POST COVID-19 EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT ALLOWANCE

tcellmutation

Hello,

I have been listening to quite a few discussions about weather COVID-19 will change the way people will work, no longer commuting to working but working from home. It got me thinking that this could perhaps change for some, not all, people being entitled to Employment Support Allowance as perhaps some may be able to get jobs that allow them to from home and no longer be entitled to ESA. Potentially this could be a big shake up to the system.

It’s just a thought but anyone else have any thoughts on this?

poppy123456

HI,

I would say that alot of people have returned to work, except for those that have already been made redundant of course.

The work capability assessment looks at the work you can do and not the work you can't do. Why would working from home mean more people will be found fit for work? I disagree, sorry. I don't think Covid19 will make any difference in a negative way. Actually since telephone assessments have in progress there's more people having a possitive decisions.

tcellmutation

Don’t you think in years to come when / if COVID-19 has passed and more jobs are home based done via computer that more people will be capable at least to have a part time computer based work from home job?

poppy123456

To be totally honest i never think that far ahead. No one can predict the future.

tcellmutation

Yeh, just a thought

Ross_Scope

Hi @tcellmutation

There's definitely a conversation to be had around this topic. It'll be interesting how the pandemic impacts long term life in general, but in particular when it comes to the working world. 

Hopefully more organisations can offer flexible working, which will accommodate the needs of employees and make working more accessible.

janer1967

Hi I must admit I tend to agree in part, I think more employers will now look at working from home in a more positive light and realise it can wot

More flexibility for employees and also reduced costs for employers to some extent.

How this will affect ESA and the capability to work will have to yet be seen.

 I have worked from home before but usually has entailed a certain amount of attending meetings or seeing clients etc outside the home which I now could not do

Interesting topic though

Cher_Inactive

Definitely an interesting topic.  

The pandemic has brought to light how many of the reasonable adjustments disabled workers have long been asking for are feasible and could easily be implemented.  Frances Ryan wrote a brilliant article in The Guardian about it called "My pandemic epiphany: watching the world open up for disabled people".  I'd be interested in your thoughts.

woodbine

My daughter works for an American bank here in the UK, they started working from home 1 week before lockdown, and the latest she's heard is that they won't be going back to the office until Easter next year, and then they will be allowed to work from home 2 days a week, she works in HR covering the whole of Europe so her phone bills been interesting !

Tori_Scope

Are the bank paying for her phone bill @woodbine!?

woodbine

yes they've been really good, plus for 5 months she hasn't had to pay for before and after school club saving £60 a week she's finally managed to pay off her long standing overdraft.

Tori_Scope

That sounds great @woodbine! Paying off her overdraft must be such a relief too.