Self employed - op next month, help!

Buttoon

No clue whether I'm posting in the right place or if anyone can help?

Anyways, I am SO stressed out - not sure what to do! I am self employed, have been for years. Been paying my national insurance. I'm having an operation next month where I may be told not to work for up to 12 months so I've tried to find out if I can get some kind of help. Well - after two weeks of various phone calls and two visits - CAB and then the Job Centre today, I STILL have no clue if I'll receive any help? I am majorly panicking here. I am a single Mum and in receipt of working tax credits, child tax credits and a housing benefit top up. I've been told by tax credits people that if I'm not awarded with ESA whilst off sick, then I won't get any tax credits either??
CAB told me last week that they "think" I need to apply for Universal Credit. So I went home and spent 2 hours doing this, even though I wasn't sure if I was supposed to. I then had to make an appointment with Job Centre which I had today. I thought I'd be told today if I'd get help but - no!!!! At the start I said I wasn't even sure if I should be applying for Universal credit and whether it should be ESA and he said they didn't do ESA any more....but I've just been on line and it says self employed people should apply for ESA if off sick?? Person I saw just put more of my details on system and that was it. I asked if I'd receive any help "of course you will, yes.....oh no wait - you're self employed so I'm not sure as it's different" So how do I find out so I can stop panicking?

So - I have now come home and still have no clue. I am super stressed about it all. Job centre booked me in for another appointment next week and i've looked on my journal on the UC website and it says the appointment is a "commitments" one where I tell the lady what sort of jobs I'm looking for!?? I'm not looking for a job, I have a self employed one but I'm not able to work in about 3 weeks time! arghhh

I am in tears as so stressed about it all. I don't get why no one can tell me what's going on?? I'm stressed enough about having a major op, let along finances for my child and me :'(

Please, can anyone help or has been in a similar situation to me??

jobbingmusician

Poor you! I can well believe that our benefits system is that rubbish, so that no-one knows what they are doing.

I'd suggest moving this to the benefits board (which I can do for you) but actually the folk on here can be really great and come up with deep wells of knowledge, so if you're OK with it I'll leave the post here for a day or two and then move it if you haven't had any knowledgeable answers. I'm just sorry I don't have the expertise to help

Buttoon

Thank you so much!! Yes, please move it if you think it'd help. Apologies as I have been on here a while trying to work out where I should post.

I'm super tearful because I don't understand why no one will give me an answer? I feel sick I'm so stressed about it all

sangie595

I'd suggest you move it. Or post there as well. We do have some self employed people around here who may be able to help, but most of us are better at employment rights rather than benefits. I'm sure that there will be some form of support, but best ask the experts on the other board.

Buttoon

Thanks, if someone is able to move this for me then I'd be very grateful. And again, apologies I posted in the wrong place

Brynsam

Have you tried turn2us.org.uk?

Buttoon

I have yes, thanks. I've tried so many different people now. I've applied for Universal Credit, I've given them all the info that they require....but I haven't been told what help I'm getting? I know that child tax credit I'll get - but will be called something else. But my daughter and me cannot live off of this for the time that I am unable to work.

[Deleted User]

I'm afraid once you apply for universal credit you're stuck on it. You can't go back to tax credits.

Buttoon

I had a feeling that would be the case, but I was told to apply

Buttoon

So had yet another awful night last night due to me being so stressed and worried. Was still awake at midnight, sobbing so much as I think it's just the stress of it. Making my chest hurt!! I'm super panicking and don't understand why it's so hard to get a straight answer
Someone on the phone, and the chap at the Job Centre mentioned that it takes 5 weeks to receive a payment when starting up. But that I can apply for an advance payment which I can then choose to pay off over time. Which has also had me thinking - will that mean that they don't backdate payments then? If so, that's 5weeks with nothing and I have zero savings. Feel like I'm going to have a breakdown over this, and all because I need a big op. I have a chronic illness so in pain all the time - I'm starting to think I'd rather not have this op and continue living in lots of pain!!!!

Xbigman

A lot more information will be needed.

Have you stopped working already?
Do you have a doctors note saying you are too ill to work?
Will you have Doctors notes covering the whole of the expected 12 months or is that advisory?
Do you have any unpaid invoices from you self employment still to come in?

I agree with others that this should be moved to the benefits board ASAP.


Darren