Unemployed, self employed, benefits

seh567

Hi, I am writing on behalf of my son who is registered as self employed but now has no work. Although he was self employed he worked for a small business in the building trade. He provided an invoice each week and they paid 20% tax under the CIS scheme I believe. He stopped working for them because they did not pay very well and expected him to work long hours away from home at his own expense for travelling & provision of tools etc. He was renting a flat from a private landlord and his earning did not cover his living expenses so consequently go into debt. It was making him ill and depressed. He has since moved into secure 1 bedroom accommodation via housing association. He has now been unemployed for 2 weeks but was hoping to get work either on a permanent or temporary basis just to tide him over and has signed on with several agencies. I have been helping him out with rent etc but I have told him he needs to sign on for benefits whilst he is looking for work but he seems reluctant to do so (I think he sees it as failure as he is nearing 40 years of age and has never been out of work before). My questions are:-

1) Would he be entitled to JSA as he is still registered self employed. He has no savings and no monies coming in.

2) Would he be able to claim housing allowance and council tax benefit. I am retired and can't afford to pay his rent indefinately.

3) He won't be able to pay his outstanding credit card and loan debts. Should he write his creditors and ask he can pay token payments until he gets earning again.

Any assistance would help. Thanks

shelley_uk

Hi. Your son should contact the local Job Centre Plus.....just because he is registered as self employued does not mean he won't be able to claim anything including housing and council tax benefit. They will be able to advise him

He should contact all his creditors and offer them a token payment but he could also consider asking his local CAB for help with these