Can i work freelance on incapacity benefit

Ewok_MFW

Hello,

I am currently off work due to ill health and my SSP has run out so my employer is transferring me to incapacity benefit status.

They have offered to transfer my contract from been employed to working for them as a contractor in order for me to earn some money while at home - however this has huge set up costs for me financially and they cannot guarentee me work.

Am i right in thinking you are allowed to earn a small amount while claiming incapacity benefit?

If so my question would be - can i move over to incapacity benefit and still work as a freelancer for my current employer so long as i dont earn more than is allowed??

Would i be allowed to set up a LTD company in order to work from home while claiming IB?

I am currently too ill to hold down a full time job - or even part time - but by pacing myself correctly working from home - by doing 30 mins / restings / another 30min etc - i am capable of doing a fair bit at home

I am currently recieving treatment for my illness but in order to secure our house i need to bring in some more money from somewhere - i cant just wait till i am better as we would potentially lose the house - if i could claim IB and work from home then its a safe option. And should i be able to earn more than i am allowed then i assume i could just come off IB and carry on working from home?

Thanks for any advice.

veggyboy

EwokPD

Re read your post and think who is going to benifit out of this deal with your employer? Your employer more than you I think. If you become a contractor for them, they will never have to give you work again. Plus you will be responcible for your own sick pay etc and wilol have made your self unemployed.
Stop think about it and then tell your employer no thanks.

mealone

EwokPD wrote: »

Hello,

I am currently off work due to ill health and my SSP has run out so my employer is transferring me to incapacity benefit status.

They have offered to transfer my contract from been employed to working for them as a contractor in order for me to earn some money while at home - however this has huge set up costs for me financially and they cannot guarentee me work.

Am i right in thinking you are allowed to earn a small amount while claiming incapacity benefit?

If so my question would be - can i move over to incapacity benefit and still work as a freelancer for my current employer so long as i dont earn more than is allowed??

Would i be allowed to set up a LTD company in order to work from home while claiming IB?

I am currently too ill to hold down a full time job - or even part time - but by pacing myself correctly working from home - by doing 30 mins / restings / another 30min etc - i am capable of doing a fair bit at home

I am currently recieving treatment for my illness but in order to secure our house i need to bring in some more money from somewhere - i cant just wait till i am better as we would potentially lose the house - if i could claim IB and work from home then its a safe option. And should i be able to earn more than i am allowed then i assume i could just come off IB and carry on working from home?

Thanks for any advice.

IB dosnt exist anymore, not since last october and ESA (its replacement) is very different.

McKneff

I totally agree with veggyboy, they dont have to give you any work at all and they are looking after the company. I'm surprised you didnt see through it.

You could get 100% better and be on the dole within months man.
Stay employed - look after number one.

Ewok_MFW

Thanks for the suggestion so far - i dont think i made my question clear enough.

I know the contractor deals is not totally in my best interests and it isnt somthing i plan to follow due to a number of reasons currently.

My question really is when i get transferred to ESA / IB... is there an option for me to work as a freelancer anyway as i was told you are allowed to earn somthing when on ESA / IB assuming that i qualify for ESA in the first place.

McKneff

I think you would have to speak to an advisor at your benefits office. I think you may be right working on memory from my OHs IB but i dont know if the rules changed when ESA was introduced.

Jowo_2

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_171909

Ewok_MFW

Thanks for that - it appears i could potentially do half a day a week which might just make all the difference in keeping the house above my head.

I now have an appointment to talk to the CAB about this - thanks for all the suggestions.

First job now - actually get ESA! Now that could be a challenge!

HappySad

Jowo wrote: »

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/esa/DG_171909

From this above link it says that you can work if...
"work for less than 16 hours a week, on average, with earnings up to £92.00 a week if you are in the Support Group of the main phase of Employment and Support Allowance"

What is the Support Group of the main phase of Employment & Support Allowance?