Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a disability benefit the UK government gives to people with a limited capacity for work due to disability or a health condition (who don’t receive Statutory Sick Pay).

Generally, the rule is that anyone receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) benefit cannot work, as they risk losing their ESA payment. There are exceptions to this, which include:

• Permitted Work e.g. paid work that is within stated earning limits
• Voluntary work
• A Government approved work placement
• Emergency work to prevent harm coming to someone, or significant damage to property or livestock.

Permitted work has many benefits as it can help you to learn new skills, build your confidence and start exploring different types of work you could do and would enjoy.

So, even if you have a disability, illness, or health condition you may be able to do some work and keep your benefit and disability payments and still receive National Insurance credits for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

If you need extra assistance please call me Employment and Support number on 0800 169 0310

If you need advice in regards to jobs for disabled people and how to find employment, why not read our Top 10 Tips for Finding Work when Disabled written by Evenbreak – the disability job specialist.

What Permitted Work can I do and still keep my ESA payments?

Anyone receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) benefit can do the following permitted work but please note you do need to complete a PW1 form.

• work for less than 16 hours each week
• earn no more than £183.50 each week, after tax and National Insurance has been taken off
• get your normal amount of benefit
• build up your skills and experience
• be supported while you work – we call this ‘supported permitted work’.

Supported Permitted Work is for an individual who can only work a few hours a week and is supervised by a professional support worker.

There is no limit to how long Permitted Work (and Supported Permitted Work) can continue.

What is a PW1 Form?

Before you start working, you must complete a ‘permitted work PW1 form’ and post it to the address at the top of any ESA letters you have received. Please note you must not take this form into your Jobcentre Plus office.

If you think the work you want to do is Supported Permitted Work, your professional support worker must fill in their section on the permitted work PW1 form.

You will be informed if the work you wish to do meets the permitted work conditions. If you do work that does not meet the conditions, you may lose your benefit.

If you were not aware of the form and have already started working, you must complete the permitted work PW1 form and send it back straight away.

To get a copy of the permitted work PW1 form, go to www.gov.uk and search for PW1 or call the Employment and Support Allowance number on 0800 169 0310 if you need ESA Help and Guidance.

To further information, or to apply for Permitted Work please click here – Permitted Work form –  PW1

How to apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?

ESA Application – to find out more about ESA payments, how much ESA allowance you might be able to receive as well as information on the employment and support application process please read our article on ‘What is ESA and how to Apply’

Purpl is committed to providing our disabled community with relevant information on DWP disability benefits and signposting on where to get advice.