New Enterprise Initiative & WTC

justanothercupps

I’m struggling to find out information about the New Enterprise Initiative,I’m a lone parent currently receiving Income Support but am being urged by the advisor at the job centre to go for self employment. My son isn’t five yet or started school so still has only 15 hours in nursery.

According to the jobcentre advisor I could be referred to New Enterprise if I started up a dog walking business or say in I started selling Usborne Books. Then she said I would be also eligible for working tax credits as a top up. Im really confused though because I’m not sure what businesses are eligible on New Enterprise and would Usborne be ok as technically speaking you work under the umbrella of an organisation?

I also am hearing some bad things about working tax credits and the self employed where some are now being asked to retrospectively prove their eligibility for them. I’ve heard childminders and other self employed people are asked now for a lot of evidence to prove they deserved the tax credits.

So would dog walking and a Usborne Books really be suitable for working tax credits? I’d be grateful for any advice given as the jobcentre seem to not really know or care. My feeling is that I’d love to be free off benefits but self employment takes a long time to really be profitable so I really need to know if I could claim WTC while it gets going. I have zero support and a young child so don’t want to get into trouble! Self employment appeals to me because I could fit my work around my son but if it isn’t viable then I’d go for a part time job when he starts school.