Self employment and benefits query?

johanne

My boyfriend has recently started his own business.. but after a few jobs last month he has found there is NOTHING lined up now... he usually works freelance for a driving agency.. but they have no work either.. hes applied for work within normal jobs to supplement his income and visits the jobcentre virtually daily looking for anything but so far no luck. He has no money left in the bank and his mortgage of nearly £500 is due out in 10 days... hes spoke to the mortgage company and they arent interested in giving him any lee-way. Totalling up the rest of his bills he needs to find nearly £1000 within the next month. Hes not claiming any money at all but im wondering if he would be entitled to anything being self employed??

Hes over 25 so would he be entitled to any tax credits?

Can he claim jobseekers as his SE work is at the moment less than 16 hours a week? Or can he get income support?

How about housing benefit/council tax benefit?

I cant help him out as i am unemployed at the moment too and have to reluctantly borrow £500 off my parents this month as ive maxed out my overdraft paying my rent and bills the last few months.. and my housing/council tax benefit claim hasnt been sorted yet after weeks of waiting so im in just as dire situation but at least my parents are able to bail me out this month.

Becles

You have to be working over 16 hours a week for tax credits, so the self employment wouldn't be enough to claim.

The 16 hours can be made up of a mix of self employment and PAYE employment though. Say if he was doing 8 hours a week self employment and 8 hours a week PAYE, he would qualify.

Sorry I can't help with anything else.

CIS

Remeber that S/E hours should include any of the hours he spends doing paperwork, chasing up suppliers, ordering stock etc etc - not just the hours actually working.