Dual claim and permitted work

hpotter1234

Apologies for the long post!

I recently got moved from Income Related ESA, to New Style ESA and UC. I get LCWRA.

I've just come out of hospital (an 18 month admission). Prior to this I did permitted work (12 hours a week on a casual basis). I'd like to return to work but Welfare Rights have told me that I would lose my transitional payment, LCWRA payment and could be moved from the the support group meaning I would lose ESA after 1 year. Is this right??

I'm so frustrated, i want to work but I have a severe and enduring mental illness and autism but working a few hours a week in a supportive workplace was good for me.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

poppy123456

Hmm that's not great advice you've been given there from Welfare Rights. Permitted work rules apply to your ESA only, they do not apply for UC.

The reason part of your ESA was reverted to New style was because part of your old ESA was contributions based. As you're in the Support Group this continues for as long as you remain entitled to it, it isn't limited to 1 year.

Permitted work rules for ESA mean you can work less than 16 hours per week and earn no more than £183.50/week.

For UC you will have the work allowance, which means some of the earnings you receive each month are ignored before deductions apply. If you claim for help with the rent it will be £404/month, if you don't it will be £673/month. For every £1 of earnings received over those amounts your UC will reduce by 55p.

You will not lose your TP by returning to work. You would only lose TP in this case if your UC is reduced to zero by earnings.

There's many people that work while claiming LCWRA, you do need to be careful that the work you do doesn't contradict the reasons why you're claiming this.

If you return to work you will need to fill out a PW1 form for your ESA and return it to them.

For UC you will need to report a change and then click work and earnings and report starting work this way. If you're working for an employer, they will report earnings to HMRC and UC will check the information directly. You do not need to report your own earnings, unless you're self employed.