ESA support group and trying to work self employed

Hi all,
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere. I am on ESA SG and get LRC and HRM of DLA.
I really want to be productive and get out of the benefit system, however I do have limitations as to what I can do.
I want to start writing, proofreading and copy editing on a self employed basis, which would allow me to work from home as and when I felt able. I am scared however that I will not be able to sustain a regular pattern and income. I have done a proofreading course which took ages as I experience poor concentration, memory issues and pain ( from typing / sitting too long etc). I also experience the most profound fatigue.
So, if I submit a PW1 form will my ESA be stopped ? I understand the logic of why it would - after all, if I can work why am I on ESA - BUT I don't know if I can work to an acceptable and sustained level. On my better days, which are getting fewer - I could do say, 4 hours, but would be laid up for at least 3 days afterwards............
I want to try but am really worried that by doing so I will lose my benefit ...........can anyone offer any guidance / suggestions ? Anyone in the support group ever done the permitted work thing ?
Feeling trapped !

plankgirl wrote: Hi all,
Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere. I am on ESA SG and get LRC and HRM of DLA.
I really want to be productive and get out of the benefit system, however I do have limitations as to what I can do.
I want to start writing, proofreading and copy editing on a self employed basis, which would allow me to work from home as and when I felt able. I am scared however that I will not be able to sustain a regular pattern and income. I have done a proofreading course which took ages as I experience poor concentration, memory issues and pain ( from typing / sitting too long etc). I also experience the most profound fatigue.
So, if I submit a PW1 form will my ESA be stopped ? I understand the logic of why it would - after all, if I can work why am I on ESA - BUT I don't know if I can work to an acceptable and sustained level. On my better days, which are getting fewer - I could do say, 4 hours, but would be laid up for at least 3 days afterwards............
I want to try but am really worried that by doing so I will lose my benefit ...........can anyone offer any guidance / suggestions ? Anyone in the support group ever done the permitted work thing ?
Feeling trapped !

Hi pg,

Just reviewed your similar query from around 5 months ago : Here.

I do understand that you may find it difficult to make a decision on this.

However, you are allowed to carry out Permitted Work whilst in receipt of ESA in The SG, and many people, including some of our members do.

Any members who are currently in The SG and also carrying out Permitted Work are most welcome to provide you with feedback.

What you need to consider is, the fact you are doing Permitted Work will be taken into account at your next ESA re-assessment, and any actions involved in the work that were contradictory to the limitations that resulted in your SG Award could be detrimental to you staying in The SG.

I am afraid that this is a decision that only you can make after weighing up the "pros and cons" !

If you are sure that taking part in The Permitted Work will not end up affecting you adversely with respect to your "benefits" there is nothing to stop you contacting DWP regarding PW !!

As advised by MHB in your previous query, only The DWP ESA DM can decide what type of work will be counted as Permitted Work.

Here are some links, in case you have not already read the information accessible from them :

Permitted Work

Work for people living with disability or health conditions.

There is further guidance on PW which was updated in December 2015, 4th link down : This Page.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do !!

bro58

Thank you, please accept my apologies - I had forgotten I had asked this before........sorry.
The main issue I have is that I don't know how many hours or how much I'd earn so it'd be a guess at best to complete the PW1.
I think I need to 'test' how I would do by increasing activity levels over a period of time...........I worry about the PW1 as it seems to be all or nothing....and I cannot afford for my benefits to stop while / if I had to be reassessed ....so many stories of the DWP leaving people vulnerable.....
If I go ahead and do the PW1 route I will let you know how I get on, as I think others may be in the same boat.

Hi

The system is totally against anyone trying to better themselves outside their petty rulebook.
This is particularly true of permitted work, self employed, flexitime, working from home.
The system wants you to do regular hours in a minimum wage dead end job.

I tried for years to do something and really hurt my head banging it on all those brick walls. They don't trust anyone on benefit as a default position.

Hi foss27, sorry to hear you've had a bad experience, it's exactly what I worry about. It does seem as if it's overly difficult to try and get ahead.
I have however not had too much trouble with DWP or ATOS. Got ESA wrap and a year later got reassessed without medical and put in support group so I can't complain ( many thanks to this site for the guidance on claiming!).
As it stands, I am going to try asking for the PW1 and hope that if I include a covering letter regarding any difficulties I anticipate regarding hours and impact on health, they will be understanding.
I've always been an optimist by default.........it's not always served me well, but I HAVE to do something.
I hope your head is ok now, what did you try if you don't mind me asking ? Anything I can learn from others regarding this process will be helpful.

Hi

I was an optimist but I'm alright now

I found it extremely difficult to be told in my twenties that I was no longer fit to work and kept trying to find a way to be self employed, working flexible hours from home. As I had been in direct sales I thought there would be some way to continue. No such luck. Any and every way I tried was impossible. I would end up worse off or lose entitlement. I tried changing to home based marketing using IT and telephone. Nothing worked.

If you do this you must have your GPs support but my advice is to forget it.