Claiming ESA / PiP and Streaming Games

Dragon_

Hi there, 

So I've done a great deal of research and can't find an answer for this. 

If you're claiming ESA and PiP, are you allowed to receive money from live streaming gaming? 

'Twitch' has an affiliate option where if you pass a certain criteria, you can make money from people who view your stream, via advertisements published from Twitch. We're not talking like a regular fixed income, it's just as of when you get whatever. Not sure how much exactly you'd get as I've never signed up to it. In fact I was offered affiliate a few years ago and declined it. I'm pretty sure it's not much. 

The only possible answer was where someone said they don't withdraw the money. It just stays in their account. I'm guessing that's so when they come off benefits, they can withdraw it legally. 

I also had the idea that someone in that position could donate the funds to charity. But I'm pretty sure that still classes as money earned / an income. 

Please just reply if you're certain about your answer. Sources would be helpful. 

Thanks,
Dragon

Dragon_

Ok, as it turns out, when you press 'Enter' on a tag, it publishes the post for you... and you don't seem to have the ability to edit the post. 

poppy123456

PIP isn't affected. For ESA it would be permitted work, you must make sure you don't earn anymore than £152 per week and work less than 16 hours. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Permitted-Work-Rules

Ross_Alumni

HI @DragonGaming, if you would like me to edit your post at all then I can do that for you. Posts can only be edited within an hour of making them, but as a moderator I can edit them anytime.

I hope the link above about permitted work has been helpful, and your idea about streaming on Twitch sounds awesome. What sort of games would you play?

Dragon_

poppy123456 said:

PIP isn't affected. For ESA it would be permitted work, you must make sure you don't earn anymore than £152 per week and work less than 16 hours. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Permitted-Work-Rules

Ok, thanks. 

Dragon_

Ross_Scope said:

HI @DragonGaming, if you would like me to edit your post at all then I can do that for you. Posts can only be edited within an hour of making them, but as a moderator I can edit them anytime.

I hope the link above about permitted work has been helpful, and your idea about streaming on Twitch sounds awesome. What sort of games would you play?

OK, thank you for your help. 

Awilkinson

poppy123456 said:

£152 per week and work less than 16 hours.

When you say 16 hours, does that mean 16 hours of streaming? Or more so a general "16 hours of contracted employment/working hours"? 

As I'm streaming on twitch with PIP and I'm looking into maybe getting UC and I'm hoping I can get carer's allowance for my partner (I get the enhanced rate) - who also sits in my streams as a mod watching out for me in the other room case I have a panic attack or whatever. He does more than just that to care for me, of course, and I'm making nowhere near £600 a month (I'm assuming max I'll get is £50 a month for a long time), but I'll be a little sad if I have to cut the hours I stream down to 16 per week. I like streaming when my mental health is bad but my physical health is good enough to get out of bed, purely because it stops intrusive thoughts etc. It'd suck to stop.

poppy123456

Awilkinson said:

poppy123456 said:

£152 per week and work less than 16 hours.

When you say 16 hours, does that mean 16 hours of streaming? Or more so a general "16 hours of contracted employment/working hours"? 

As I'm streaming on twitch with PIP and I'm looking into maybe getting UC and I'm hoping I can get carer's allowance for my partner (I get the enhanced rate) - who also sits in my streams as a mod watching out for me in the other room case I have a panic attack or whatever. He does more than just that to care for me, of course, and I'm making nowhere near £600 a month (I'm assuming max I'll get is £50 a month for a long time), but I'll be a little sad if I have to cut the hours I stream down to 16 per week. I like streaming when my mental health is bad but my physical health is good enough to get out of bed, purely because it stops intrusive thoughts etc. It'd suck to stop.

The permitted work rules which you quoted above apply to ESA only. This doesn't apply for UC, for this it will be the work allowance. You will only be entitled to this if you've been assessed as having limited capability for work or you have children on your claim. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-work-allowances/universal-credit-work-allowances

If you don't have the work allowance then any earnings you receive each month will reduce your UC by 55%.

For PIP, it has nothing to do with working.

You can only claim carers allowance for your partner if they claim at least daily living PIP. If it's only yourself that claims it then your partner can claim carers allowance. However, if you claim UC then as i advised on a previous thread, this will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

I gave advice on another thread, if you claim UC then you should report your health condition, suppported by a fit note within 7 days of this. You must continue to send them without any gaps until a decision is made on your work capability assessment.