esa and work

[steve5915]

Can someone answer this query i went off sick from a well paid job it took over a year to diagnose me with fibromyalgia when my company after the standard 26 weeks dropped my pay to half the DWP toldme i could claim esa contribution based which i did and at the time although on half pay i was still getting £800 a month from my company.My company have now dismissed me on ill health grounds so now I dont get any money other than esa and disability allowance but what i cant understand is when i was taking £800 they gave me esa but im lead to believe if i get another job that pays me £500 a month they will take it off me so where is my incentive to take any work that the limited capability for work meetings i have to attend are trying to get me !!

[bluedogx]

Hi

I'm not a benefit specialist but

 

Contribution based esa is only paid for six months if you have enough NI contributions. Thereafter it's means tested. You need a benefit check done at your local cab to check what you are entitled to.

 

B

[leemack]

Contribution based esa is paid indefinately (until they change it next year), as long as you fulfill the criteria.

 

Contribution based jsa is only paid for 6 months.

 

Once you get into work, I believe that you can claim return to work payments of £40 a week for a year as long as you're working more than 16 hours a week and not earning more than £15,000 a year, and satisfy the qualifying periods.

 

There are permitted work rules which allow you to work less than 16 hours a week earning up to £95 a week for up to 52 weeks, and indefinately if part of the supported permitted work criteria. Of course with permitted work you can't do any work that would mean you no longer satisfy the descriptors that scored you your 15 points.

[steve5915]

This is my point why was it paid to me when i was bringing home in excess of £800 but will be taken away if i earn £500

[rachmac83]

hiya

 

i think the problem is more about eligibility rather than income.

 

in order to be eligible for ESA you have to be incapable to work because of illness or disability, if you do take another job then you will no longer meet this criteria as you are working.

 

there may be other benefits you can claim in work though that may help such as tax credits, council tax relief. housing benefit perhaps.

 

hope this helps

 

rach

[steve5915]

Thanks for all the replies just shows what a cock up the benefit system is in even more of a laugh just had a council benefits guy at my home to access council tax apparently if you have moreb than £120 a week coming in you dont qualify they do not take into account any outgoins just incoming ..oh well lifes a bitch