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Employmentand SupportAllowance

Help i youre ill or

disabled

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

at: [email protected]

This email address is only used or leafet comments. We

cannot answer questions about your pension or benet.

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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

dg_199992

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