WTC and single self-employed artist?

Voyager2002

Any advice for my daughter please?

She has just graduated in Fine Art and has sold a painting (for five hundred pounds) so can presumably argue that she has now established a business as a self-employed artist. Her plan now is to concentrate on oil-painting and live on what she can sell. Would she be eligible for WTC? Given that she has no dependents, would she receive anything approaching a living income?

Thank you in advance for any helpful comments.

PasturesNew

Part of WTC is age-dependent.
Single, no kids, age 25 or above.
https://www.gov.uk/working-tax-credit/eligibility

Voyager2002

Sadly, she is under age (22) and as a recent graduate is not eligible for assistance from the Princes Trust either. Anyway, thank you again for the useful links.

BigAunty

I've seen disputes on whether or not artists, such as writers and painters, are eligible for WTC. It hinges on the requirement for WTC to be performing work in the expectation of payment, not just the hope of it. This is to prevent people undertaking activities that are speculative in nature and that carry the risk that they remain unpaid for their output.

Hopefully you will be able to do more research on that concept and how WTC works for those in a creative field. I believe a busker successfully challenged WTC withdrawal on the grounds that they were showcasing their talent for paid gigs, for example.

nannytone_2

she could always dign on for JSA and look for employment and paint in her spare time until she gains a reputation

Voyager2002

nannytone wrote: »

she could always dign on for JSA and look for employment and paint in her spare time until she gains a reputation

Yes, but I think the way in which Jobcentre staff 'encourage' claimants to find work, and the general shaming nature of the whole procedure, would make her have a nervous breakdown well before the first payment was made. So signing on is not really an option.

nannytone_2

thats fine but in return she has to accept that the onl;y money she has is the money she earns

FBaby

Yes, but I think the way in which Jobcentre staff 'encourage' claimants to find work, and the general shaming nature of the whole procedure, would make her have a nervous breakdown well before the first payment was made. So signing on is not really an option.

Oh dear, if that would lead her to have a nervous breakdown, is she really cut out to take on being a self employed artist? She will be left to feel worthless on many occasions before she is likely to get a break inthe industry.