coming of IB to start up my own business

mikjayfay

I worked for 35yrs before being finished on ill health due to using heavy plant, I have been on Incapacity benefit now for around 5yrs... my health has improved BUT I still qualify for IB because I am deaf.

I have studied at University while on IB with support from the University re notetakers etc and now I feel I could start up my own business as a freelance artist with the help of WTC. (this would be much lighter work than previously) I have been trying to gather information re a start of business...but with my deafness I cannot use the telephone and I find it very hard to get anywhere by using mincom and typetalk (deaf phone and relay service).Being unable to hear is a nightmare because communications are so limited and hearing people have no understanding whatsoever.

To tell the truth, My fear is that by trying to work for myself the government will knock me off IB and I won't get WTC...if I was sure the WTC was there I would definately go for it... but as I get IB because of my disability its easier to stay as I am...but even then it is frightening because the Gov is making changes..?!
Any advice please?

concerned43

Well done for thinking of becoming self-emolyed - however there are a lot of pitfalls, you will not receive WTC until you are actually earning and it can take a while to get money in the door (clients are taking much longer to pay these days), therefore i would not come off IB until i was actually earning with money in the bank. I would also look to obtaining business advice before setting up the business - do you have a business plan for example, is there a market, lined up clients, know how much to charge etc?
Business link can help you through this maze, don't know how good they would be dealing with your disability though - it is a government organisation so i would expect them to pull out all the stops to be able to communicate with you.
Hope this helps.

mikjayfay

Thanks for that, I love the way you say its a government organisation and they will pull out all the stops... I am afraid it has been the opposite!
I have found them extremely hard to get through to and if I did they ummed and awed and then passed the baton to the next person or even kept me hanging on before telling me they could not help, i despair of having to talk to these people and that is what I will have to do a lot of... makes the IB much more tempting to stay on I'm afraid.

Savvy_Sue

I wonder if The Shaw Trust, Remploy or a Disability Adviser at the Job Centre could help you?

concerned43

Business link - I would put in a formal complaint if that's the case but savvysue has also given good advice. Don't let it put you off, some of the best businesses I have came across started with a £1 and built organically. Advertise your service and see what kind of response you get and take it from there.

vcrdesigns

First off, go to your local job centre and ask to book an appt to see their "self employment advisor"! Secondly, you are on incapacity benefit, you are entitled to do "permitted work" so long as you don't work more than 16hours per week and so long as you dont take more than £96 per week out of the business as a wage! Your benefits will be unaffected and you can do "permitted work" for 12 months before deciding whether it's for you or not! Go speak to an advisor! But make sure it's their self employment one, because his conversations are confidential and he will help support you in setting up your business and give you all of the latest and accurate information.

Please keep us updated on how you get on, as my partner is in a similar situation and I would be interested to see how you get on! Good Luck :-)