Employment questions

[Norrin Radd]

Hi guys, I might have asked this before, actually....

I was wondering if I should try to see if I can get a job, but I don't know if I'll be able to stick with it or if I'm able to do it at all. I'm a bit worried about the benefits situation if this doesn't work out. Does anyone know what I should do or if there's anyone I should ask about this?

Thanks.

[Monic1511]

Hi
That's a very specialised question as it depends first on
What benefits you are on
Which area of the country you live in
How many hours you want to work
What you have to spend to live
Do you rent / have a mortgage

If you are on ESA and PIP or DLA and live in an area where universal credit is Full service then any change will trigger UC and you could lose money.

I really couldn't answer that remotely but you'd be better to contact welfare rights / citizens advice for a better off in work calculation,  the advisor will need to know what you get right now, what your rent and council tax charges are and if you want to do permitted work through ESA or stop ESA and claim working tax credits disability element or if your in a universal credit area then you'll end up on that with less money.

sorry
Monic

[Sunshine Meadows]

Norrin,

If you are in the ESA Support Group you could try permitted work and just see how you were with a few hours a week. I dont know what the current situation is at the DWP but generally the advice usually given here is that doing any work can trigger a reassessment. Can does not mean will, but adding that to what Monic already said I suggest if you are looking to do some paid work make sure it is something you want to do for you and not so much for the money.

Contributions based ESA is determined by the amount of National Insurance that has been paid and while I would have to look up the time scales it is possible to lose that benefit if you work for a certain number of hours for x amount of time

[Norrin Radd]

If you are on ESA and PIP or DLA and live in an area where universal credit is Full service then any change will trigger UC and you could lose money.

I was worried this would happen. I guess that degree has been for nothing.

[Sunshine Meadows]

I guess that degree has been for nothing.

Did you have a dream job in mind? Was your degree interesting for it's own sake.
I have a degree and it open doors for me I never expected not because it showed my level of educational attainment but because of who it made me. I guess that sounds cheesy.

[Norrin Radd]

There was something I really liked the look of, but I don't know if I can stick at it. I mainly wanted a ton of money, but this would also have been a chance for me to help people.

My dream job would be as the next David Bowie, but there's no real money in music these days.

[Norrin Radd]

What am I going to do if I can't work?

[Sunshine Meadows]

What am I going to do if I can't work?

What is your degree in and did it include learning how to use computer programs to produce art work?

[Norrin Radd]

I did criminology.

[Sunshine Meadows]

I took six course doe my degree one of which was Criminology it is a really interesting subject. There is a lot you could do with it eg be a prrison visitor, help campaign for prison reform, or do internete based projects. All of which might lead to more interesting high profile types of thing.

It does depend on whether you think people can be rehabilitated and whether prison is only there to punish a criminal.

[Norrin Radd]

I wanted to try and tackle serious crime. I got an e-mail a while ago that said they're looking for people to do such a job. I'd like to try and get it, but I'm worried I'll be putting myself at risk if I can't keep working.

[Fiz]

That is a massive dilemma for so many Norrin. If you last a while but can't cope, you'd end up on the new wrag rate which is the same as jsa and I don't know how anyone can live on that.

[Monic1511]

Norrin
can you contact an employability service in your area?  we have projects called working matters who help people on ESA get into permitted work - you can do this as long as you don't earn more than £120/week and you keep your ESA etc.

As for what you can use your degree for, don't a lot of the novelists / criminal historians / authors have that type of degree?

Don't give up so quickly and remember to check what type of universal credit is on the go in your area.
https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/eligibility
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/jobcentres-where-you-can-claim-universal-credit

Monic

[Norrin Radd]

I'll get some advice about work. Thanks guys. Sorry for the defeatist attitude; I just felt that my ambitions in life felt out of my reach. I can make this work though. 

@Monic Actually, I would like to write a book. During my time at uni, I've had a lot to say and I would like to have it in print.

Thanks again, everyone. 

[auntieCtheM]

A long time ago I belonged to a social club that had a monthly booklet of events.  You phoned up a number and got booked into whatever events you wanted to attend.  The lady who did the bookings was unable to get out of bed.  But she had a lovely voice and was very efficient at the bookings.