Work you can do while getting ESA
This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales
While you’re getting Employment Support Allowance (ESA) you might be able to do some types of work.
You can:
do paid work within specific earning limits - called 'permitted work’
do domestic work in your own home, for example cooking or cleaning
volunteer for a charity or voluntary organisation
care for a relative or receive payments for caring for someone else who lives with you, for example as a foster carer
do a government-approved work placement - this is unpaid practical work experience with an employer
take part in the ‘test trading scheme’ which helps people become self-employed
work as a councillor
work as a member of a First Tier Tribunal for HM Courts and Tribunals Service - this can be up to 1 full day or 2 half days a week
do emergency work to protect someone or prevent serious damage to property or livestock
The work you do doesn't have to be unpaid, but if you're on income-related ESA and you do earn money it will affect how much ESA you get.
Permitted work
This is paid work you can do where you don’t earn more than:
£20 per week - called the permitted work lower limit
£183.50 per week and you work less than 16 hours per week - called the permitted work higher limit
You can earn £183.50 per week with no limit on the number of hours if it’s work:
being supervised by someone from a local council or voluntary organisation
as part of a treatment programme done under medical supervision while you’re in hospital or regularly attending hospital as an out-patient
You can do any type of permitted work but you can only do one at a time. It’s okay to move from one type of permitted work to another.
It’s important to let the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) know about any permitted work you do or if you change your permitted work.
To let the DWP know fill in a permitted work form on GOV.UK. Post it to the address at the top of any of your ESA letters. Ask the Post Office for free proof of postage - you might need to show when you sent your form.
If you go over the permitted work higher limit
Your ESA payments will stop and you’ll need to re-apply.
You should check how much ESA you’ll get before you do any work that might take you over the permitted limit.
Work your partner can do
The work your partner can do depends on the type of ESA you get.
If you’re not sure what type of ESA you get, you can ask the DWP by:
writing to the address on your ESA letters
calling the Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus
Telephone: 0800 169 0310
Textphone: 0800 169 0314
Welsh language: 0800 328 1744
Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 169 0310
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.
Video relay - if you use British Sign Language (BSL).
You can find out how to use video relay on YouTube.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
If you’re on new style ESA or contribution-based ESA
Your partner’s work won’t affect your ESA payments.
If you’re on income-related ESA
Page last reviewed on 06 April 2020