Self employed, tax credits, how long off before change of circumstances

kazzyb123

my partner is self employed and has been off for weeks. I read somewhere that after 8 weeks off we need to report a change of circumstances which I assume will put us onto universal credit.
Is this correct? If we are being asked to say home how can this be right? It means he has to return to work by 8 weeks (universal credit is a nightmare for self employed so don’t want to move over because of minimum income floor and I’m on ESA so we will loose a lot)
Is the 8 week thing correct please??
 Thanks 

Jeremy535897

The 8 weeks is correct as far as I am aware. I have seen suggestions that it may be extended to 22 weeks, but no evidence for that, so for the moment I think you will have to wait and see.

kazzyb123

Thanks for the reply. We are in week 6 now and I have health problems and a daughter at home so I really need him to stay at home. I’m not on the official shielding/vulnerable list though.

poppy12345

Lots of keyworkers have no choice to go to work, even when living with those that are shielding through receiving the NHS letter. If your husband is able to work then there's no reason why he can't providing he sticks to strict hygiene rules.

kazzyb123

I appreciate that key workers are still working. He also has the problem of getting materials for jobs, most building companies being closed, fewer people wanting people in their homes to have work done and not being able to safely social distance if he does go into work. It's not just about my health and the post wasn't intended to start a debate on whether people should be working or not, just advice about tax credits.

kazzyb123

I also have a daughter off school and can barely get out of bed!

Sweepy2013

Do you also receive child tax credit? Could you manage on those for a short time until work picks up again? Losing your working tax credit does not mean an automatic shift to Universal Credit if you already also claim Child Tax credit.

kazzyb123

Hi, yes we do get child tax credit and working tax credit, I assumed after the 8 weeks of not working this would mean change of circumstances which would mean we couldn’t claim WTC or CTC Oe ESA but would be moved to universal credit as my partner would be “looking for work”.
I hope you are right, maybe I’m worrying about nothing then

Percy1983

I am self employed and I am not giving up working tax credits to go on UC, I am not generating money but I am working with the scope of generating money buy building a new website etc so I am still working so there is nothing to report.