benefits and streaming

sazrun

hello, 
Im currently signed off work after completing a health assessment with DWP, and them stating im not safe for work currently due to my mental health as it is deemed a risk. 
Up until this point i have Streamed games as it is an outlet to me for my mental health and doesnt involve going outside which is a factor into the mental health issues. i havent streamed due to my mental being bad in a month or so, but i have just thought, as i am signed off does this mean i shouldnt stream also? I dont make much money from it (its classed in tax as self employed but i do not earn near enough to have to hit tax for any earnings i may make if any) 

i love streaming and is a great outlet for me to get away from my issues but i now dont know if i can and im scared to ask DWP. 
any advice would be very helpful 

thank you

calcotti

I don’t understand the concept of being self employed by streaming games (which is probably something to do with my age).
You don’t say what benefit you are claiming but assuming it is Universal Credit you should inform them if you are self employed and every month you will be required to report all of you business income and expenditure and any surplus will be taken into account as earnings. If the nature of you work contradicts your health assessment you may be reassessed.
if you do not declare your earnings you are committing benefit fraud.

Spoonie_Turtle

sazrun said:

hello, 
Im currently signed off work after completing a health assessment with DWP, and them stating im not safe for work currently due to my mental health as it is deemed a risk. 
Up until this point i have Streamed games as it is an outlet to me for my mental health and doesnt involve going outside which is a factor into the mental health issues. i havent streamed due to my mental being bad in a month or so, but i have just thought, as i am signed off does this mean i shouldnt stream also? I dont make much money from it (its classed in tax as self employed but i do not earn near enough to have to hit tax for any earnings i may make if any) 

i love streaming and is a great outlet for me to get away from my issues but i now dont know if i can and im scared to ask DWP. 
any advice would be very helpful 

thank you

Did you mention the streaming at any point on the form or during your assessment? I don't know exactly what you mean by streaming games but I would think it's unlikely to contradict being a risk if found fit for work, but it depends on what exactly their reasoning was. If you mentioned it at any point on your form or during the assessment then that side of it should be fine.

However as calcotti says you do need to declare any income if you are claiming means-tested benefits. If you're claiming purely contribution-based or new-style ESA I think the lower threshold is £20 per week before you need to declare it (but would have to check to confirm).

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sazrun said:

hello, 
Im currently signed off work after completing a health assessment with DWP, and them stating im not safe for work currently due to my mental health as it is deemed a risk. 
Up until this point i have Streamed games as it is an outlet to me for my mental health and doesnt involve going outside which is a factor into the mental health issues. i havent streamed due to my mental being bad in a month or so, but i have just thought, as i am signed off does this mean i shouldnt stream also? I dont make much money from it (its classed in tax as self employed but i do not earn near enough to have to hit tax for any earnings i may make if any) 

i love streaming and is a great outlet for me to get away from my issues but i now dont know if i can and im scared to ask DWP. 
any advice would be very helpful 

thank you

 If you're claiming purely contribution-based or new-style ESA I think the lower threshold is £20 per week before you need to declare it (but would have to check to confirm).

If it's ESA they are claiming and it's their claim, not a partners claim then the lower earnings limit doesn't apply here. Permitted work for ESA the earnings limit is £140 per week after deductions, working less than 16 hours per week. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Permitted-Work-Rules

elsien

For those interested, it usually means playing the game yourself then making money from subscribers when you put the recording or live stream out on youtube or whichever platform for others to watch.
I remember hearing something on the radio last week that someone is making money by streaming himself doing jigsaws and talking people through the process. Seems odd to me as well, but this person seemed to be making a decent amount. 

_TinRibs_

Pew Die Pie, the Swedish streamer (look him up, I cant post links) has earned about £30 million. 

sazrun

yes im on universal credit. My streaming is declared to them as its classed as being self empolyed. i am on Lcwra, mainly due to my mental health based on suicidal tendincies and stuggling to go outside alone, meaning need someone around with me. I havnt streamed in a while but have been wanting to get back to it for a while but no clue on if i should currently due to being signed off by UC

sazrun

poppy12345 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

sazrun said:

hello, 
Im currently signed off work after completing a health assessment with DWP, and them stating im not safe for work currently due to my mental health as it is deemed a risk. 
Up until this point i have Streamed games as it is an outlet to me for my mental health and doesnt involve going outside which is a factor into the mental health issues. i havent streamed due to my mental being bad in a month or so, but i have just thought, as i am signed off does this mean i shouldnt stream also? I dont make much money from it (its classed in tax as self employed but i do not earn near enough to have to hit tax for any earnings i may make if any) 

i love streaming and is a great outlet for me to get away from my issues but i now dont know if i can and im scared to ask DWP. 
any advice would be very helpful 

thank you

 If you're claiming purely contribution-based or new-style ESA I think the lower threshold is £20 per week before you need to declare it (but would have to check to confirm).

If it's ESA they are claiming and it's their claim, not a partners claim then the lower earnings limit doesn't apply here. Permitted work for ESA the earnings limit is £140 per week after deductions, working less than 16 hours per week. https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Permitted-Work-Rules

Im on Lcwra which is through universal credit so i believe its different to esa

Spoonie_Turtle

sazrun said:

yes im on universal credit. My streaming is declared to them as its classed as being self empolyed. i am on Lcwra, mainly due to my mental health based on suicidal tendincies and stuggling to go outside alone, meaning need someone around with me. I havnt streamed in a while but have been wanting to get back to it for a while but no clue on if i should currently due to being signed off by UC

In that case you should be fine as long as you declare what you earn. You will have the work alowance so they will ignore the first £292 bedore deducting anything if you receive help with housing costs, or the first £512 if you don't have help with rent.

@elsien thanks for that explanation!

Edit: OP just to clarify terminology, you claim (or are 'on') UC, with the LCWRA element