Hi, my name is Yve62! Will working for 3 hours mess up my ESA?

Yve62

hi can any one help please

I have been asked by a charity to help them 3 hours a week to talk to people who have been through difficult health issues like myself. They want to pay me for the 3 hours. Total weekly payment will be under £50. My carer is supporting me to do this. I haven’t said I will do the work yet as I’m frightened it will mess up my ESA. I’m in the support group as have cancer, FND and associated difficulties. I don’t have a support worker either. I t would be therapeutic for me to do this for the charity but I am worried it will mess up everything and I can’t cope with that.

Kiki23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/134572/hi-my-name-is-yve62

Hey @Yve62 Sorry to hear of your battle with cancer but well done for having the determination and strength to help others at the same time! Have you heard of permitted work???? It states that you are permitted to do under 16 hours a week and earn no more than £196.00 after tax without it affecting your benefits. You need to fill in a form which im sure you can ask for by calling the ESA helpline.

All the best

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Yve62, welcome to the community ☺️

As Kiki mentioned, you can do permitted work on ESA providing you stay within the set limits. You would need to let them know that you're starting some work.

There's some information here if you'd like to read about it:

Permitted work factsheet - GOV.UK