Self-employed, coming off BTWEA, looking for advice on options

Lord TSC

Hi guys and gals,

In a month's time, I'll be reaching the end of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. The reality is that while my business is doing ok in terms of growth, it's a bit rough right now in terms of actual financial income. I'm covering bills barely, but not greatly. And when I lose the €144 a week next month, it's going to hit very, very hard, to the extent I'm not sure it's financially responsible to keep going.

I don't want to be on benefits, obviously; thats why I tried starting a business. And I've also started looking for additional freelance work to help. But the fact is I do need some help as it stands.

So what I'm asking is; as a self-employed person working from home, what options are available? From what I can tell, obviously the main dole is out, unless I give up on the business completely (which I don't want to). Is there a partial benefits system for self-employed people who just, basically, need a top up? My brother is on dockets for part time work, as he's a sub teacher, so when he gets days, they sign a form and he ticks off days. But for me....like, I can truthfully say I'd get my work done three days a week and be looking for further part time employment the other two business days, but it will only be my word to prove that (as in, there won't be someone else to sign forms or anything). I have books done up for the last two to show my profit margins are pretty slim.

I'm planning on going in and talking to them next week, but really want to have as much info as possible with me when I do. Any held or advice would be greatly appreciated

mp22

Start here http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/unemployed_people/self_employed_and_unemployment.html

mollygreene

have a look at Microfinance Ireland they give loans to small-medium businesses

johnblack48

you should be able to claim JSA as it is means tested

Xterminator

johnblack48 wrote: »

you should be able to claim JSA as it is means tested

Nope thats incorrect. to claim JSA there are conditions the OP doesn't meet. IE he is not unemployed and available for full time work.

Be unemployed (you must be fully unemployed or unemployed for at least 4 days out of 7)
Be capable of work
Be available for and genuinely seeking work
Satisfy the means test
Meet the habitual residence condition

Chieftain

The OP is perfectly entitled to claim JSA. There are a lot of self-employed people on jobseekers allowance. The accounts will be looked at and means will be assessed.

Musicman2000

Yeah you can claim ,as mentioned they will look over your accounts ,profit & loss etc and means test you that way .

Xterminator

op says he is available for 2 days a week, that would rule him out.

Chieftain

Xterminator wrote: »

op says he is available for 2 days a week, that would rule him out.

The OP is perfectly entitled to make a claim for Jobseekers Allowance. As I said in my previous response, there are a large number of self-employed on JSA.

Lord TSC

Hey guys,

Sorry for the delay responding, I do appreciate the feedback.

My understanding is that I'll be entitled to partial payments on JSA, based on a means test, which is fine, I've got my books for 2015 and 2016 all in order.

The one concern I have is....this is what it says on the Citizen's Information site...

Earnings are assessed as gross income less work related expenses over 12 months. Your expected annual earnings from self-employment is divided by 52 to find your weekly means from self-employment.

As I was on BTWEA, my books are actually balanced quite low; my tax adjusted profit for 2016 is only €718. I didn't have to take much money out of the business, as the BTWEA provided that (tax exempt) income (thats the entire point of the scheme as I understand it; they provide that payment so that you can pump everything back into growing your business).

So I worry slightly that I'll pass a means test with flying colours, in that regard; if they are basing it on my gross income less expenses, I'll pass it too easily, based on my books.

I'll be heading in tomorrow to chat with them about it anyway. Again, thanks for the feedback

mollygreene

Best of luck with it. Wishing you continous success with your business

Lord TSC

mollygreene wrote: »

Best of luck with it. Wishing you continous success with your business

Thanks

Actually, just one more quick question, about the means test....

With a means test, I sat down yesterday to set up my bank statements, etc, for the meeting I have tomorrow.

And something hit me, and has really worried me; my mother doesn't have a bank account, and so there's some bills that are direct debits that come out of my personal bank account. Each month, her and my brother give me cash which I lodge to cover joint bills we share (car insurance, health insurance, etc).

And it only hit me yesterday....are those cash lodgements going to screw me? Once every 5 or 6 weeks, it's about €500 goes into my personal account. The money is never in it that long; usually the lodgements go in at roughly the same time as the direct debit comes out.

But I'm aware that, since I'm saying I'm self-employed...are they going to think thats money I'm making elsewhere, pretending its not business-generated, take it into account in a means test and basically say "sorry, you're clearing the means test based on those payments"? Its something I've been doing for a few years, and never even considered those implications till yesterday, and honestly I'm feeling a bit sick this morning, cause now I'm worried that by putting that cash from them into the account to pay for bills, I've effectively killed my chances

mollygreene

My advice would be up front about it in the meeting. Be honest about it too, that you've only spotted it and that you're worried it will be misconstrued.
Also as you're saying they're the exact amount and they'll see that it's being debited to utility bills - hopefully should be fine.

Best of luck.

Lord TSC

mollygreene wrote: »

My advice would be up front about it in the meeting. Be honest about it too, that you've only spotted it and that you're worried it will be misconstrued.
Also as you're saying they're the exact amount and they'll see that it's being debited to utility bills - hopefully should be fine.

Best of luck.

Took your advice, and the woman was super nice about it all. Said if I get my mother to write a letter and attatch copies of all the relevant bills, they'll wipe most of that off when figuring out what to test me on Thanks.

mollygreene

That's great news. Well done.

stevedraw

Hi Lord TSC,

I know it's been a year since you've last posted but I am in the same situation you were in and was wondering how you got on? My BTWEA finished this week and I am calling down to office tomorrow with bank statements and books with receipts. I am hoping I can get JSA and in the meantime Supplementary Welfare Allowance as i currently have no income from my business.

Any info/help/advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Stephen

Muttley79

stevedraw wrote: »

Hi Lord TSC,

I know it's been a year since you've last posted but I am in the same situation you were in and was wondering how you got on? My BTWEA finished this week and I am calling down to office tomorrow with bank statements and books with receipts. I am hoping I can get JSA and in the meantime Supplementary Welfare Allowance as i currently have no income from my business.

Any info/help/advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks,
Stephen

Hi everybody.just wondering how you got on as I'm coming to end of my btwea and my officer told me this is what I'll be going on next,cheers

stevedraw

Hi Muttley,

I got exactly what i had hoped, which was first the Supplementary Welfare Allowance and then a reduced JSA. You have to bring in bank statements so they can give you an average weekly income and they then deduct that from the full JSA payment. My officers were great and I got it all sorted fairly quickly.

Hopefully you'll get the same service.

best,
Stephen