self emploment and benefits

lauradarling

My partner was made redundant last year and has been looking for a job ever since. He has recently started to think about self employment as an option. Our concerns are that the benefit agency will cut all benefits that we get if he mentions that he has become self employed. Does anyone have experience of starting a business while on benefits? He doesn't need much outlay as the roles involes using his skills, but will need to build a client base which may take a few months. He is getting very frustrated at home and really wants to get work but is also scared that money will get stopped. We have a young child and a baby at home so money needs to keep coming in.

mandylou86

you will need to tell the jobcentre if he starts doing self employed work as they will find out!! if he is on jsa and is working under 16 hours a week he may still get part - if not all of his benefits, he also would need to register for tax purposes etc. if he speaks to his jobcentre they usualy have contacts which he can go to and they help you set up your business - help with forecasts and budgets etc which would be worth doing before he took the plunge!

good luck!

GettingStraight_3

I am in almost the exact same position as your OH. I was made redundant 6 months ago and have had no luck finding a "normal" job either. I'm also looking at starting a business using my skills but am worried about how it will affect my benefits. I'm fairly sure the business venture will work out in the long term, but as you say, it takes time to build a client base.

My main concern right now is that if I call the Jobcenter to ask them about it that they will put some kind of note on my file now, even though I'm not actually doing anything about it yet. I certainly can't afford for my current benefits to go down at all (we have two children too).

lauradarling

It has been so difficult since my partner lost his job. We have never been in this position before and in the past we would have managed to get a job within days through a temp agency. Things are so different now. He has only managed to get one interview so far and they said that he was the best for the job but over qualified and would be taking a massive pay cut. He wasen't bothered about the pay cut and just wanted to work. He is with all the temp agencies, but has had no luck for either part time or full time. He has been approached by someone who can offer him work, but it would only be a few hours per month. He could build this up to be a business with other people and become self employed but this could take some time to network. We have been advised that this could be a bad idea as as soon as you tell the benefits agancy that you are self employed they will cut the JSA.We really don't know very much about the "system" and are confused by tax credits. We are terrified that money will stop coming in. We are managing (just) and not getting in to debt but really just holding on by a thread. He really needs to work, he is getting depressed at home.

GettingStraight_3

I really do feel for you as I am in exactly the same situation. In November last year I was earning a very respectable salary and had no financial worries at all. I've also been told I am over qualified for several jobs I have applied for, along with a very long list of what seem like poor excuses as to why I can't be put forward for others. It's beyond frustrating...