Employed still but LCWRA

bluefox
bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
This question also applies to my Universal Credit claim. 

Despite me telling my employer my health issues and I haven’t been in receipt of any wages from them since May 2021. 

I am claiming ESA and UC (including housing element) and still employed? Is this perfectly acceptable? As I am in receipt of zero wages from my employer. 

Though UC are now asking me to declare my earnings and it’s making me feel stressed. Because I know how weird it is to be LCWRA and still employed. 




Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    Although you're still employed by your employer, you receive no earnings so it doesn't affect either of your benefits.
    bluefox said:


    Though UC are now asking me to declare my earnings and it’s making me feel stressed. Because I know how weird it is to be LCWRA and still employed. 



    You can't declare earnings that you haven't received. When you're PAYE DWP usually check with HMRC for earnings anyway. Just put a message onto your journal and tell then you don't receive any earnings because you're not actually working.
    There's nothing weird about being found to have LCWRA and still being employed.
  • Sue_Alumni
    Sue_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 484 Empowering
    Good morning @bluefox
    Under Universal Credit  people can work and and still be treated as having LCWRA.  
  • bluefox
    bluefox Online Community Member Posts: 647 Empowering
    poppy123456 said:
    Although you're still employed by your employer, you receive no earnings so it doesn't affect either of your benefits.
    bluefox said:


    Though UC are now asking me to declare my earnings and it’s making me feel stressed. Because I know how weird it is to be LCWRA and still employed. 



    You can't declare earnings that you haven't received. When you're PAYE DWP usually check with HMRC for earnings anyway. Just put a message onto your journal and tell then you don't receive any earnings because you're not actually working.
    There's nothing weird about being found to have LCWRA and still being employed.
    They keep asking me about my earnings every month at the moment, poppy. And I’m finding it’s adding to the stress of ‘being on benefits’. I’ll drop them a journal message. 
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,536 Championing
    I’ll drop them a journal message. 
    That's a good idea @bluefox, let us know when you hear more :)
  • ggloria007
    ggloria007 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Listener
    i am in a simialr situation, i am not working but I am still under company sick scheme which is 32 weeks full pay and 16 weeks half pay .. currently recieving half pay ... would this be a problem? i have just applied for ESA... 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    ggloria007 said:
    i am in a simialr situation, i am not working but I am still under company sick scheme which is 32 weeks full pay and 16 weeks half pay .. currently recieving half pay ... would this be a problem? i have just applied for ESA... 
    Only if it includes SSP because you can't be paid New style ESA at the same time as SSP. For the ESA you must have paid the correct amount of NI contributions in tax years 2019/20 and 2020/21.

  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,000 Championing
    ggloria007 said:
    i am in a simialr situation, i am not working but I am still under company sick scheme which is 32 weeks full pay and 16 weeks half pay .. currently recieving half pay ... would this be a problem? i have just applied for ESA... 
    Once your SSP entitlement ends after 26 weeks you can receive ESA while receiving contractual sick pay. You should also use a benefits calculator to check entitlement to UC (which you can receive while entitled to SSP).
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,456 Championing
    calcotti said:
    ggloria007 said:
    i am in a simialr situation, i am not working but I am still under company sick scheme which is 32 weeks full pay and 16 weeks half pay .. currently recieving half pay ... would this be a problem? i have just applied for ESA... 
    Once your SSP entitlement ends after 26 weeks

    Typo, that should be 28 weeks.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Online Community Member Posts: 10,000 Championing
    poppy123456 said:
    calcotti said:
    ggloria007 said:
    i am in a simialr situation, i am not working but I am still under company sick scheme which is 32 weeks full pay and 16 weeks half pay .. currently recieving half pay ... would this be a problem? i have just applied for ESA... 
    Once your SSP entitlement ends after 26 weeks

    Typo, that should be 28 weeks.
    Thanks, poppy.
  • ggloria007
    ggloria007 Online Community Member Posts: 26 Listener
    poppy & calotti, thank you both 
  • L_Volunteer
    L_Volunteer Community Volunteer Adviser, Scope Member Posts: 7,922 Championing
    You are welcome @ggloria007. Glad we could help you. If we can do anything else to support you, please don't hesitate to let us know. We are all here for you  :)

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