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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not tell the DWP???

129 replies

BoomBaBoom · 19/02/2021 12:48

I'm on ESA, the new style contributions based ESA. In the work relatively activity group. I'm allowed to do permitted work of 16 hours a week and £140 a week maximum.

I'll only recieve the ESA until October and then it'll stop.

I have a job. In normal times it's 7.5 hours a week £65.40 so within the permitted work. But I'm on reduce hours at the moment because of Covid and Furloughed for the rest of the hours. I'm only actually working about three hours a week at the mo!

I've applied for another job which is ten hours a week and would be £87.20. If I get this job, I'll be doing 17.5 hours a week and I'll be over the £140 a week limit by £12.60. I don't really want to lose my ESA for the sake of £12.60 and 1 and half hours extra!

I'm half tempted to just not tell them if I get the job. But I'd feel awful. Would they find out? Would I have to pay the money back?

WIBU to not tell them?

OP posts:
Zerrin13 · 19/02/2021 21:18

Op what is contributions based ESA? I have no idea what this is?

Jackie2022 · 19/02/2021 21:21

I mean, I assume they can just check your NI number? My tax account has all my monthly salary payments since my first ever job included, alongside my employer’s details. If I can access that information, why wouldn’t the government who supplies the website?

Jackie2022 · 19/02/2021 21:23

I don’t really get why you don’t want to lose your ESA though, as you will be better off each month? Yes, it’s only £12 more in your pocket, but you do work part time at one of those jobs so presumably there’s scope to earn more

Jackie2022 · 19/02/2021 21:26

To be honest I don’t really see why you would bother with job 1 long term - you only work a measly 7.5 hours a week in normal times for minimum wage, then they had the audacity to furlough you. If money is an issue, leaving this job as soon as you secure something better is in your best interests

Lillypup · 19/02/2021 21:32

@extentioncord

What's your point?

That your husband is bringing in a decent wage and you have 2 jobs taking you over the threshold for ESA. It's not even difficult.

The OP has obviously been assessed and awarded the ESA. So what IS your point? Clutching your pearls much?
extentioncord · 19/02/2021 22:02

The OP has obviously been assessed and awarded the ESA. So what IS your point? Clutching your pearls much?

My point is if you are earning over the threshold then you tell them/stop claiming.

Just to be absolutely fucking crystal here, I did not make any comments to suggest OP was not entitled to ESA based on assessment.

extentioncord · 19/02/2021 22:05

I don't have two jobs. I have one job. I've put in an application for another position which I may not even get.

Ok, let's be pedantic. You don't have 2 jobs. The whole list is about what to do if you get the job though, so in the situation you are asking about, you would have 2 jobs.

Also, define decent wage.

It has no definition, however my pint is if you don't qualify for any top up benefits due to your husband earnings, you are not a low income family.

We struggle financially and need additional income, hence me applying for another job.

Outgoings too high?

ChronicallyCurious · 19/02/2021 22:07

They’ll find out from the HMRC from what wages are reported. If they don’t find out straight away and continue paying you then you’ll be slapped with paying all of your over payments back and possibly be investigated for benefit fraud and the ESA stopping. It could also retrigger another assessment for ESA if you left as I imagine they’ll try to argue if you can work that much then you’re not sick.

I receive LCRWA for my disability however the working hours don’t apply to me as I get PIP and if you receive that then there isn’t a working threshold and you can even work 40 hours a week as long as the job doesn’t contradict your assessment. I tried to get a job a few months ago and it absolutely crippled me health wise and I ended up leaving after 2 weeks but not long after I received the wage for the time worked I received a letter saying that they wanted to reassess me (I still had a lot of time left on my LCWRA award) so I wouldn’t be surprised if picking up an extra ten hours would trigger something for you.

Lillypup · 19/02/2021 22:20

@extentioncord

The OP has obviously been assessed and awarded the ESA. So what IS your point? Clutching your pearls much?

My point is if you are earning over the threshold then you tell them/stop claiming.

Just to be absolutely fucking crystal here, I did not make any comments to suggest OP was not entitled to ESA based on assessment.

No, you felt you had to get a dig in about the OP's husbands earnings as well. So own your comment 😂 I see you are now having a dig about her outgoings. Yes, sounds like she's fucking loaded although that is fuck all to do with your judgemental nose😂 although your neck must be sore what with all the pearl clutching as I have already said 😂
extentioncord · 19/02/2021 22:25

No, you felt you had to get a dig in about the OP's husbands earnings as well

The husbands earnings were relevant.

So own your comment 😂**

I do. I absolutely own it.

I see you are now having a dig about her outgoings.

It was a question, not a dig.

Yes, sounds like she's fucking loaded although that is fuck all to do with your judgemental nose😂 although your neck must be sore what with all the pearl clutching as I have already said 😂

I'm not sure you know what pearl clutching means. Is it just something you have read on here and decided to use to make you look clever?

It didn't work.

Lillypup · 19/02/2021 22:32

@extentioncord

No, you felt you had to get a dig in about the OP's husbands earnings as well

The husbands earnings were relevant.

So own your comment 😂**

I do. I absolutely own it.

I see you are now having a dig about her outgoings.

It was a question, not a dig.

Yes, sounds like she's fucking loaded although that is fuck all to do with your judgemental nose😂 although your neck must be sore what with all the pearl clutching as I have already said 😂

I'm not sure you know what pearl clutching means. Is it just something you have read on here and decided to use to make you look clever?

It didn't work.

Oh gosh, sorry, clearly I haven't a clue🤔

Anyway OP, sorry for derailing your thread. Hope you get the job (if that is what works best for your family) and can sort something out so you can continue to receive the benefit you are entitled to legally, morally (🙄) while managing your mental health. Good luck 💗

MiddlesexGirl · 19/02/2021 22:36

@Zerrin13

Op what is contributions based ESA? I have no idea what this is?
A benefit that is based on NI contributions that you have made over the past 2-3 years. It doesn't matter how much savings you have or how much income your partner has but there are 'permitted work' rules around it. If OP didn't have a partner with an income then she would very likely be eligible for universal credit which is a means tested benefit and doesn't have permitted work rules.
Boredoutmymind · 19/02/2021 22:38

Your on contributions based ESA which means you have savings above the limit. Which is £16000+
You can work and earn more money than someone who is in the support group and your complaining about £12?
People on income based don't have this luxury.
Count yourself lucky that you have extra money.
Benefits are a safety net and not to be taken advantage off.
You need to disclose it to DWP ASAP.
Think about the people who are dying because of no money yet you have savings to fall back on.

mumwon · 19/02/2021 22:40

the new benefit system is mean - if I remember rightly I think the amount deducted when you earn over the figure is nearer 35p for every pound deducted not 10p
Op dh may only earn a minimum salary & hb may not pay full rent which is why she might be trying to get more income. trying to make ends meet when you are the end of the system is a nightmare for so many people
A little empathy & understanding might be nice

extentioncord · 19/02/2021 22:43

A little empathy & understanding might be nice

The reason I asked was to gain said understanding.

I struggle with empathy when people post about not telling the DWP the truth about earnings.

extentioncord · 19/02/2021 22:45

Your on contributions based ESA which means you have savings above the limit. Which is £16000+

Being on contributions based ESA just means it's based on NI contributions, it doesn't mean you have savings over 16k

CornishTiger · 19/02/2021 22:45

Permitted work allowance going up to £143 from April. You’ll need to work less hours to bring it under limit.

CornishTiger · 19/02/2021 22:48

Can the people who have no idea about benefits please go and do some research?!

Truth is to receive contribution based benefits you need to have had a good national insurance record for the last two tax years.

Original poster
BoomBaBoom · 19/02/2021 22:48

@extentioncord

I don't have two jobs. I have one job. I've put in an application for another position which I may not even get.

Ok, let's be pedantic. You don't have 2 jobs. The whole list is about what to do if you get the job though, so in the situation you are asking about, you would have 2 jobs.

Also, define decent wage.

It has no definition, however my pint is if you don't qualify for any top up benefits due to your husband earnings, you are not a low income family.

We struggle financially and need additional income, hence me applying for another job.

Outgoings too high?

Yes, outgoings too high. Nothing I can do about that though.
OP posts:
CornishTiger · 19/02/2021 22:51

What is permitted work?
It’s well known that doing some kind of work is generally good for your physical and mental wellbeing and confidence.

Permitted work can help you learn new skills, help build your confidence and help you start thinking about types of work you could do.

You may be able to do some work if you have a disability, illness or health condition and still have the security of keeping any of the following benefits payments and National Insurance credits:

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Incapacity Benefit
Severe Disablement Allowance
Permitted work lets you:

work for less than 16 hours each week
earn up to £140 every week after tax
receive your normal amount of benefit
build up your skills and experience
be supported while you work – we call this supported permitted work
do voluntary work – there is no limit on how many hours a week you can do voluntary work for
There is no limit on the number of weeks you can do permitted work for.

Original poster
BoomBaBoom · 19/02/2021 22:52

@CornishTiger

Can the people who have no idea about benefits please go and do some research?!

Truth is to receive contribution based benefits you need to have had a good national insurance record for the last two tax years.

Yep, I worked full time from when I left school. I've always had a mental illness but recently it reached unmanageable levels, hence me having to take a job with only 7 hours a week! I don't even have a gap in my employment history though. I've always been employed since I left school.
OP posts:
Original poster
BoomBaBoom · 19/02/2021 22:54

@Boredoutmymind

Your on contributions based ESA which means you have savings above the limit. Which is £16000+ You can work and earn more money than someone who is in the support group and your complaining about £12? People on income based don't have this luxury. Count yourself lucky that you have extra money. Benefits are a safety net and not to be taken advantage off. You need to disclose it to DWP ASAP. Think about the people who are dying because of no money yet you have savings to fall back on.
That isn't what it means at all. I could only dream of having that amount of money. I have no savings and just enough money in the bank to last until DHs payday on the 25th.
OP posts:
CornishTiger · 19/02/2021 22:54

For those of you not understanding it^^^

If OP earns that extra £12 she’ll also lose her allowance of ESA which is a minimum of £75 ish if not more.

Original poster
BoomBaBoom · 19/02/2021 22:55

I get £297.40 ESA per month. That's a lot of money to lose.

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 19/02/2021 22:56

Well done @BoomBaBoom for still working whilst managing your mental health. I do understand. I haven’t read the full thread tbh but can see a lot of ignorance on here.