Offered work but only 16hrs a week

Mike

From a quick look at your previous posts, you are currently receiving IB, but are being transferred to ESA.

You need to be aware that the Linking Rules for IB were rescinded earlier this year, which would mean that if this return to work was unsuccessful you would have to make a new claim for ESA. This would mean you would loose any Transitional Protection that you might have been eligible for as part of the transfer.

Obviously if you feel capable of working for 16 hours and you see it as your long term goal, you should certainly make every effort, but please keep the above in mind.

In answer to your question, you must inform the DWP before starting any work.

Gordon

Mike

I think you misunderstood my post, apologies if it is badly worded.

The Linking Rules allow someone who has returned to work to re-claim a benefit without delay if they subsequently find that they cannot manage.

The IB Linking Rules were rescinded in Januray 2011, this means that having stopped your IB claim to work, you can longer re-claim IB, but would have to make a new claim for ESA.

It is the fact the ESA claim would be new that is the problem. The Transitional Protection I mentioned only covers claimants where there is a continuous claim when they are transferred to ESA from IB.

Furthermore, by stopping your IB claim to return to work, you also cancel any Transitional Protection you might have received.

These points are not a reason that you should cancel your plans, but are something you should factor in when making your decision.

Hope I've explained it better this time.

Gordon

Just Me wrote:

Sorry to jump in but can anyone tell me what exactly Transitional Protection means in real terms for someone already claiming IB and being moved to ESA?

The Government have said that no one will be worse of as a result of being transferred to ESA from IB.

Excluding the issue of ESA(CB) being liable to tax, this means that if your current IB payments at the time of your transfer are greater than what you would receive on ESA, then you will receive a Transitional Payment to make up the differemce.

If your IB payments are less than the rate of ESA, then you will recieve the ESA rate on transfer.

If you receive a Transitional Payment, then every year it will be re-evaluated against the then current ESA rate until the difference is eroded. Transitional Payments are guaranteed until 2020.

Hope this explains it.

Gordon