dg_199992
-
Upload
kabulibazari -
Category
Documents
-
view
222 -
download
0
Transcript of dg_199992
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
1/20
Employmentand SupportAllowance
Help i youre ill or
disabled
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
2/20
Contents
3 About Employment andSupport Allowance
4 Who can get Employment
and Support Allowance
6 What happens when I claim?
7 Helping you back into work
11 How is my benet paid?11 Can I work i I get
Employment and Support
Allowance?
13 Changes in your lie
18 Help with health costs
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
3/20
3
About Employment and SupportAllowanceEmployment and Support Allowance helps people with
an illness or disability to move into work. It has replaced
Incapacity Benet and Income Support paid because o an
illness or disability.
There are two types o Employment and Support Allowance:
Contribution-based - we pay this i you have enough
National Insurance contributions. This benet is taxable. Income-related - we pay this i you dont have enough
money or savings, or you havent enough National Insurance
contributions. This benet is not taxable.
While youre getting the allowance, youll be able to get help
rom a specially trained personal adviser. They may help you
to benet rom a wide range o other services designed to help
you move into suitable work.
Can I get National Insurance credits while I am sick?
For each ull week (Sunday to Saturday) o your Employment
and Support Allowance, you may be able to get National
Insurance credits. These credits can help you get other money
in the uture, such as State Pension.
To make a claim
www.direct.gov.uk/benetsadviser
Phone: 0800 055 6688
Textphone: 0800 023 4888
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
4/20
4 Employment and Support Allowance
Who can get Employment and SupportAllowance?You may get Employment and Support Allowance i you have
an illness or disability that aects your ability to work, and:
youreoffworkoroutofwork
youreself-employed
youworkforanemployerbutcantgetStatutorySickPay,or
youvebeengettingStatutorySickPaybutithasnow
stopped.
For the rst seven days o your illness, you may only have
to tell us why you are sick. Ater that, you will have to get a
medical statement rom your doctor. You must then send it to
us.
Medical statements are also known as t notes, sick notes or
medical certicates.
I you get a pension
Money rom other pensions or health insurance schemes could
aect the amount o Employment and Support Allowance you
may get. This will depend on how much money your pension or
scheme gives you. Ask an adviser i you think this may apply.
You cant get Employment and Support Allowance i youvereached State Pension age. For inormation about changes to
State Pension age, see page 15.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
5/20
5
I you have a partner or children
I you are claiming Employment and Support Allowance, youmay get more money so that you can still support the people
who depend on you.
We will treat you as a couple i you live with your husband,
wie or civil partner, or i you live with someone as i they were
your husband, wie or civil partner. We call this other person
your partner.
I you have a husband, wie or civil partner, we may pay your
benet at the couples rate. We may ask you to show us
certicates o birth, marriage or civil partnership.
But i your partner is living with you and working, how much
they earn could aect your income-related Employment and
Support Allowance.
You cant claim extra Employment and Support Allowance orchildren, but you may get Child Tax Credit.
For more inormation about tax credits,
go to www.hmrc.gov.uk
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
6/20
6 Employment and Support Allowance
What happens when I claim?
You wont get any money or the rst three days o your claim.These are called waiting days. In some cases, waiting days
may not apply, or example i youve already had waiting days
as part o an earlier benet claim or a period o Statutory Sick
Pay.
Ater this, most people get a basic rate o Employment and
Support Allowance or the rst 13 weeks. We call this the
assessment phase. A dierent rate may apply i you have a
partner - we call this the couples rate.
We will treat you as a couple i you live with your husband,
wie or civil partner, or i you live with someone as i they were
your husband, wie or civil partner. We call this other person
your partner.
During this time, we decide whether you qualiy to keepgetting the allowance. We may be able to decide this based
on your illness or disability, or we may need you to ll in a
questionnaire or go to an assessment.
We also assess i you can take steps to nd work, or i your
illness or disability so severely aects your ability to work that
taking these steps would not be reasonable.
I you reuse to have the assessment, or i you dont take partully, this may aect your entitlement to Employment and
Support Allowance.
Ater 13 weeks, i you still qualiy or Employment and Support
Allowance, you will move to the main phase and get a higher
amount.
The amounts change in April each year. To nd out more, go
to www.direct.gov.uk/benets or contact Jobcentre Plus or
this years rates.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
7/20
7
Helping you back into work
Research shows that people are better o in work. Work hasmany advantages it is better or you nancially, and or
your health and well-being, your sel-esteem and the uture
prospects o you and your amily. For instance, people who
are long-term unemployed or who have never worked are up
to three times more likely to have poor health than people in
work.
To get Employment and Support Allowance, we assess your
illness or disability and how this aects the work you may be
able to do.
How do you assess what work I can do?
For the rst 13 weeks, youll get a basic rate o benet and
youll need to send us medical statements. During this time,
we may ask you to take part in a work capability assessment.This means lling in and sending back a questionnaire and
going to an assessment.
At the assessment, a healthcare proessional - such as a doctor
or registered nurse - will assess how well you can do things like
walk, sit, stand up, use your hands, and see and hear. I you
have a mental-health condition, they will assess how it aects
things like your mood, the way you behave, the way you relateto the world around you, and how you cope with things rom
day to day.
They will write an assessment and send it to the oce dealing
with your claim. It will help us decide how your illness or
disability limits the amount and type o work you can do, and
whether you qualiy or Employment and Support Allowance.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
8/20
8 Employment and Support Allowance
Well pay your bus are, train are or petrol costs or going to
the assessment centre and back home. You must go to the
assessment and take part ully, or your benet will be aected.I you cant go to the appointment given in the letter we send
you, contact the assessment centre straight away.
Does everyone have to attend an assessment centre?
Some illnesses and disabilities are so severe that we can
decide whether you can get Employment and Support
Allowance without you having to attend an assessment centre.
I this applies to you, well tell you.
What i I am terminally ill?
There are special rules i your doctor does not think you will live
or more than six months. These rules make sure you get the
most money you can. I this applies to you, please speak to anadviser.
What i I have a mental-health condition?
I you have a mental-health condition, we may ask you to ll
in a questionnaire about how this aects you. Well want to
know i you have other health problems as well. We may talk
to your doctor, and you may have to see one o our healthcareproessionals.
A mental-health condition could aect your mood, the way
you behave, the way you relate to the world around you, or
how you cope with things rom day to day.
These are the things well look at when we decide i you can
get Employment and Support Allowance.
Ask an adviser or help with your claim i you have a mental-
health condition.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
9/20
9
What happens ater my assessment?
I we nd that your illness or disability limits your ability towork beyond a certain level, you will move into the main
phase o Employment and Support Allowance rom week 14 o
your claim.
Youll get a higher amount o benet, and youll be put in one
o two groups:
Work-Related Activity Group
Ifwethinkyoucouldgobacktoworkinthefuture,youllgetsupport to help you prepare or suitable work. You must take
part ully in any work-ocused interviews we invite you to
and you may also need to take part in work-related activity.
I you are in this group and getting contribution-based
Employment and Support Allowance we can pay this or up
to 365 days, rom the date o your claim.
Support Group
Ifyouhaveaconditionthatseverelylimitswhatyoucando,
youll be in the Support Group. Youll not be expected to look
or work and we wont expect you to take part in any work-
ocused interviews. But you can choose to take part in them
i you want. I you get contribution-based Employment and
Support Allowance we will pay this as long as you are in theSupport Group.
The assessment may nd that you are able to work. I so, we
wont pay you Employment and Support Allowance or give you
National Insurance credits. I this happens, you may need to
claim Jobseekers Allowance. You can nd out more by going to
www.direct.gov.uk/benets or contacting Jobcentre Plus. Our
details are in the phone book.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
10/20
10 Employment and Support Allowance
What i I dont agree with the decision?
I you think our decision is wrong, please get in touch withJobcentre Plus within one month o the date on the decision
letter. I you contact us later, we may not be able to help you.
You can:
askustoexplainourdecision
askustowritetoyouwiththereasonsforourdecision
askustolookatourdecisionagain(youmaythinkwehave
overlooked some acts or you may have more inormation togive us which aects our decision), or
appealagainstourdecisiontoanindependenttribunal(but
you must do this in writing).
You, or someone else who has the authority to act on your
behal, can do any o these things, or you can do all o them.
Must I have an interview about work?
Most people must have an interview with a Jobcentre Plus
personal adviser to consider uture work prospects.
Also, i the assessment shows that you could start preparing
or work while claiming Employment and Support Allowance,
well arrange work-ocused interviews to help you nd work.
Making work pay
One o the aims o Employment and Support Allowance is to
help you be better o in work than on benet. Your personal
adviser will help you work out how much you need to earn
rom a job so that you dont lose out.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
11/20
11
There are schemes to help you get back to work and be bettero than on benet. Ask an adviser to tell you about:
ReturntoWorkCredit HousingBenetandCouncilTaxBenetextendedpayments
training,and
WorkingTax Credit.
To nd a job
www.direct.gov.uk/jobsearch
Phone: 0845 606 0234
Textphone: 0845 605 5255
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
How is my benet paid?
We pay benet straight into your account. This is the best wayto get it because you can choose how and when to take yourmoney out o your account. Your account can be with a bank,building society or the Post Oce.
What i I want someone to collect my benet or me?
You may need someone to collect your benet or you. Forhelp with this, talk to the bank or building society where you
have your account. I you need to name someone to deal withJobcentre Plus or you, talk to a Jobcentre Plus adviser.
Can I work i I get Employment andSupport Allowance?There are some kinds o work you may be able to do while youare getting Employment and Support Allowance. These are:
unpaidwork,suchasforacharity(voluntarywork),or
permittedworkwork you are allowed to do while you are
on the allowance that could help you get a job in the uture.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
12/20
12 Employment and Support Allowance
Volunteering
We know that volunteering can give you a better chance onding paid work. So you can volunteer as many hours as you
like while getting benet, as long as you keep to the main
benet rules. You must tell Jobcentre Plus beore you start
volunteering.
You must not be paid money or anything else or volunteering.
Its okay to be paid your expenses, but you must tell us what
you get and hold on to any receipts. Any money you get on
top o expenses may be counted as earnings, and aect your
benet.
Choosing not to be paid is not the same as volunteering. I
youre doing what someone else would normally be paid or,
we class this as unpaid work, not volunteering. We may decide
that what you would have been paid is notional earnings, and
this may aect your benet. We decide by looking at whether:
someonewouldnormallybepaidtodothesamekindof
work
yourworkhelpssocietyoryourcommunityinsomeway,and
youworkforacharityorsimilargroup.
Permitted work
Permitted work is work you may do i you get Employment and
Support Allowance. There are three types o permitted work:
1 You can earn up to 20 a week without aecting your
benet.
2 You can work under 16 hours a week and earn no more than
97.50 a week or up to 52 weeks. I you cant start working
16 hours or more a week ater doing permitted work or 52
weeks, you must wait another 52 weeks beore you can do
this type o permitted work again.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
13/20
13
3 I your work is supervised by someone rom a local
authority or voluntary group because its their job to help
ill or disabled people do work, you can work as many hoursas you like as long as you dont earn more than 97.50.
This applies i youre working in the community, a sheltered
workshop or as part o a hospital treatment programme.
You must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage.
You must talk to Jobcentre Plus beore starting any permitted
work.
I you get Housing Benet or Council Tax Benet, you must alsotell your local council beore you start permitted work, as it
could aect these benets.
Changes in your lie
Telling us about any changes
You must tell us straight away i something changes that may
aect your benet. For example, tell us i you or your partner:
movehome(orotherpeoplemoveintoorleaveyourhome)
changetheaccountwepaybenetsinto
changeyourincomeincludingchildmaintenanceandpart-
time earnings
workmoreorfewerhours
startgetting,orstopgetting,anotherbenet,or
getotherbenetsandtheamountgoesupordown.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
14/20
14 Employment and Support Allowance
I you get Employment and Support Allowance, you must tell
Jobcentre Plus as soon as you start to get better and you:
areabletodomore,or
starttofeelalittlebetteroveralongerperiodoftime.
You may start to eel better because you:
haveanoperation
usesomethingtohelpyouwithyourillness,or
starttakingnewmedicine.
You must also tell us as soon as your disability or illness
changes or i it gets worse.
Important
I youre not sure whether to tell us about a change, do it
anyway. I you dont report a change when you should, you
could risk action being taken against you, and your benet
reduced or stopped in the uture. You will then have to pay
back any overpaid money.
What i I am pregnant?
I youre pregnant, you may get Statutory Maternity Pay rom
your employer. You can keep getting Employment and Support
Allowance or as long as you can prove youre still too ill ordisabled to work. When you get Statutory Maternity Pay, you
will get less Employment and Support Allowance each week.
But when you stop getting Statutory Maternity Pay, you will get
the allowance again in ull.
I youre pregnant and cant get Statutory Maternity Pay, you
may get Maternity Allowance. This will aect your Employment
and Support Allowance. You cant get both in ull at the same
time, so you will get the mix o benet that pays you the most.
You must send us your medical statements to make sure this
happens.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
15/20
15
I you still cant work because o an illness or disability when
your Maternity Allowance ends, you can get Employment and
Support Allowance. To make sure this happens, you must sendus your medical statements.
What i I go abroad?
In some circumstances, you may keep getting Employment
and Support Allowance or up to our weeks during temporary
trips abroad. This may apply:
forsomeshorttrips
ifyouhavetogoabroadtogetmedicaltreatment,or
ifyoulivewithamemberofthearmedforcesandgo
overseas with them.
I you get Employment and Support Allowance and you plan to
go abroad, you must tell Jobcentre Plus straight away to check
i your benet will be aected.I you are able to get Employment and Support Allowance
while you are abroad, you can arrange or someone else to get
your payment or you while you are away. Or you can be paid
when you get back, in some circumstances, have it paid to you
abroad.
What happens when I reach State Pension age?You cant get Employment and Support Allowance ater you
reach State Pension age.
State Pension age is the earliest age at which you can claim
your State Pension. At the moment, the age at which men and
women can claim their State Pension is dierent.
State Pension age is currently 65 or men. Womens StatePension age is rising in stages rom 60 to 65 by November
2018.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
16/20
16 Employment and Support Allowance
From December 2018, the State Pension age or both men and
women will start to increase to reach 66 in October 2020.
To nd more inormation about State Pension
age go to www.direct.gov.uk/spacalculator
What i my husband, wie or civil partner dies?
You may still get Employment and Support Allowance, but any
bereavement benets you get may aect the amount o your
Employment and Support Allowance. Ask an adviser to explain
this.
I you dont have enough National Insurance contributions to
get Employment and Support Allowance and your husband,
wie or civil partner dies, you could get special credits that will
let you get Employment and Support Allowance.
To get special credits, you must have an illness or disabilityand you must have stopped getting certain benets or your
husband, wie or civil partner on their death. You cant get
special credits i your bereavement benet stops because you:
getmarriedagain
formanewcivilpartnership,or
startlivingwithanewpartner.
What i I get other benets?
I you get Employment and Support Allowance, depending on
whether this is contribution-based or income-related, you may
still be able to get some benets, or example:
AttendanceAllowance
DisabilityLivingAllowance
CarersAllowance
HousingBenetandCouncilTaxBenet
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
17/20
17
BasicWarPension
IndustrialInjuriesDisablementBenetorgratuity,or
paymentsfromyouremployer(thiscouldincludewages,company sick pay or a benet rom your union).
You cant usually get Employment and Support Allowance i
you get one or more o the ollowing:
JobseekersAllowance-youmaybeabletogetcontribution-
based Employment and Support Allowance i you are jointly
claiming income-based Jobseekers Allowance with yourpartner
StatePension
moneybecauseyoucantgetwork
moneyfortraining
StatutorySickPay
IncomeSupport,or
IncapacityBenet.
What i I have claimed compensation?
I you win compensation or your disability and also get
Employment and Support Allowance, the allowance may be
taken o your compensation.
To nd out more about claiming compensation, you cancontact the Compensation Recovery Unit.
www.dwp.gov.uk/cru
Phone: 0191 225 2966
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm,
Friday 8.30am to 4pm.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
18/20
18 Employment and Support Allowance
Help with health costs
You may get help with some health costs - including NHSprescriptions, NHS dental treatment and some travel costs - i
youre on a low income or get:
income-relatedEmploymentandSupportAllowance
income-basedJobseekersAllowance
IncomeSupport,or
PensionCredit.
To nd out more about help with health costs, go to
www.direct.gov.uk/benets
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
19/20
19
Call charges
Charges were correct as o the date on the back o this leafet.Calls to 0800 numbers are ree rom BT land lines but you
may have to pay i you use another phone company, a mobile
phone, or i you are calling rom abroad.
Calls to 0845 numbers rom BT land lines should cost no more
than 5p a minute with a 13p call set-up charge. You may have
to pay more i you use another phone company or a mobile
phone, or i you are calling rom abroad.Calls rom mobile phones can cost up to 40p a minute, so
check the cost o calls with your service provider.
You can ask us to call you back i youre concerned about the
cost o the call.
Textphones
Our textphone numbers are or people who cannot speak or
hear clearly. I you dont have a textphone, you could check i
your local library or citizens advice bureau has one. Textphones
dont receive text messages rom mobile phones.
Were always looking or ways o improving our leafets. I you
have any comments or suggestions about this leafet, email us
This email address is only used or leafet comments. We
cannot answer questions about your pension or benet.
-
7/27/2019 dg_199992
20/20
Important inormation about this leafet
This leafet is only a guide and does not cover every circumstance.We have done our best to make sure that the inormation in this
leafet is correct as o April 2012. It is possible that some o the
inormation is oversimplied, or may become inaccurate over
time, or example because o changes to the law.
You can nd more inormation about benets and pensions online.
For benets inormation go towww.direct.gov.uk/benets
For pensions inormation go towww.direct.gov.uk/pensions
This inormation is available in other ormats on request.
Phone 0845 731 3233
Textphone 0845 604 0210
We aim to provide a high quality o service
to all our customers. You can nd out more
in our customer charter atwww.direct.gov.uk/dwpcharter
Previous code: DWP1001
Crown copyrightISBN 978-1-78153-017-7