Becoming a self employed artist with practically zero income

CloboTheHobo

Hi guys, I got into a sticky situation with family members and ended up being kicked out with no job a few months back. I've been living by myself for the past two months and I have no job and claim JSA.
Someone pointed out that I should be classed as self employed as I sometimes get art commissions and now I'm freaking out and I think I might get in trouble? I always saw it as a side hobby as I do my commissions on Deviantart and I sometimes barely get £20 a month from it. I've started a webcomic too a week ago but I have over 3k views and I've only earnt under $1 from that and you can't pull out any money unless you've earnt $25 so that's totally hopeless.

Recently I've started to think it'd be better for me to go self employed (and I think I have to now?) but I don't even know where to start? I mean, for starter's I need at least £160 a month to live on- that's my water, electric, phone bill, council tax and bedroom tax (that's with benefits too and without my food and other daily essentials). I mean, as I said, sometimes barely earn £20 a month, it's never been anything serious. I don't even have a website- I can't afford a website plus my laptop is so close to dying (cuts off when I do my digital art) and I have no spare money to get a new one. If I become self employed, I don't even know if I can even get any help and then... I'm also totally clueless about tax and that?
It's a path I'd prefer to go down but I just don't know how to get started and make sure it's successful, my coach on the job center as just waved it off.

SailorSam

When i was on Job Seekers i asked could i be a writer, the JC told me it was only a hobby and i should apply for 'proper' jobs. The same applies to you. Build up your hobby into something bigger while you work.

CloboTheHobo

thank you but if I'm making extra money off of it, then isn't it wrong?

SailorSam

Is it £5pw you can earn ? I forget now.

CloboTheHobo

I wasn't asking for sarcasm or attitude, I was asking for advice on getting started.
When I last asked the job center about if I earned any extra money outside of JSA, they said no matter how much I earnt, I'd have to register as self employed, hence why I'm here.

SailorSam

Not working or working less than 16 hours a week

To claim Jobseeker's Allowance, you must either not be working at all, or working less than 16 hours a week. If you are living with a partner and claiming income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, your partner must either not be working or working less than 24 hours a week. If you or your partner are working 16 hours or more, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit instead.
If you are working under 16 hours, or your partner is working under 24 hours, the amount of Jobseeker's Allowance you can get will depend on your earnings. If you earn too much, you will not be able to get contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance. You will also have to look for a full-time job as part of the conditions of getting Jobseeker's Allowance. Your partner may have to look for full-time work as well.

Spendless

You used to be able to earn £5 a week (more for single parents) before it affected JSA. Not sure if that's still the case or if you needed to declare it.

CloboTheHobo

That rings a bell, I'm sure my coach said something about coming in and declaring it but she didn't explain it so I'm really confused.

theoretica

The forms you need are here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/self-assessment-and-national-insurance-contributions-register-if-youre-a-self-employed-sole-trader-cwf1

It sounds like no tax will be due (but hassle and paperwork will be) and probably you will still be eligible for most or all of the job seeking allowance, so long as you continue to look for other employment.

I think that the system is due to change from April, and you will be able to earn £1000 a year without registering or tax. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/mar/21/sharing-economy-1000-tax-free-allowances-ebay-airbnb-micro-entrepreneurs

TELLIT01

You certainly do not have to become self-employed if all you are getting is occasional small payments. I think HMRC have rules now on minimum income to be classed as self employed.

CloboTheHobo

Something I was wondering is, is there anything I can claim outside of jsa if I was no longer eligible or wanted to register as self employed or is there someway or some sort of help that can help me get set up?