Sickness benefits for self-employed

Ravelling

(I'm sorry if this has already been covered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it with a search.)

My husband has been self-employed for years and now, at the age of 61, is struggling with arthritis in his knees and an intermittent joint cyst that has put him on crutches a couple of times. This isn't ideal as his job involves crouching and climbing ladders.

I have a full-time job. Are there any benefits he can claim, which are not means-tested?
Many thanks.

Darksparkle

Has his doctor given him a fit note to say he cannot work?

If so he may be able to claim contributions based ESA if he has paid enough Class 2 NIC.

https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/overview

HappyMJ

If he's been paying national insurance contributions or has been credited with them he may be entitled to contributions based employment and support allowance.

He may be the only employee of a limited company he owns or he may be a sole trader. Both are considered self employed but one gives you the required national insurance contributions with statutory sick pay and one doesn't give you anything which is one big reason I would always set up a Ltd company to trade through.

He may be entitled to Personal Independence Payment if he qualifies.

Darksparkle

HappyMJ wrote: »

If he's been paying national insurance contributions or has been credited with them he may be entitled to contributions based employment and support allowance.

He may be the only employee of a limited company he owns or he may be a sole trader. Both are considered self employed but one gives you the required national insurance contributions with statutory sick pay and one doesn't give you anything which is one big reason I would always set up a Ltd company to trade through.

He may be entitled to Personal Independence Payment if he qualifies.

A director of a ltd company would pay class 1 NIC on a salary, the same as an employee. They wouldn't pay Class 2 and/or 4 that the self employed do.

If a director of a ltd company then the salary would need to be at least £112 per week to claim SSP.