Starting work after benefits

Darksparkle

First thing you’d be best checking with benefits is if you’re in UC area or not.

Diary

crescent678 wrote: »

I have been on esa and DLA for the past 3 years,I have come off esa and next week I become self employed walking dogs for various people in my area,I am charging £5 per hour and I will be working 30 hours per week,I want to know if I am entitled to any help as I stay in a council house and I won’t be able to afford full rent and council tax,am not sure how much help I will be able to get,

Many thanks for any info😀

I would strongly advise you to go down the permitted work route and remain on ESA for now. UC is causing untold problems. You need face to face benefits advise urgently especially as you appear to be earning far less than the minimum wage which will cause problems with UC or tax credits.

tomtom256

Are you still going to be claiming DLA? If so will dog walking effect this i.e. if you get high rate mobility?

fishybusiness

Add up your costs - so say you have insurance, and need specific clothing, lots of shoes and a waterproof coat, plus say a few dog drying towels etc.

Take that total and divide it my the number of hours you think you will work per year.

That will give you how per hour your business is costing you per hour.

National Living Wage is £7.50 and hour, add to that your costs.

The number you now have is what you should be charging your customers per hour.

It is tempting to start off with a low hourly rate, you'll kick yourself later on when your customers don't want to pay your increased rate - which you will undoubtedly have to do.

Also, people - your potential customers are working and have disposable income. Their value of money is different to yours as living on benefits changes the way people think about money. Small amounts of money to working folk seems like large amounts of money when on benefits.

Do some sums, raise your rates and best of luck with your business.

annandale

They haven't said they are on high rate mobility.

They've also come off esa.

BorisThomson

tomtom256 wrote: »

Are you still going to be claiming DLA? If so will dog walking effect this i.e. if you get high rate mobility?

Lower rate mobility also, unless the dogs are supervising!

crescent678

I missed out the part I am not on DLA anymore,I came off DLA at same time as esa