Steps Back into Work?

red937

Hi All

I’ve been in receipt of ESA for over 12 months, I haven’t got to have another assessment for 6 months. I live alone and I have a mortgage.

During this period I have been seeing a psychologist to help me combat my depression. Nine months down the line I’m feeling a lot better than I was. So much better that I want to take some tentative steps back into work.

I have always worked self employed doing landscaping / gardening jobs in the local community. I’ve always made just enough money to get by on.

Although I can survive on benefits, I want to get off them and back into work. I believe it will speed up my recovery, and improve my confidence / self esteem as well.

I want to set myself up as a one man band gardener / landscaper, sole trading, but I’m worried that if I can’t find enough work out there, I’ll be unable to support myself and have to go through the misery of making a new claim for benefits. I’m really not sure, in this present economic climate, if the work is still out there now for someone like me, offering this type of service.

From previous experience, I know that most new businesses need at least a couple of months to get up and running, and will probably show a loss during this stage.

So what I want to know: Is there a scheme (a safety net I suppose), whereby I can set the business up, and start to trade, obviously declare any earnings to the DWP, but still stay on ESA until I can see if the business is going to be viable? eg If the business works I can say goodbye to ESA, but if it fails I could still claim ESA until my next assessment.

Ideally, I’d like to have support for at least 3 months to see if the business is likely to work.

Is there a way forward for me or am I living in cuckoo land?


I’d appreciate any thoughts.