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Working whilst on UC LCWRA

joannek

Hi all
I have been on UC & LCWRA not worked since June 2020
Hubby earns diff amount each week as an agency teacher.

i want to do some p/t teaching hours (4-6 pw) and thought, as you advice on here, that there is no limit in hours or money earnt i just take into account my work allowance of £515 ( on our joint claim) and make sure no contradiction in rules etc ....

However my UC Work Coach insists its the same as ESA (as in max 16 hours a week and limit of £143 pw) ..

The forums on here plus other disability advice suggest she is wrong but she won't let me chat to decision maker for further clarification. I phoned the UC Helpline a few times this week and each time the person answering tells me something different!!!

I Need accurate advice asap in order to let my boss know.
How can i get clarification on this before I start work in a few weeks
Thank you all

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Comments

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community

You are correct you can work and no limits on hours or earnings on uc

Any earnings above the work allowance will be deducted by 63p in every pound earnings

I presume this is already the case with your partner earnings

Dwp often give incorrect advice as you are speaking to a outsourced call handler not dwp

To contact your case manager put a note in your journal and mark it as payment query

You must inform them you are going to work

If you want professional advice contact welfare rights

joannek

Hi
Thanks for response- yes it works that way with husband income.
I will take your advice and add in payments section to see if ii get a different response.

CA also advised me the 16 hour rule / £143 pw would apply so tearing my hair out here needing correct answer

Thanks Janer1967

janer1967

Welfare rights are the best to get advice benefits are their specific area

Look at their website

Also look on gov website under uc and working If on lcwra

Other people have asked this look in the uc section on here and you will see the replies and links

joannek

Janer1967
Yes I've read all the links on here re this topic but that is why i am confused as my work coach insists on telling me otherwise and wont budge!!

janer1967

Send her the links lol

They are not always the best in their advice

If your partner works it is the same conditions for you

calcotti

The 16 hours/£143 per week 'permitted work' rule applies to ESA claims. There are no such rules for UC. Very depressing if work coach and CAB are telling you differently. DWP call handlers don't know the rules but a work coach should.
Permitted work: factsheet - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You may be able to do some work if you have a disability, illness or health condition and still have the security of keeping any of the following benefits payments and National Insurance credits:

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Incapacity Benefit

Severe Disablement Allowance

The references to IB and SDA are irrelevant as these benefits are no longer available (not sure if there are still some outstanding claimants getting them).

What may be confusing the WC and CA is that there is a rule that says that if you earn more than 16 x NMW/week you cannot be referred for a Work Capability Assessment. This is not the same as saying that after you have had an assessment and been found to have LCWRA there are restrictions on what you can do, They ought to know this.

joannek said:.. i just take into account my work allowance of £515 ( on our joint claim)..

I think you mean this but for the avoidance of doubt the Work Allowance applies to your joint claim, you do not have an individual Work Allowance. If your husband already earns over £515/month the Work Allowance has been used up and there will be a UC deduction of 63% of everything you earn.