Claiming JSA after being on NEA question

lamialex

Hello,

My NEA is coming to an end. It was working well for my business in the first 5 months but last month has been dead, that's the problem of my industry, business is very slow in the winter and I'm now really struggling to find work cause I'm very new in this industry, not enough clients yet.

I'm not sure whether I should go back on JSA to help me go through the winter so that in the spring I can stop JSA and go back to my business or if I should just stay self-employed through the winter even though i will have no sales. Would I be able to get Housing Benefits even without JSA?

I just gave the housing benefits office a Housing Benefits Reassessment form for my first 6 months in the business, I said I was expecting same figures for the next 6 months so they stopped my housing benefits but if in 6 months time I made way less than expected can I refill a form for that period? Or should I tell them now I'm expecting less?

Or is it easier to just go back on JSA although to be honest I'd rather avoid that and stay self employed so wondering what help can self employed get during the months their business is not doing well.

Thanks.

rhapsody_princess

Hello,

I have been in the exact situation s yourself and have successfully claimed JSA (cont) after 6 months of trading and my NEA ending.

I have explained to job centre that my business too is seasonal and i have ceased trading as i have no bookings but am looking back to start up after the Christmas season hopefully.

I still obviously search for jobs and be available to work asap should someone take me on, however i will be truthful and state i am going back to business after Christmas (hopefully)

I too applied for housing benefit which is tied into the JSA application and seemed to start the same time as my JSA

Hope this helps

lamialex

That is indeed the exact same situation :-)
Thanks!
Looks like I should claim JSA and do the same as you, look for other work but also go back to my business in the new year.