Need Advice:Teaching classes to Small groups without SW being affected.

I am optimistic

Hello All,:D

I am a visual artist who works part time with the VEC in autumn and Spring months. Having consulted locally with parents, I have received interest in starting up a part time Arts and crafts class for older kids. As I would technically be working for myself setting up these classes in the local town hall I would appreciate it if anyone can offer advice on how I approach informing S Welfare office about this little venture. I am aware that Artists (due to the infrequency of paid employment in an art background by an employer) can draw S Welfare benefit payments and teach part time classes. I am not a millionaire nor am I am scrounger. I have searched hard in these difficult economic times (and only in recent years having returned to what I majored in Uni) and have found some employment.
I have had some advice from an accountant and am aware of the business insurance end. Just completely in the dark about where it leaves me with the SW office. I do not wish to misinform them. Thank you!!!:D

wmpdd3

i am not sure but i know of a lady that sells crafts on a saturday at a market and the social welfare dock her 23percent of he payment. She makes about 5oeuro gross sales less payment for stall.
Going down the self employed route could be different.

looksee

Why not just ask them? 'If I were to start an art class for children how would it affect my social welfare. I am thinking of x many children at a charge of x each. Is there some way I can try this out without affecting my SW on a permanent basis if it doesn't work out?'

Jellybaby1

wmpdd3 wrote: »

i am not sure but i know of a lady that sells crafts on a saturday at a market and the social welfare dock her 23percent of he payment. She makes about 5oeuro gross sales less payment for stall.
Going down the self employed route could be different.

Good Grief! That is just crazy! I thought you had to be earning something around €5,000-€10,000 -ish, before they taxed your self employed income!!!??

I am optimistic

I thank you for your feedback. It's not the business end I was worried about, it was letting them know. But if as they say if you don't go you'll never know. I am confident enough know to go to them and approach it as a hypothetical because at least that way if they advise me and worst case scenario it doesn't go ahead I'll be fine. Thanks a million.

wmpdd3

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Good Grief! That is just crazy! I thought you had to be earning something around €5,000-€10,000 -ish, before they taxed your self employed income!!!??

No, she didnt have to pay tax on her income, that would come later through self assessment. This is how much of her social welfare payment they deducted from her every week.

Also they made the deduction permanent, weather she was making money or not.

Jellybaby1

I would still question that and appeal.

I am optimistic

Latest is that I was sent to someone who recommended that I set it up as a self employed enterprise seeing as I would be teaching classes INDEPENDENTLY. I must put forward a business plan then they will see if it's viable.Also they say if all goes ahead and is approved I would be put onto an Enterprise allowance which is the same as the JSB/ JSA for year 1 with a reduced rate in year 2. The view would be for me to come off the JSA. They also said that if things eventually went down the swanny I could still apply for JSA and they would means test me. As a self employed person you can make a voluntary contribution but if things went down the swanny to avail of JSB I would have had to have made contributions for a good number of years. There seems to be a lot of possibility with this. Though they said I CAN NOT start my business until I have everything approve and they have assessed my application. I need to get in touch with the ARt council and see what they can tell me. I have a lot of paperwork to read through and it seems to be a lot to think of but I will review over the next couple of weeks before I make a final decision to proceed further. If anyone else has any further thoughts please shoot.