Thinking about starting business - any Social Welfare restrictions or traps?

Kendorian

Hi

Having recently been made redundant, I am currently looking for work - using all the usual jobsites etc. I am now receiving Jobseekers Benefit.

However I am also thinking about the possibility of going freelance with my own skills and starting a small consulting business aimed at small businesses and SMEs.
I am just at the concept stage and haven't made a firm decision about whether I make the jump for self-employment or continue looking for permanent work.

I want to do some preparatory work such as registering a business name, setting up a .ie website and initial market research.

Can anyone tell me if by taking these steps I would be risking my social welfare payments?
Obviously if I did get work from my startup, I would not continue to claim Jobseekers Benefit.

Any stories from people with similar experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

stepbar

This thread maybe better suited to Biz -> Personal -> State Benefits. How in ever, I did hear that the Social Welfare were giving grants to folk to go and start driving a taxi - http://www.independent.ie/national-news/jobless--receiving-grants-to-become-taxi-drivers-1578862.html

Madness I know and all the taxi drivers out there already.

delllat

Kendorian wrote: »

Hi

Having recently been made redundant, I am currently looking for work - using all the usual jobsites etc. I am now receiving Jobseekers Benefit.

However I am also thinking about the possibility of going freelance with my own skills and starting a small consulting business aimed at small businesses and SMEs.
I am just at the concept stage and haven't made a firm decision about whether I make the jump for self-employment or continue looking for permanent work.

I want to do some preparatory work such as registering a business name, setting up a .ie website and initial market research.

Can anyone tell me if by taking these steps I would be risking my social welfare payments?
Obviously if I did get work from my startup, I would not continue to claim Jobseekers Benefit.

Any stories from people with similar experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

I am not 100% on this but i think you should be allowed to work on a business in your "spare time"

the only requirements for claiming social welfare are that you are "available and looking for work" (id say this means daytime hours only)

WHU

I am currently doing something similar myself.
Because my name will be advertised I deceided to inform my local welfare office, explaining to them that I was along side of looking for employment I was advertising looking for work, hoping in the long term that it would lead to part or full time work, they said this would be fine as long as I told them of any days I did actually work and to ring them then. This is a very new venture and as of yet have not really had anything to tell them.
I think as long as you inform them before hand you really shouldn't have any problems.
Good luck

niceirishfella

Hi Kendorian,

Congrats on your get up and go!
Setting up your co in your sdpare time will be fine etc.
Re;registering a co, is there tax implications there as to when you register a co will they pass details onto revenue to collect etc?
I'm not sure and you may want to chack this out?
Anyone here know for this OP?