Want to be self employed but worried about losing benefits

SallySunshine

Wonder if anyone can help .
Got a friend who is unemployed at the moment, he gets his council flat rent and council tax paid.

He desperately wants to work for himself doing outdoor-type work. Dry stone walling/ log cutting and gardening etc.

He's sold his car and bought a van and is looking at equipment at the moment.
I should imagine he won't make a lot of money in the first year etc until he gets more well known for this type of work, although he has qualifications in the above work, He was a HGV driver but now is unable to continue because of diabetes being diagnosed.


Any help would be appreciated.

EllaBeagle

If he speaks to the jobcentre about wanting to become self employed they usually help by putting you in touch with other people for funding/advice etc and then when your friend starts trading he will still get his benefits but any profit he makes needs to be kept locked in his business account and prove that he is only using any money from it for tools etc. Once the jobcentre see he is making enough money to live on thats when they end the benefits.

They won´t suddenly stop his benefits and send him on his way.

Hope this helps. Tell him not to be scared of speaking to them as theres quite alot they do to help. If he´s claiming for his illness they can also put him touch with a company called sencia who support people with illnesses set up in business and help them with funding.

SailorSam

Being Self Employed | Benefits
Artquest / How to... / Make a living / How to claim benefits / Benefits for self employed people