UC Minimum income floor

salesman1979

I was claiming UC for a while after losing my job. I then went self employed and had a grace period where I wasn’t subject to the minimum income floor. This is now in place and has been fine. I haven’t had a UC payment in some time as I’m earning quite a bit above the MIF. 

I’ve recently had an accident and slipped off my ladder, I currently can’t get to work, I can’t even drive. When I next report my income it’s going to be zero but due to the MIF, I won’t get any money from UC. 

Is there any way around this? I’m surprised that sickness or inability to work can still allow them to give me nothing. I could be off work for a number of months. 

powerspowers

I think you need to let them know your change of circumstances and provide a fit note so you are claiming UC as currently unable to work and not eligible for SSP. 

calcotti

UC expects self employed people to set aside money to cover themselves for short periods of sickness as a result of minor illnesses.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1079323/admh4.pdf
see paragraph H4057

An accident which is not minor or injury does not meet this description and arguably you should therefore not currently be treated as gainfully self employed and therefore the MIF should not be applied. However you can’t start that discussion unless you first report the accident as a Change of Circumstances as supported by a Fit Note.

Much depends on how long you expect the problem will last.

Note however that if you not treated as gainfully self employed then you are, by default, a jobseeker and could be required to spend 35 hours/week looking for employment notwithstanding the Fit Note (it would be at the discretion of the Work Coach whether or not this requirement is turned off).

If your NI record is complete for 2019-20 and 2020-21 with either Class 1 or Class 2 contributions/credits then you could try applying for new style ESA (the Class 3 credits from UC will not help).

salesman1979

Thanks both. 

It has been 3 weeks and I still can’t walk unaided so it’s looking like I won’t be working anytime soon. 

It’s an old injury that I’ve previously had surgery for. Im now awaiting an MRI to see if surgery will be necessary again. Not looking good. 

Because of how I’m paid, this is the first week I’ve had no income. Luckily my last invoice got paid early and so has fallen just inside of my last assessment period.