ESA Claimant Commitment Interview Help

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

MrsPepperPot

Hello Everyone,

This is my first time making a claim, so please forgive me for asking a few questions.

I have made a ESA application online as I'm out of work. When I was making the claim, I stated that I was employed, I stated I was working for no more than 2 hours a week. I have now realised that the work I am doing is classed as volunteering. Will this now affect my claimant commitment? I am unable to work due to my disability. I started volunteering recently to help others and for the betterment of my mind. I'm now worried the job coach will now assume I can work.

Please can I also ask what do I need to do to prepare for the claimant commitment interview? I am really worried that I may be forced into making commitments that I can't do because of my severe disability.

Thanking everyone kindly,

😊 PP 😊

poppy123456

Volunteering for 2 hours per week will not affect your ESA but you'll need to make sure you tell your work coach because you told them you were working on the form and they may think you're receiving earnings. Although when claiming ESA there's something called permitted work that you can do, providing it's less than 16 hours per week, with earnings of up to £183.50/week that you can do without it affecting your ESA payments.

Your commitments for ESA should be quite basic because I don't believe they make you attend appointments or look for work. It will just be for you to agree to report any changes.

They may ask about your health conditions but you do not need to take any evidence for that. Evidence will be needed when you receive the ESA50 form and return it.

As it's New style ESA you've claim with there's any entitlement to payments will depend on your NI contributions in tax years 2021/22 and 2022/23.

It can take a few weeks to hear from ESA about entitlement.