Need advice - DH self employed, badly injured knee, been told not to work for 3-4 weeks. Is he entitled to anything while he cannot work ?

[FoghornLeghorn]

That's it really.
DH self employed - hurt knee at football yesterday - snapped ligament and badly strained. Cannot walk at all, he's on crutches and doc told him he will be off work for at least 4 weeks while it heals (he is a chippy so no way he can get up and down ladders). I don't work and we have 2 small DD's

BIl thinks he should be entitled to something as he is unable to work, is self employed but pays his NI and Tax.

Anybody know anymore ?

I'm sure you can take out a special insurance if you're self employed to cover you if you need to be off work from injury/illness.

Perhaps check with DH's life insurance company to see if he took out a special policy to cover loss of earnings. I know my Sister who is driving instructor has one.

If he doesn't have one, I'd probably speak to Citizens Advice Bureau for guidance.

If you are self-employed or unemployed

If you are self-employed or unemployed and become sick, you should claim Incapacity Benefit. See page 11 for information on how to claim Incapacity Benefit. If you are both employed and self-employed, the rules for employed people apply, and you should ask your employer about Statutory Sick Pay.

from www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/Customers/WorkingAgeBenefits/dev_008025.xml.html

download this leaflet:

A Guide to Incapacity Benefit - Information for new customers (635kb)

Incapacity Benefit. DH is also self-employed and cut the end of a finger off a few years ago. He got something but not very much.

Income protection is simply exorbitant IME. It's cheaper to take the chance -sounds daft I know.

do they get any help when self-employed for having paternity leave? say, 2 weeks?

Dh didn't. But that was 4 years ago. Things may have changed.