Help Please, Self Employment but low income, can I claim housing benefit?

nightskys

catz1ct wrote: »

Please don't assume the job centre will pass on information to the council for Housing Benefit because they rarely do!

That's pretty much what I thought in the first place really. Every time I have been and spoken the Jobcentre about housing benefit, they have told me to go to the council. Although I imaged that if you signed off they would suspend your housing benefit claim.

Still not really getting my head around quite what happens to be honest. I don't really understand what happens with housing benefit if you rapid reclaim.

allen35

Check with your adviser on incentives for self employment, i was aware of a scheme where you could access £80 per for at least 13 weeks to help with the transition.

Check with local employment agencies/charities for grants to set up a business

If you can get regular work you may qualify for tax credits (30 hours per week, less if disabled for at least 5 weeks) if 25 plus and not disabled

If you decide to sign off and the work will last at least 5 weeks you should be entitled to £100 job grant and 4-5 weeks entitlement to your housing/council tax benefit.

This would be once as you have to be unemployed for 26 weeks.

Just a few other options to think about

good luck

nightskys

allen35 can you remember if the scheme was new enterprise allowance or called something else? I already know I am not eligible to go on to NEA (tried once already for something else).

I wonder how long the work has to last to apply for tax credits?

I have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks. I think the work I might be doing, if I got the second project would probably be just under 5 weeks, or maybe 5 weeks exactly. So I don't know if I would be entitled to a housing benefit run on or job grant if that is the case?

Thanks very much for suggesting other options and your wishes of good luck. They are very much appreciated