New Enterprise Allowance scheme - My story

Truegho

This sort of experience would put you off applying for the NEA scheme.

BigAl127 wrote: »

I asked my Jobcentre advisor on the 6th Dec 2102 about the NEA and she arranged a meeting with my mentor for the following week on the 13th. I met with my advisor, discussed my ideas and was subsequently enrolled onto a 7 week course starting January 2013.

The course I was on was SFEDI - Certificate in Creating and Starting Your Business. I had to attend 7 workshops with a Business Support Advisor. During the workshops we completed activities in a workbook, which we kept at the end of the course. After successfully completing the worksheets, we will achieve a Level 2 Qualification (equivalent to 5 O levels/GCSE, Grades A*-C) in Preparing to Run Your Own Business. The workshops ran 1 day per week from 9:30am - 4:30pm. Plus we had to complete over 100hrs of homework and further study. This enabled us to write our business plans.

As well as the course, I also had access to my mentor, if I had any problems along the way. Not that mine was of much use, but that's by the by.

On week 7, I handed my business plan to my mentor, and had a 15 minute meeting with him the following, where he approved me for the NEA scheme.

I then had 2 further meetings with my Jobcentre advisor. I was told in the first of these that I had 13 weeks in which to get my business up & running, which was by the 29th May 2013.

On the 2nd meeting on the 21st March, I signed my NEA 2 to start self employment on the 25th March. plus I rang the JSA Fast Closure team on the 21st to end my JSA from the 25th

Since then, I've not received a penny of my final JSA payment nor any NEA payments. Despite several phone calls by myself and promises of call backs, I took the bull by the horns today, visited the Jobcentre, to be told my JSA claim has been closed as of today and was given the phone no. for NEA Customer Helpline, who told me there's absolutely nothing on their system about my NEA.

So this is the 4th week of my self employment, and I am now waiting for a Senior Manager to ring me to sort out the mess created by someone else. I was given this advice by the NEA Helpline to refer it to a manager, as their concern is, my NEA won't get backdated.

I'm not trying to put anyone off, just prefer to forewarn people, there's some incapable people/systems working against you, in some areas. By the way, this is in Nottinghamshire.

BigAl127

It's certainly been an experience. As you can see from my earlier posts, you get conflicting advice from advisors regarding tax credits etc. It sometimes feels like you're having to do everything yourself.

Having said that, would I do it again. Too right I would, to give myself some self pride, to prove the doubters wrong and last but not least, I can say I've tried.

sun_shine_2

andyscott wrote: »

Are you looking to see if the advisor thinks you have a good idea before arranging to actualy meet with them?

Do you have a business plan?

Hi

I had my second interview at my JC with a PA, whilst chatting I mentioned my ideas and he introduced me to the NEA. We filled in a few forms which I also signed. He then made a phone call and arranged for me to have a telephone interview on the 22nd April.

I had never heard of this scheme or claimed JSA before so I have been doing some research, including how to write a Business Plan.

stevenmiller_2

BigAl127 wrote: »

It's certainly been an experience. As you can see from my earlier posts, you get conflicting advice from advisors regarding tax credits etc. It sometimes feels like you're having to do everything yourself.

Having said that, would I do it again. Too right I would, to give myself some self pride, to prove the doubters wrong and last but not least, I can say I've tried.

I understand your frustration, through what I have seen online and from my experience of trying to help out my NEA clients I have noticed a shortage of knowledge regarding NEA scheme through JC+ advisors.

With most if not all the business advisors that are taking part in this scheme, you have to remember that they don't have any knowledge in depth of the actual benefits system itself.

JC+ advisors should be your best bet for finding out about Tax Credits, Housing Benefit etc

stevenmiller_2

sun_shine wrote: »

Hi

I had my second interview at my JC with a PA, whilst chatting I mentioned my ideas and he introduced me to the NEA. We filled in a few forms which I also signed. He then made a phone call and arranged for me to have a telephone interview on the 22nd April.

I had never heard of this scheme or claimed JSA before so I have been doing some research, including how to write a Business Plan.

I am a business advisor, so if you need any help regarding your business plan or any more info on the NEA scheme just let me kow and I will do my best to help you.

Ziggy_Stardust

When is this self-assessment due in, do you enter it even if you make a loss?

Lady_strange

Ziggy_Stardust wrote: »

When is this self-assessment due in, do you enter it even if you make a loss?

Yes. As from what i was told, you can use the losses in the first few years to your advantage when you start making profit.

Ziggy_Stardust

Thanks, good to know as there's certainly no profits at the moment. As we are into a new tax year do we wait to be notified to send off our SA or can we just do? I'm sat here with my head about to implode looking at the booking and wondering where to start, fortunately there's only been 6 weeks since starting up. Can anyone recommend any easy to follow website which explain what to do, I've just downloaded an app to my mac called EasyBooks but I don't know where to start lol.

Lady_strange

Contact your local tax office, they run courses in book keeping etc.

Ziggy_Stardust

Thanks, I want to curl up and cry, I'm sure its pretty simple once I know how lol.