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ESA SUPPORT GROUP AND VOLUNTARY WORK

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5 years 6 months ago #238597 by Ditzee
ESA SUPPORT GROUP AND VOLUNTARY WORK was created by Ditzee
I have been in SG of ESA for a number of years and want to ask if anyone has any advice on being in this group and their experience with the DWP when asking to carry out some voluntary work. Has anyone found that completing a PW1 form has triggered an early re-assessment? My medical condition is that of mental health - anxiety and depression. My husband recently died and I have been struggling being at home with endless hours thinking of how he died at home after a lengthy battle with cancer. I do not feel fit for work but there is a local District Community group at my local library which is literally a 2 minute walk from my home. I feel it would benefit me if I could just complete a few hours voluntary work to escape my loneliness at home. My greatest fear is that of losing my ESA if I was to attempt this. I feel that I would at least like to try and attempt this but under the safety net of knowing that I will not be penalised if one day I am due to carry out a voluntary role and phone in to say that I am unable to do so as I am having a difficult day. Any advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

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5 years 6 months ago #238614 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA SUPPORT GROUP AND VOLUNTARY WORK
Ditzee

Providing your doing the voluntary work is not at odds with the limitations that have allowed you to receive an award of ESA then it should not be an issue. An obvious example would be if you have a form of Social Anxiety and were placed in the SG due to this then it would raise alarms if you started to volunteer at a place that brings you into regular contact with other people.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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5 years 6 months ago #238639 by Ditzee
Replied by Ditzee on topic ESA SUPPORT GROUP AND VOLUNTARY WORK
I am hoping to just do some admin work for a local Community Transport team. The work involves just being in a small office dealing with telephone queries and e-mails. I have been reading up on Permitted work and would like some clarification on this matter. Am I right in thinking that you can be in receipt of ESA and carry out work for which you are paid for? I find this confusing. So if I was to be offered some form of work for which I would be paid I could accept as long as it doesn't conflict with the reasons why you are in the support group of ESA ie. working from home, stacking shelves, taking phone calls which would mean social interaction is still at a minimum? Are you paid full ESA and allowed a weekly minimum wage on top??????

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5 years 6 months ago #238653 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA SUPPORT GROUP AND VOLUNTARY WORK
Ditzee

You need to be careful that this voluntary work is not classed as remunerative employment, it's not voluntary work if another person doing the same function would be paid for doing so.

Yes, you can earn under the Permitted Work rules; you can earn up to £131.50 a week providing you work for less than 16 hours a week.

There's a guide to PW in the ESA section.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems

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5 years 6 months ago #238664 by Ditzee
Replied by Ditzee on topic ESA SUPPORT GROUP AND VOLUNTARY WORK
It is a community care group and the 2 people that job share this role are unpaid volunteers. I am still confused as to how you can be allowed to be paid a wage on top of your ESA or have I totally understood the principle of PW?

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5 years 6 months ago #238667 by Gordon
Replied by Gordon on topic ESA SUPPORT GROUP AND VOLUNTARY WORK

Ditzee wrote: I am still confused as to how you can be allowed to be paid a wage on top of your ESA or have I totally understood the principle of PW?


I'm afraid you have :) the intention is to allow ESA claimants to attempt a return to work without the loss of their benefits, it can also be used as a therapy which comes under the heading of Supported PW.

Gordon

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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