, knowing I could only do limited hours because of my health. the company has grown quite large recently and with that they've employed a number of new staff. As expected i am easily replaceable, more so than most due to my limitations and they're no longer understanding, they're expecting work from me I am not capable of, and trying to push hours onto me that im not able to do.. because im not able to do any of that im now getting very limited hours as a result. 10 over a 4 week period for example. It isn't doing my physical or mental health any good to be honest and I'm miserable. They've even said they want to keep me on as i fill their disability quota..... 

Everyone tells me im better off just leaving, which i am however the extra money from permitted work was extremely helpful and did wonders for me socially. I've recently been looking at part time jobs to keep some sort of social aspect but most of the hours are 24 a week so more than allowed. I've therefore looked at jobs I can do from home, for example data entry jobs where you're paid by the minute for how much work you do, and you can choose how often and how little you can work. I know I would be capable of doing this however I'd have to register as self employed. 

Im also worried i will leave my current employers and then find out that this new job isn't for me for whatever reason (I.e not enough hours not as advertised etc) and be left with nothing at all. Im struggling to really find anything else id be capable enough to do that fits within the hours allowed.

I guess my questions are, is permitted work only allowed for one job even if 2 make up the maximum amount of hours? I'm sure it is so I'm pretty sure I'd have to quit this one first. How would I go about this, do I hand my notice in, ring the DWP and explain the work isn't suitable for me anymore and I'm going to try something new? And if so how do I go about being self employed and doing permitted work? Will there be any repercussions if I quit one job, try another and have to leave that one also?  

Thankyou in advance if you made it this far! Sorry it was a bit of a ramble. My heads been all over the place with this one.  

poppy123456

You can do any job, regardless of how many. What you must make sure you is work less than 16 hours and not earn anymore than £167/week. You do need to be carefull that your work doesn't contradict the reasons why you're claiming ESA because it could go against you at your next review.

If you decide to only continue as self employed then you just hand your notice in with your current employer. 

If you're self employed then ESA would expect you to send them your earnings and expenses. How often they would ask you to do that, i don't know. 

If you quit working it will not affect your ESA in a bad way because you're already claiming it. 

Just an added thought, have you looked at claiming Universal Credit? There's no maximum amount of hours you can work while claiming this. Permitted work doesn't exist with UC but instead you will have the work allowance. This means there's an earnings disregard each assessment period before the 55% deductions apply. If you claim for help with the rent it will be £379/month, if you don't it will be £631/month. See link. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/work-allowance-universal-credit

If you're in the Support Group for ESA then you'll be entitled to the LCWRA element of UC from the start of your claim.

Please use a benefits calculator before deciding to claim because some will be worse off and some better off. It really depends on your circumstances. If your ESA includes the Severe disability Premium you're likely to be worse off. If it doesn't you could be better off. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/benefits-calculator

 

bubsxo

Poppy,

Thank you very much for your reply. I've done the calculator and unfortunately would be worse off claiming UC as I do recieve the SDP element. 

So I'd be fine doing this second job for the time being to add more hours aslong as I don't go over the maximum amount. I quickly googled last night and it said you could only work one job but that might of been out of date information. 

Would it be the same process of filling in a PW1 form? Obviously the one I sent in originally for my job stated I was doing less than 16 hours so I wouldn't want to send in another form as they'll assume I'm doing more than that with the two jobs. I'm guessing I'd need to ring them first and advise them of the situation with my current employer and tell them my hours have been dramatically decreased and presumably send in a new PW1 form for this new job, and recent payslips for my old job showing the lesser hours? 

If I enjoy this work I'd be handing my notice in sooner rather than later. I just want to try before I do that. 

Thanks

poppy123456

I’m not aware of any rules to suggest you can only do one job. Can you post a link to where you read that please? 

As long as you don’t do anymore that the allowed amount there shouldn’t be a problem. 

Yes, you should inform them of this but I wouldn’t ring to ask them any advice because it’s just a call centre and they often give incorrect information.