ESA to self employed

thrillhouse

I have been on ESA for around 4 years (Support Group) for a severe genetic condition and also receive PIP, both awards at enhanced rate. I want to go down the self employment rate because I want to build a better life for myself - for the past several years as a coping mechanism I've been drawing and painting, in particular animals, and I have developed a considerable following on social media. Recently I have been creating pet portraits, unpaid for friends and family members, purely for my love of it, and now my hobby has surged in online presence and word of mouth around my area and I am getting requests daily and offers of money.

I have my physical limitations, I can't do it for more than 2-4 hours per day and even that requires a lot of rest due to the nature of my disability. I really would like to take up the offers I've been receiving and I guess it's the limitations of income based ESA that I haven't. It would however be a dream to do it professionally.

I understand that there is permitted work, but I would also like to be able to have more than 6k in capital and this is giving my mind the shove to ditch ESA, although ESA has really proved to be an invaluable source of help and ridding myself of that support is a daunting thought in the back of my mind.

I've looked at working tax credits and done some math in regards to proposed income (worst case scenario, best, and somewhere in the middle) and planning and I may in fact receive the exact same amount, if not a little bit more in tax credits than ESA, especially if I choose to do more than the requirements for permitted work, and also I am free to have savings and also earn from doing what I love.

I guess it's a no brainer but I'm stuck as where to go from here. Do I just tell DWP I no longer wish to be on ESA? Can I register self employed and claim WTC straight away? My area has been one of the very last to move to Universal Credit (two months ago) but the website is saying I'll need to apply for WTC, not UC. Is there anything else I need to know, any advice or anyone who's been in a similar situation?
Thank you for any help

poppy12345

thrillhouse wrote: »

My area has been one of the very last to move to Universal Credit (two months ago) but the website is saying I'll need to apply for WTC, not UC. Is there anything else I need to know, any advice or anyone who's been in a similar situation?
Thank you for any help

The website is wrong. If your area is a full UC are you won't be able to claim tax credits unless you already have an active claim (child tax credits) Check your area here. http://ucpostcode.entitledto.co.uk/ucdate