Big Problem, don't know where to turn!

Wishfairy2010

I am self employed on a very low income (making and selling handcrafted items). My partner has just moved in and, as always, I stick to the rules and notify tax credits.

They say I must set up a fresh claim which can take around 5 weeks to make a payment (obviously backdated), and my current claim ends immed.

So... I have no income from my job as sales have dropped off given the current economic climate, I receive £33 child benefit a week, no maintenance payments from my ex and no other income as my partner is unemployed and unable to claim jobseekers due to my being self employed!

I really don't want to give up being self employed as I've worked so hard to build it up and feel that if I can keep plodding on with it I will eventually make a living but there is absolutley no way I will be able to support us all on child benefit alone, even just for a few weeks.

I can't get anything from the social fund as I don't receive income support.

I'm sat shaking with fear now as to how we can cope. It was going to be hard enough with partner moving in and my paying his credit card debts, we've oil heating which I daren't put on, my housing benefit has been lowered 2 years in a row leaving me to make up £96 a month in rent... I don't know what to do. How can I even feed us on that, never mind pay the £15 electric a week???

Please help, if you can think of anyone I can contact - tried citizens advice but they aren't answering (and cost 5p per minute).

Wishfairy2010

Well I managed to get through to CAB and they think I might be £60+ better off if I give up being self employed and claim jobseekers. I'm gutted as I love what I do and had such big plans for the next year. I don't hold out much hope of finding a job either as I have been looking, while running my business, just for anything to support the business until it gets going.

Have an appointment to talk in more detail with them tomorrow but it looks like I'll be officially unemployed and bringing in more money - how does that encourage enterprise?

Killmark

try applying for a crisis loan

Oldernotwiser

Wishfairy2010 wrote: »

I am self employed on a very low income (making and selling handcrafted items). My partner has just moved in and, as always, I stick to the rules and notify tax credits.

They say I must set up a fresh claim which can take around 5 weeks to make a payment (obviously backdated), and my current claim ends immed.

So... I have no income from my job as sales have dropped off given the current economic climate, I receive £33 child benefit a week, no maintenance payments from my ex and no other income as my partner is unemployed and unable to claim jobseekers due to my being self employed!

I really don't want to give up being self employed as I've worked so hard to build it up and feel that if I can keep plodding on with it I will eventually make a living but there is absolutley no way I will be able to support us all on child benefit alone, even just for a few weeks.

I can't get anything from the social fund as I don't receive income support.

I'm sat shaking with fear now as to how we can cope. It was going to be hard enough with partner moving in and my paying his credit card debts, we've oil heating which I daren't put on, my housing benefit has been lowered 2 years in a row leaving me to make up £96 a month in rent... I don't know what to do. How can I even feed us on that, never mind pay the £15 electric a week???

Please help, if you can think of anyone I can contact - tried citizens advice but they aren't answering (and cost 5p per minute).

Why on earth are you paying off his credit card debts?

Why don't you make a joint claim for JSA?

skintandscared_2

Can't you carry on making your handcrafted items in your spare time, around job seeking, so you have plenty of stock ready to sell part-time - maybe at weekend craft fairs or something? You don't have to give it up - just do it around a job that pays the bills for a while. And your partner needs to get a job! Why is your ex not paying maintenance?

BigAunty

If you haven't yet paid off your partner's credit card loan, go to the Debt free wanabee board for advice on how to manage it.

You should not be going without heating and risking not paying your rent just to service a consumer debt.

Double check your entitlements on the Turn2us online benefit calculator. Consider applying for discretionary housing benefit. Download the MSE budget planner to get a full handle on your entire income and outgoings.

If your self-employment is not enough to move you towards self-sufficiency, then you should consider finding employment instead. How much are you earning versus your business plan - perhaps time to revisit your bp and update it?

Be aware that in a few years time under the proposed changes to the Universal Credit system, the self employed will be treated in terms of the threshold for receiving it, as if they are at least earning the National Minimum Wage. Therefore, if it's not achievable or realistic to earn the equivalent of at least 12k from your self employment within a few years, you may have to make changes to your circumstances then anyway.