Thinking of going back to work...

Luce · July 2020

Hello there,
I am in the LCWRA group of Universal Credit and receive PIP, but I'm finding my days quite dire. I try to stay busy on good days, but I feel I am lacking routine and would like to go back to work and so have been applying to jobs, as well as volunteering. I'm so worried about the WCA and having to attend pointless job clubs (has anyone attended these and do they work?) if I fail the next one.. I have been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and I'm on medication via depot each month. I still have negative symptoms, but try to live as normal a life as possible.
The worry I have about obtaining a job is the fear I will be sacked again on 'capability grounds' and henceforth will then have to live on next to nothing each month. I used food banks during my last assessment phase and could barely pay for food after my water rates Gas & Electricity. I live alone so having money is really important so that I am able to do activities, meet people and not fall in to the abyss, but I miss having routine for a set amount of hours a week-this has to be 37.5 in order to survive enough. Am I just being too picky? I'm guessing the loss of such security will get me sectioned again, but perhaps it would be good for me to try to overcome these hurdles. Where is the safety net though if all fails? I'd like to know, especially because I have never attended a work club in my life yet.

steve51 · July 2020

Hi @Luce

Good Evening & Welcome it’s great to meet you today.

I am one of a team of Community Champion’s here at Scope.

We have got a number of senior members here.

I will forward your post if that would be helpful?????

Hi @Adrian_Scope
@Chloe_Scope
@poppy123456

Can you please help me with this post????

Many Thanks.

@steve51

poppy123456 · July 2020

HI and welcome,

If you return to work because you're claiming UC LCWRA then you will have a work allowance. How much you're entitled to will depend on your circumstances. If you're claiming for help with your rent then your work allowance will be £292 per month. If you don't then it will be £512 per month. This means that you'll be able to earn that amoun of money each assessment period before you start to receive the 63% deductions in your UC payments.

How much UC you'll be entitled to will depend on the amount of earnings received during your assessment period. Using a benefits calculator to put in some different amounts will help you know more. Of course the more you earn the less UC you'll be entitled to.

Do also be aware that although people do work and claim LCWRA but if the work you do contradicts the reasons why you're claiming LCWRA then you could be reassessed early and it could go against you once the decision's been made.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Luce · July 2020

Thank you for your reply Poppy. Is this just with the permitted work rule of earning less than 120 a week (replacing the old esa 16 hour rule) or would I have to just inform DWP when I aquire work for the work allowance to come in to action?

The work I want to do would be something full time, but I'm yet to find an employer that is MH friendly despite the laws of equality, I think that there are still serious flaws in employers understanding of MH and disability in my experience, so to declare that I have MH difficulties is a no no in most applications. Mostly going for entry level positions with small local businesses just because there is not much else secure enough out there.

I'd just love it if volunteering were a full time job... Im really scared of getting sacked on health grounds again through lack of understanding.

poppy123456 · July 2020

No problem. Permitted work doesn't exist under UC, like it did/does with ESA. It's the work allowance with UC. May i ask if you're claiming the housing element in with your UC amount?

If you start working you'll need to report the changes on your journal. Your UC will then be adjusted depending on your earnings received during your assessment period each month.

Use a benefits calculator to see if you'll still be entitled to any UC if you work full time. Whether you will be will totally depend on your circumstances and maximum UC entitement.

Yes, i totally understand how difficult it is to find work with mental health issues. I hope you successfuly find something that works for you. Maybe look for something part time first to see if you can cope with that. If you can then look at full time. It may not be easy now to find a job due to obvious reasons but i do hope you're successful.

steve51 · July 2020

Hi @Luce

Good Morning ?

I was just checking in to make sure everything is going well????

@steve51

Luce · July 2020

Yes all is well! Thank you for your replies.

Luce · July 2020

I do claim the housing element in my UC.

steve51 · July 2020

Hi @Luce

No probs,

Do you still need any help with your Benefit’s???

@steve51

poppy123456 · July 2020

Luce said:

I do claim the housing element in my UC.

Then your work allowance will be £292 per month. This means you can earn that amount of money without it affecting any UC. Once your earnings go over that amount then you'll see the 63% deductions for every £1 you earn.

janer1967 · July 2020

Hi and welcome to the community, as you are in LCWRA you probably dont have a work coach but maybe contact the job centre who could help in finding work. They often have disability specialist advisers.

There is also a lot of information on here about getting into work

Thinking of going back to work...

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