Esa phased return to work and holiday pay

njo79

Hi I’m wondering if anyone may shed some light on my situation please? I have been placed in the support group for contributions based esa, I have been off work now since having had cancer in 2020. 

I started back to work on a phased return in November but am on reduced hours and light duties working 11 hours a week. I know that won’t affect my esa, however my employer wants to pay me my accrued holiday pay from 2021 & 2022 and I’m wondering how this will affect my esa? I am obviously going to declare that money as I don’t want to get into a pickle. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thankyou in advance jo x

poppy123456

As you're back in work then any holiday pay will affect your ESA and if it's more than £152/after deductions then you won't be entitled to ESA for that week.

Are DWP aware that you're now back working? Please also be aware that you must make sure you work less than 16 hours per week and earn no more than £152/week after deductions. Anymore than this and you won't be entitled to ESA.

I'm not sure what happens to your ESA if you have weeks where you earn more than £152/week, whether it stops completely and your claim ends, or whether you just won't receive any money for the weeks that are over this amount.

njo79

Hi, Thankyou for your reply, yes dwp know I was starting back to work on reduced hours and light duties, it was them that told me that I was still entitled to esa because I wasn’t aware of that. My wages will be less than £152 a week, it was the holiday pay I was concerned about.. I have a permitted work form which I have filled in and enclosed a copy of my payslip also explaining the situation with being paid my accrued holiday pay. Guess il find out in a few days what the outcome is? Thank you again for your information x

L_Volunteer

You are welcome @njo79. It is the very least you deserve. Have you heard about the outcome yet? Hopefully, you will hear about the outcome soon. 

Please feel free to let us know how it goes and if you need any support in the meantime. We are all here for you and listening to you