Going back to work. What happens to benefits?

bluefox

If I did decide to go back to work after my meeting tomorrow what would happen to my benefits?

would I lose them. Would I be able to reclaim them quickly or not

calcotti

What benefits are you receiving?

bluefox

ESA - LCWRA
UC & Housing element - LCWRA
PIP

calcotti

PIP is not affected.
If you work less than 16 hours/week and earn less than £152/week you can continue to receive ESA but need to complete a Permitted work form (PW1).
For UC there will be deduction of 55% of your earnings less a disregard of £334/month (Work Allowance).

bluefox

Teddybear12 said:

Hi @sierrafox Are you fit to go back to work after your meeting tomorrow? 

Probably not, no. But some of my friends are saying trial it. Pull yourself together. Don’t be unemployed etc and it’s affecting my mental health. Some are saying it may even aid my recovery. 

bluefox

My GP actually doesn’t want me to go back to work but I said I’m feeling suicidal about losing my job. But he said I need to get better first. 

But also other GP’s said it’s up to me and when I feel ready and able. 

Tbh I’m super scared. 

calcotti

sierrafox said:

Probably not, no. But some of my friends are saying trial it.

If you trial something try and stick inside the Permitted Work limits in order not to lose your ESA. Although your ESA is deducted from your UC so you aren’t better off on both worth keeping the ESA in cases circumstances change.

bluefox

My only worry with trialling something is if I’m declared fit for work. But I do have a feeling my LCWRA award is related to suicidal thoughts. But also initiating self care. 

L_Volunteer

We hear you @sierrafox. This sounds really tough.

Do you have the support you need in place at the moment for suicidal thoughts and initiating self-care or would you ideally have more support in place?

We are here for you if you would like to discuss this further with us. Hopefully, your needs will be heard and you will only be declared fit for work if you are

bluefox

It’s a tough one. 

I mean part of my PIP award is lack of self care and the need for prompting. I’ve always been this way even when I did work but this is the first time I’ve ever claimed PIP and I imagine once I start work. They’ll think we’ll if he can shift boxes, why can’t he brush his teeth etc? 

I don’t know if having a job would give me a routine. I’ve only ever worked part time because of my mental health tbh. 

poppy123456

sierrafox said:

Teddybear12 said:

Hi @sierrafox Are you fit to go back to work after your meeting tomorrow? 

Probably not, no. But some of my friends are saying trial it. Pull yourself together. Don’t be unemployed etc and it’s affecting my mental health. Some are saying it may even aid my recovery. 

Then your friends probably don’t understand your health condition. 

You’ve started quite a few threads asking similar questions and you’ve said In a lot of them that you’re not ready to return to work. 

I totally understand it’s very difficult the thought of not being able to work right now but that may not be forever. In the future you maybe able to try returning to work for a few hours a week to see how you manage. 

In the meantime I think you should concentrate on your health, which comes before anything else and what anyone else thinks. 

bluefox

poppy123456 said:

sierrafox said:

Teddybear12 said:

Hi @sierrafox Are you fit to go back to work after your meeting tomorrow? 

Probably not, no. But some of my friends are saying trial it. Pull yourself together. Don’t be unemployed etc and it’s affecting my mental health. Some are saying it may even aid my recovery. 

Then your friends probably don’t understand your health condition. 

You’ve started quite a few threads asking similar questions and you’ve said In a lot of them that you’re not ready to return to work. 

I totally understand it’s very difficult the thought of not being able to work right now but that may not be forever. In the future you maybe able to try returning to work for a few hours a week to see how you manage. 

In the meantime I think you should concentrate on your health, which comes before anything else and what anyone else thinks. 

You do have a point. I didn’t have my meeting today with work but off the record chat. They said they would be willing to offer 30 min-1 hour shifts to see how I get on. 

They said to me, ‘I look better’. Again, mental health conditions are invisible. Now I feel like I’m being judged for my appearance. 

As it happened, I actually felt sweaty and panicky due to new medication, which is oddly giving me the sweats. Hence the reason why I probably looked more colourful. 

But I have noticed with myself that peoples advice and thoughts often get stuck in my head and I take things quite literally. 

Tori_Scope

How do you feel about the prospect of those 30 min - 1 hour shifts @sierrafox? 

bluefox

poppy123456 said:

sierrafox said:

Teddybear12 said:

Hi @sierrafox Are you fit to go back to work after your meeting tomorrow? 

Probably not, no. But some of my friends are saying trial it. Pull yourself together. Don’t be unemployed etc and it’s affecting my mental health. Some are saying it may even aid my recovery. 

Then your friends probably don’t understand your health condition. 

You’ve started quite a few threads asking similar questions and you’ve said In a lot of them that you’re not ready to return to work. 

I totally understand it’s very difficult the thought of not being able to work right now but that may not be forever. In the future you maybe able to try returning to work for a few hours a week to see how you manage. 

In the meantime I think you should concentrate on your health, which comes before anything else and what anyone else thinks. 

You do have a point. I didn’t have my meeting today with work but off the record chat. They said they would be willing to offer 30 min-1 hour shifts to see how I get on. 

They said to me, ‘I look better’. Again, mental health conditions are invisible. Now I feel like I’m being judged for my appearance. 

As it happened, I actually felt sweaty and panicky due to new medication, which is oddly giving me the sweats. Hence the reason why I probably looked more colourful. 

But I have noticed with myself that peoples advice and thoughts often get stuck in my head and I take things quite literally. 

bluefox

Tori_Scope said:

How do you feel about the prospect of those 30 min - 1 hour shifts @sierrafox? 

I’m not sure because ultimately I will be back onto my normal contracted hours after 6-8 weeks and my FND/NEAD symptoms are not so good with physical work. Then nights could impact my mental health. It’s really difficult to say

L_Volunteer

This sounds really tough @sierrafox   In an ideal world, what would your next steps be?

bluefox

I’m not sure to be honest. I know the job centre have said they can help me back into work when I’m ready. 

poppy123456

ExpertByExperience said:

Are your benefits means tested? If so, you'll be limited to working a few hours a week, which hardly seems worth it IMO by the time the taxman's taken his cut on your earnings. 

That’s not correct here. The correct advice has already been given here 

calcotti said:

PIP is not affected.
If you work less than 16 hours/week and earn less than £152/week you can continue to receive ESA but need to complete a Permitted work form (PW1).
For UC there will be deduction of 55% of your earnings less a disregard of £334/month (Work Allowance).