claiming dole, self employed

[Mikeyboy]

I have just had my contract end with my courrent contractor and its not looking like I'm going to be able to get another contract anytime soon. This measn that while I will still be the MD of a limited company I will effectively have no income for a number of months.

Liking the idea of a roof over my head I was logically thinking of signing on in the short term, something I haven't done in 20 years, but don't know if as a company director I can actually do that.

Would I have to close the company to be able to that?

[Hoofy]

"Dole" is known as Job Seeker's Allowance for a reason.

[Mikeyboy]

Hoofy said:

"Dole" is known as Job Seeker's Allowance for a reason.

I know. I sort of am looking for a job. But thats what I thought.

[Hoofy]

Also, if you're running a company, don't you have to (1) sign on regularly so you can't work all the time (2) prove you're looking for work? Otherwise, every night shift worker would claim JSA? Or do they?

Or do you mean you're definitely out of work? I would pop in and ask at your local centre, really. You don't want to accidentally breach rules and get done for benefit fraud but at the same time, you've paid your taxes so if it's allowed, should feel free to claim, right?

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 9th January 16:39

[davepoth]

Yes, you can. Being self employed isn't a bar to being on JSA, and you can actually stop claiming if you have anything come up on a casual basis. The paperwork is a nightmare though, and don't expect anyone at the Job Centre to know how to fill it out.

[Eric Mc]

I think the payout will be very small though.

[Hoofy]

davepoth said:

self employed

[Mr AJ]

Don't think you'll have much luck to be honest! I was self-employed for a few years (Sole trader, not LTD) but sub-contracting from the same company 5 days a week (With 2 days a week doing my own jobs) - The company i subbed from lost their two main contracts, which left all the subbies with no where to go. Tried to sign on for JSA/Housing benefit etc but was told no chance - Have to have had no income for 6months before someone who was self employed would be eligible!. Ended up living off what i could beg and borrow.

This was a few years ago now though - Could have changed!.

[davepoth]

Hoofy said:

davepoth said:

self employed

That doesn't make a great deal of sense, does it?

But JSA can be claimed by someone who was self employed but isn't any more. And as I said, if you do pick up some casual work while on JSA they can suspend your claim for the period of the contract.

[Mikeyboy]

Mr AJ said:

Don't think you'll have much luck to be honest! I was self-employed for a few years (Sole trader, not LTD) but sub-contracting from the same company 5 days a week (With 2 days a week doing my own jobs) - The company i subbed from lost their two main contracts, which left all the subbies with no where to go. Tried to sign on for JSA/Housing benefit etc but was told no chance - Have to have had no income for 6months before someone who was self employed would be eligible!. Ended up living off what i could beg and borrow.

This was a few years ago now though - Could have changed!.

I doubt it has. Hmm this is what I was worried about though. Going self employed was a good way to go when my industry was bouyant and there was plenty of work, now its in the crapper its costing me more and may turn into a very bad idea if I can't get dole now it looks like there are no new contracts out there.

[marshalla]

If you've been running the contracts through your ltd. co., then you haven't been self-employed. The company is your employer - you just happen to be a shareholder as well.

[singlecoil]

JSA is made hard to get quite deliberately. You will be called in from time to time to prove how many jobs you have applied for, and I think they tend to be tougher on those who are not born layabouts (with whom they can't be bothered arguing and who are mostly hopeless cases anyway).

As long as you have all the necessary contributions in place you will qualify, as long as you can prove you are looking for work. If you don't have the contributions that they say you need (and remember, they are looking for reasons not to pay), and if your wife works, then you're fked.

[Du1point8]

Thought you needed your current payslips, P45 and some other stuff first?

Has your company fired you?

How does extracting a dividend affect the no its not a salary excuse if they ask?

[marshalla]

I think this site may be helpful as a starting point, though it is a couple of years old : http://www.contractorcalculator.co.uk/contractor_c...

[bigandclever]

This gets asked elsewhere fairly regularly...

start here http://forums.contractoruk.com/business-contracts/...

Short answer is 'yes you can'.

[Mikeyboy]

Du1point8 said:

Thought you needed your current payslips, P45 and some other stuff first?

Has your company fired you?

How does extracting a dividend affect the no its not a salary excuse if they ask?

Don't know the latter.

As for being fired. I've sort of been made redundant. Its all a bit odd. They've extended the contract 3 months as a means of notice really. They didn't have to so I thank them for that but it does sort of mean I'm sitting in an office trying to drum up business for them but really just wondering what to do next. I've been doing this long enough to call in a few favours but mostly peopel are saying that there isn't much chance of getting a new contract sorted in time, or maybe even this year. so as I said, dole (if I need to) was something I had to consider or do something else.


Teach I think... good pension and holidays and a strike every two years or so about how mean the government are about my job for life. Its got to be the way forwards.

[croyde]

I have been self-employed most of my working life, err a good 30+ years but in 2009 I had a heart attack and my accountant said that I could claim disability or some such benefit. The paperwork was like writing a novel and 2 months later more paperwork arrived and then a month or so after that a P45 arrived??? then the day after a letter telling me that I could not claim as I had not paid the correct amount of NI in tax year blah blah.

All this to claim about £150 as I had returned to work against my Doctor's orders for I had no money coming in and I was losing my clients.

Just makes me wonder how someone can arrive in this country and get loads of benefits without ever paying into the system and be able to fill in all the forms without speaking English.

[Mikeyboy]

Thanks, all very useful. Hopefully it won't be an issue but always good to be prepared.

[Dog Star]

marshalla said:

If you've been running the contracts through your ltd. co., then you haven't been self-employed. The company is your employer - you just happen to be a shareholder as well.

I'm an IT contractor and LTD co director. I signed on a couple of years ago - no problem whatsoever. I then ended up working as an advisor for the Job Centre as a result of this - great fun job. Then I went back contracting.

You can get JSA - just remember to give yourself a P45 and when interviewed stipulate that you will take any job offered working any hours etc etc. do NOT say "will only work for £xxx". You MUST be "available for work". If you aren't a problem "customer" you don't need to keep a job search log. Just tell them you will do anything and you'll be fine. Don't worry about being offered some st job because of this - wont happen.

[Engineer1]

Dog Star said:

Don't worry about being offered some st job because of this - wont happen.

If they do start making noises about applying for more general roles just use your normal CV not many stty jobs want bright intelligent people.