From benefits to self employment

BrandNewYear

I've been on ESA and DLA for about three years due to mental health problems. My Psychiatrist feels that in 6 months to a year I may finally be stable enough to begin working again.

Prior to my illness I had a nice career working in digital marketing industry.

My Psychiatrist says that one of the main problems is the unpredictability of my symptoms. The nature of my illness is such that symptoms (blacking out, no idea what is going, ranting and raving, having to be taken to A&E to be calmed down etc) can flare up at random. It makes it impossible to do a normal 9 to 5 job of any kind as you can't say to them, "Well I won't always be in a fit state to come into or stay in the office and I can't tell you in advance which days or weeks I'll be relatively normal and which days I'll be out of it." However, we've discussed the idea of me going self-employed and working from home, still within the digital marketing industry. I am so excited about the idea of being able to work again. However, my Psych thinks that realistically speaking I'd only be capable of working part-time to start with. That income would not be enough to pay my rent and support me. How does it all work with benefits? Do they offer any form of support for people who are trying to get off of benefits and into self-employment? I'm sure I read once that people could carry on claiming their housing benefit or ESA or something for the first few weeks or months while they make the transition into self employment? What about working tax credits? Can you still claim housing benefit while self employed and on a low income.

Obviously this is hypothetical as yet because my Psychiatrist said this is merely an idea to aim for in the future and I'm not stable enough yet. But the idea of going back to work is the first thing that has given me a sense of hope in years.

Anyone know if there is any support available for this type of thing?

mikey_bach

Yes its called permitted work
have a read of this
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_171909

rogerblack

The above material does not emphasise the importance of contacting them first.

You absolutely must do this, or it risks any work you do being counted as not permitted, and at worst disqualifying you from benefit, and resulting in you having to pay back money.

mikey_bach

I thought that, on IB it used to be, it had to go to DM for approval before permitted work could be started,
but it doesnt emphasise this on the link.
so still simlar rules