Self employed but broke arm!

impecunious

I took the decision to go self-employed a few months ago, but I have yet to earn any money. I very nearly finished all I had to do to begin when I got knocked off my motorbike from behind in a hit and run! :mad:

My wife is currently self-employed also but is at the 20-week stage of pregnacy and is having to curtail her work.

I have just been to see my GP and have been given a sick note - is it worth attempting to claim any benefits?

Conor_3

Yes. You should put in for incapacity benefit as you can't claim SSP. Also try income support as well.

NAF_3

Had you been working before going self-employed?

If you had been working for a few years before becoming self-employed then there is a decent chance you will be entitled to Incapacity Benefit but be warned that it is unlikely to be much more than £60.

Also make a claim to Income Support but your wifes income will be taken into account as will Working Tax Credit if you have claimed that. Income Support will also look into your Self-Employment but as you have only been going a few months that is unlikely to hold your claim back.

If you can say - how much does your wife earn through her S/E?

impecunious

My wife earns over £500 pw - cash. But in her profession of being a registered childminder, working from home, only a third is acutually classed as income. Even for tax & NI purposes, she is exempt as, basically, the vast majority of our household expenditure is offset. Before anyone jumps in, I must point out that from 7am - 6pm Mon-Fri our home is given over to upto 15 kids who try to wreck havoc. Peace, believe you me, is a rare commodity where we live.

Paul_Varjak

Did you register with HMRC as being self-employed? If so, you have made NI contributions (unless you claimed exemption on the basis of low earnings).

NI contributions are as little as £2.20p week and protect your state pension and entitlement to Incapacity Benefit.

If you have not made NI contributions (and not claimed exemption from paying them) I suspect you could be in some difficulty; not only with getting benefits but also with the HMRC for failing to pay NI contributions.