SELF EMPLOYED/sick but don't know my rights

rubbishwithmoney81

Hi,

I have been recently diagnosed with severe depression and I am self employed. I have carried on working for the 6months I have had it but as you can imagine my depression has snowballed as I am unable to take a break without loosing money. Now it has got to the point where the doctor has asked me to take some time off work to ensure recovery. Problem is I wont get paid and can't afford to pay my bills and rent. I am terrified, its a real catch 22. I teach so I have 2months off in the summer but that is also unpaid. I feel totally trapped by being self employed and perhaps my depression would not have gotten so bad had I been able to take time off when I needed it. I am struggling so much financially and usually have just £50-£100 desposable income each month if that.

Does anyone have any advice that would be useful for me. I need to call CAB too and see them.

Thank you

jasperlil

Hi Im sorry you are not feeling well and understand how hard it is being selfemployed. I am selfemployed and had to take 9-10 wks off last year for an operation. I was able to claim ESA contribution based for this time. Do not know a lot about claiming benefits but found this site very helpful last year so no doubt someone hopefully will be along soon to help.

Wishing you all the best

NASA_2

Have you been paying you NIC's as self-employed? Then you should be entitled to ESA(C). If you havent then there is a chance you will still qualify under the means tested part of the benefit though they might look to establish a pattern of work etc.

hippy-chicy

Contact the DWP right away to see if you can claim Employment and Support Allowance as NASA and others have said.
Secondly contact your local authority and and make a claim for Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit. Do this tomorrow as (in most circumstances) any entitlement will be awarded from the Monday following the date you claimed so in effect if you claim tomorrow - any benefit will go from the 14th June. If you leave it till Monday to claim any benefit entitlement will be awarded from the 21st June. So you need to claim now so that you do not loose out.

Come back when you have done this and let us know how you get on
Good luck

hippy-chicy

Oh and another thing thats is often over looked. If you can show that you could afford your rent before you claimed HB and have not claimed HB in the last 52 weeks you may be eligible for something called the 13 week protection. This is when we will assess your HB entitlement using your actual rental libility rather than the LHA rate applicable to your circumstances. The HB dept will need evidence of this often a letter from your landlord confirming you have no arrears or bank statements showing rent payments being made will be sufficient. So ask about this when you make your claim This can often make a big difference and can give you a bit of breathing space not having to worry about any shortfalls ( assuming you were entitled to the full amount.) After the 13 weeks are up if you are still claiming you would be re-assessed using the LHA rate applicable to you.