Giving up on self employment - job seeking - any benefits?

joolsybools

Hi All,

I've been self employed for almost 2 years, not making very much but happy doing it. I was last fully employed in Sept 10. I've recently moved to a different part of the country and unfortunately there just isn't a big enough market for what I do so I cannot make much money at all. I am therefore going to de-register as self employed, I have already started a job search.

My question is, am I likely to be entitled to any benefits at all until I find work? We are really struggling at the moment, my partner is also self-employed but we are literally only pulling in just about enough to pay the bills, eat and service the debts.

I have been paying class 2 NIs but not class 3, so I am probably down on my stamp (I can ask for a statement about this). Does anyone know if my entitlement to help would be any different if I topped up voluntarily? I'm not sure this would be a realistic option, but is it worth bearing in mind?

Thanks in advance.

Caz3121

Contribution based JSA is currently based on class 1 NI paid between Apr 09/10 and pr 10/11 so it looks like you wont qualify (you cannot top up class 1 contributions)
This leaves Income Based JSA. If your partner works over 24 hours and/or earns over £111 per week this probably rules this out too.
Do you currently claim tax credits or housing benefit, these may increase with a reduced household income

joolsybools

Caz3121 wrote: »

Contribution based JSA is currently based on class 1 NI paid between Apr 09/10 and pr 10/11 so it looks like you wont qualify (you cannot top up class 1 contributions)
This leaves Income Based JSA. If your partner works over 24 hours and/or earns over £111 per week this probably rules this out too.
Do you currently claim tax credits or housing benefit, these may increase with a reduced household income

Thanks, I thought as much re JSA. I don't claim tax credits or HB, do you think I might have a chance? I don't have kids, I thought TCs were only for people with kids?

Caz3121

There are working tax credits - for a couple (your partner would need to claim this) the cutoff is round £18k.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-no-child.htm

joolsybools

Thanks for your help.