Becoming self employed whilst claiming Jobseeker's Allowance

[TrojanSkin]

I'm looking at becoming self-employed. I am currently claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, but don't want to sign off until I have money coming in. Does anyone know whether researching and preparing to become self employed can count as part of my three hours a day job search. I am wanting to become self employed as there is hardly anything to apply for! I am not able to fill my three hours a day. I have a date set for becoming self employed (April - easy to remember!) and obviously there is much to do. As far as I am concerned, preparing for this is looking for work, as I am looking for clients and customers, and going to become employed (albeit for myself) in April. I'm just not sure whether the Jobcentre will see it this way.

 

[Podge]

What sort of self employment were you thinking of?

As far as I'm aware as long as you are available for and actively seeking work then your job seekers will be paid.

Can you not fulfill your job seekers agreement and set plans in motion for self employment ?

 

[TrojanSkin]

Thanks for replying. I'm looking at setting up as a sole trader doing PC repair. I'm finding it hard to fill three hours job search a day. The jobs I can do just aren't there in my area to go for. It's pointless looking at the same sites day after day - takes a few seconds on each one to see if there's anything new. To be fair I AM actively searching, as if I can find a good full time position I probably wouldn't bother going self-employed in the first place. I've only been unemployed since Christmas. I get so many requests for PC help from friends and friends of friends that I think I could probably get by on it, and hopefully expand. I don't have a recognised qualification though, and my area is full of IT people already, so jobs just don't come up for unqualified self taught people such as myself. I've been doing temporary driving work for too long now!

 

[Podge]

I've been looking for work for two years after a four year period of illness, also being sixty you can imagine how my CV must look to prospective employers. However I've just been offered a job which I start in a couple of weeks so don't give up on looking for work, you never know.

If you stay on jobseekers for long enough you may qualify for some free IT training courses.

Just out of interest how do they check you have been searching for three hours a day?

I'm not saying you need the training but a certificate is never a bad thing to have.

 

[ScotComp]

Good luck with your new business, I used to own a PC repair company a few years ago for the local area and it was an utter nightmare! It might be an idea to look into Business IT support if you've got the experience, they've got more money to spend and they aren't so demanding.

 

[Dawn Lane]

I'm looking at becoming self-employed. I am currently claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, but don't want to sign off until I have money coming in. Does anyone know whether researching and preparing to become self employed can count as part of my three hours a day job search. I am wanting to become self employed as there is hardly anything to apply for! I am not able to fill my three hours a day. I have a date set for becoming self employed (April - easy to remember!) and obviously there is much to do. As far as I am concerned, preparing for this is looking for work, as I am looking for clients and customers, and going to become employed (albeit for myself) in April. I'm just not sure whether the Jobcentre will see it this way.

Talk to the Jobcentre about New Enterprise Allowance. It's aim is to help people off JSA and into self-employment.

Dawn

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

Have you asked the job centre about the New Enterprise Allowance scheme?

 

[TrojanSkin]

They check by asking you to keep a written record of what you did in that three hours every day. If they think it's insufficient, they can suspend your benefits.

As for their IT training, the last course they sent me on a few years ago was trying to teach me Windows 98 when I was using a pre-release Windows 7!

I don't have much networking experience for business IT support, but will look into seeing if any friends do.

I've only been claiming since Christmas, so I don't think I'll be eligible for the New Enterprise Allowance, but I'll definitely check. I have a feeling it has to be six months.

I just can't afford to study for qualifications, and definitely can't afford to have my benefits stopped before I'm up and running!

 

[Garage Runners]

Are you serious?
You can be eligible for JSA whilst being self employed?

I'm watching with great interest as I set up a company about a year ago but haven't been claiming thinking I wouldn't be eligible.
This would be a great help towards my living costs and leaves my profits to go into the company if so

 

[mhall]

The New Enterprise Allowance used to be for those unemployed for six months, but now it is available from Day One

 

[TrojanSkin]

Garage Runners, I'm only claiming JSA while I prepare to start my business and have no income from it. I still have to be actively looking for work.

 

[TrojanSkin]

Thanks, mhall, I have an interview for New Enterprise Allowance next week.

 

[Garage Runners]

I see, I'm taking no drawings at present and is going back into the company.
Will have to have a look