Work

Cats1817
Cats1817 Online Community Member Posts: 23 Connected
in Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)

Good Morning,

I am currently self employed & on NS ESA (unable to receive UC due to household income). However my self employment is not bringing in much income. I am looking to go back to PAYE employment but struggling to find any work within the permitted hours/pay for NS ESA. If I were to take a job that was over that amount I understand my NS ESA would cease, but if I couldn’t manage with the hours at work and that stopped, would I be able to go back onto my NS ESA? I am worried about loosing it and having no financial support otherwise.

Thank you in advance for advice.

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Comments

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,795 Championing

    Hi,

    You would be able to go back on NS ESA, but only if the job fails within 12 weeks. This is known as a rapid reclaim.

    After 12 weeks, you would have to make a new claim for NS ESA. If you have not worked enough to earn NI contributions within the past 3 years then you would not be able to claim NS ESA again.

    12 weeks is almost 3 months so that should be enough time to decide whether working is right for you at this time or not.

  • Cats1817
    Cats1817 Online Community Member Posts: 23 Connected
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1109575#Comment_1109575

    Thanks for replying. Much appreciated.

    Is there anywhere I can find out about the rapid reclaim? Eg on an official website?

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,434 Championing

    Hi @Cats1817 - the 12 week linking rule/rapid reclaim that OverlyAnxious mentions can be found in the 2013 ESA regulations, which have to be abided by: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/379/regulation/86

  • Storm25
    Storm25 Online Community Member Posts: 51 Contributor

    Please someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think the NI contributions you currently have from your ESA would also count when eligibility for ESA is assessed (if you needed to reapply in the future)?

    I also remember reading that it is changing to having up to 6 months to try working before a new claim would need to be made? So that would be worth checking.

    Good Luck with your job search. I really hope it all works out well for you.

  • OverlyAnxious
    OverlyAnxious Online Community Member Posts: 5,795 Championing
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1110545#Comment_1110545

    Sorry but that is wrong. Part of the criteria for NS ESA is having earnt NI contributions from working within the past 2 years. It is not simply about the total number of contributions.

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