Please no benefits bashing, I'm getting a hefty backdated payment, I want to start a small business/train to be self employed with it. Please help.

[Iwanttogetoffbenefitsasap]

Long drawn out story, but the long and short of it is that I'm getting about £4000 in backdated payments from benefits after a tribunal sided with me.

I've been living on next to nothing for a year, they made me quit my job (I was long term sick) and haven't provided the help they said they would when I quit.

So I want to use this money to get off benefits and into work again.

I'm doing an OU English degree currently, but I want to start a small business, or to train as something I can do from home.

I can't do anything too physical due to my disability. I am very good at arts and crafts, and can turn my hand to most things. I'm good at English, not so good with numbers. I will need to work from home but have space/time here.

What can I use this money for so I can get out of this fucking benefits trap I'm in? I don't want to squander it, or use any if it for 'fun' money, I want the whole lot to be used to better my life and get me back to work again. Any help would be much appreciated.

Good for you!! There’s help out there for small businesses, look out for a business advisor in your area (in my area it’s Business Lincolnshire and it’s all free help) and they can help you with business advice, help to find grant/ loan. I wish you all the best!!

Just off the top of my head maybe you can be a copywriter? Comms/ marketing?

Don't feel guilty about the money, if you won then I imagine they have put you through Hell to get there. I have a relative who buys and sells on facebook/ebay and covers the bills and food etc, they use DPD to collect and deliver. The most obvious would be online tutoring, might be worth doing an additional course, especially TEFL which is always in demand, foreign students are always looking for this and there are so many at the moment due to universities offering packages to Chinese and Middle Eastern students. Good luck and spend it with pride ❤️

Use it to train yourself up in things like money management, business planning, promotion/PR, product costing - all the background stuff that makes a business work.

think about what equipment you’ll need, and materials, and will you be able to work from home or will you need a workroom or an office?

Best of luck 🙂

If your good at English how about being a proof reader?

My friend did that for years and then became a project manager. Always worked from home.

It's been absolute hell on earth.

They made me quit my job in order to get help retraining, then they didn't help me at all and just moaned at me for not having a job, when I enquired about the help they promised they said I wasn't disabled enough to get the help.

I was under the benefit cap and its been a total nightmare. The tribunal had a doctor there and they took about 3 minutes looking at my notes and I got the decision pretty quickly. The system is absolutely disgusting and not fit for purpose imo.

I do feel guilty about getting so much money, but it's really going to help me get off benefits I hope, it's a scary place to be.

I have a garden office I can use (and use to do my OU in) and I've also done some free online courses in things like social media promotion etc. I have a laptop and printer (from my more affluent times).

I'll definitely have a look at tutoring and copywriting.

I really don't want to squander this money (that's a lie I want to book a holiday and go nuts in B&M, but I won't 🤣) I want to invest it so I can work again.

Who is "they" ? Do you mean people at the job centre? I didn't think they could dictate that you leave employment?

Are there any local employers that use admin that is hybrid so you could work from home a lot of the time?

It's really difficult to suggest things without knowing your limitations and what you have previously done etc

Yes my work coach gave me pretty much no choice.

I said I wanted to stay on long term sick for the moment, she said while I was employed they wouldn't give me any help getting qualifications or referrals to people who could help me with gaining employment with my disability.

She said I would have to come in weekly (a struggle for me) and prove I had spent 35 hours a week seeking alternative employment, but if I quit then the referrals she made and the appointments/training I had would count towards my 35 hours.

If I was employed I was on my own.

So I quit to get the help, and then she told me that she believed I was fully able to work and wouldn't refer me to anyone and I still needed to come in weekly and apply for all jobs (including caring which involves physical work I can't do) for 35 hours per week at least.

I put in a complaint about her and it was upheld. She stated several times that she saw me doing things that are physically impossible for me, and it has been confirmed by my neurologist, physio, and surgeon. She just told lie after lie, to me, and about me, for no reason. I want to work, I'm just limited in what I can do.

Jobs I have done preciously are pretty much unskilled, manual jobs, cleaning, shop work, bar work etc (stuff to fit around the kids).

I've had cancer then a stroke so struggle with the left hand side of my body, limited movement in my left arm, hand and leg, I'm in a wheelchair maybe 50% of the time. I also have cancer again at the moment so a little trickier to work for someone unfortunately.

The OP won the tribunal, the reason behind the payout isn't up for discussion. Why start trying to get an argument with the OP insinuating you don't believe her?

No advice but I hope things become smoother for you.

That sounds tough and you deserve that money, please don’t feel guilty.
However, it’s not a lot to start a business with. What skills or knowledge do you have and what is there a need for?

I was simply asking op to clarify who she was talking about.
What on earth is wrong with you to accuse me of trying to start an argument?

No advice, I just wanted to say congratulations and good luck in the future. It sounds like a good use of the money xxx.

Honestly you have lasting effects from stroke (me too but less physical) and have cancer again. The reality is that brain fog will likely be an issue, ongoing pain etc. perhaps PIP and ESA etc will be your future 😢

To earn enough to not require benefits when you are not well is a very tall order tbh.

To be honest it did sound a bit picky and not really what the thread is about, (which is trying to set up a business).

Right now, I would put the money in premium bonds and focus on your health, your degree and de-stressing after the tribunal. Re-visit when things are easier in another few months or a year.

Unfortunately, the reality is that it’s very difficult to earn a living from a ‘craft business’ unless you’re really skilled and it’s very niche. I would get back to feeling better, finish your degree and then think about the next steps.

I wouldn't spend that money just yet. I'm a bit worried that if you don't have a brilliant idea for a business then in a year's time you won't end up with anything. I am really sorry you have been so ill and have been put through all that on top of everything else. 💐

Don't feel guilty, its money you are fairly owed. Personally unless you already have a 'skill' like some sort of craft of which you know commands a decent price and there is a demand for I wouldn't use it to start a business. I know what you mean about wanting to invest it for something that will help you long term; but it's a really tough time even for established businesses, since covid lots of home business areas are saturated and its hard to make decent money in relation to the time and materials put in.

I agree with others that it's probably more worthwhile looking into courses such as copywriting, it used to be very lucrative a decade or so ago but not sure now what the markets like. I'd look at the sort of thing you want to get into and see what qualifications they need.

There's no rush to spend it either, it's okay to have it make life that little bit easier for you financially don't pressure yourself.

Agree with mine utopia.
Whilst you're working out what to do do pop it in premium bonds.
At one point I had 5 grand I was holding in there and seemed to get a good few wins (not large).
As pp said I think it will be tricky to earn from craft.

Coding is where the money is tbh

I like PP ideas of TEFL or tutoring younger children.

Would that suit OK around your current home life? Likely to be a bit more after school/evening work for the tutoring.

Maybe if there isn't something specific you're passionate about at the moment you could dip your toe in the water by offering some online tutoring now? Start small with free business courses and cheap/free advertising on fb etc and see how it goes and if you really like it?

Keep the 4k for a few years down the line when you have a more definite idea of what you want to spend it on. There are savings accounts you can lock your money away for x amount of days in if you're worried about chipping in to it. I use Zopa.

Also worth thinking about how many hours you'd like to work a week, do you want something 9-5 or something very flexible? Would you be happy to work by yourself indefinitely or would you like to have colleagues? Is there a certain amount of money you would like to earn? What's your priority in all of this? Maybe worth writing out what you'd like the job to look like and list the features of it in order of importance?

-Flexibility time wise
-Potential income
-Holidays
-Pension
-Potential for career progression
-Social aspect
-reliability of income
Etc

That sounds awful OP, and your ongoing health battles would challenge anyone. Given that you're good at English and crafts, I wonder if you could make a hybrid business combining both and hitting lots of markets?

Editing
Copywriting
Transcribing
Maybe some content creation in terms of blogging etc for individuals or businesses
Then, for the creative side, would something like typography art prints be an option? You could make your own designs, run limited editions?
Perhaps t shirts etc to match the above?

All the very best with whatever you choose.