Job seekers and self employeed

rebeccalb

I've just started to receive job seekers allowance, but i moving into my first flat at the start of january, and i'm starting to worry about making ends meet.

I'm wondering though if I can run my own business and still get jsa if i work less than 16 hours a week?
I ran a small market stall on my year of, and was wondering if i could do this again, but still get jsa.

TIA

Caz3121

If you work less than 16 hours then you can still claim JSA however they will deduct all earnings above £5 per week from your JSA

Notmyrealname

But if you work above 30hrs, you'll get working tax credit....

midnight_express

Notmyrealname wrote: »

But if you work above 30hrs, you'll get working tax credit....

If you are 25 +.

rebeccalb

midnight_express wrote: »

If you are 25 +.

Thanks unfortunately I'm only 20, so can't claim working tax credits

rebeccalb

Caz3121 wrote: »

If you work less than 16 hours then you can still claim JSA however they will deduct all earnings above £5 per week from your JSA

thanks for the information

Notmyrealname

Be aware though that if they decide to investigate you, they'll look at all the hours you're doing. The thing is that although you may only have a market stall open for 6hrs on a Sunday, there is travel to and from it, loading and emptying the van/car, getting your stock from your suppliers, doing administration, visiting the bank to pay in your money. They are all counted as work and that could all easily rack up to over 16hrs and they'd shut your claim down.

Isn't it far easier just to try and make the best go of it that you can in the first place rather than doing it basing it on having bennies prop you up? You'd still get HB and CTB based on your profits regardless of how many hours you work.

Personally I'd ditch the JSA so you're not having to jump through their hoops which will still involve having to prove you're looking for work, go on any "training" they send you on, work experience etc the same as any other claimant regardless of the fact you have a business and which will impact on your business, especially if you end up forced onto a new deal thing at 30hrs a week.