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Original poster

Self employed and time off sick

20 replies

Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 16:29

Hi all, I didn't know where to post this really, so am trying here (have already posted on a cancer thread)
I am self-employed and I don't know whether I can claim ESA. I have read all the notes but I'm still not clear.
Basically, I had surgery for breast cancer a few weeks ago, and took a few days off to recover, but have worked since then. Obviously had no income for that week I had off.
I am due to start chemo and I will work when I can but I have no idea when or how often, I just know that, realistically, it won't be full time like now!
I have full NI contributions. I just see that you can only claim ESA if you earn under a certain amount each week. Some weeks I will, some I won't, but surely I can't change it weekly.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated Smile

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Adododoadahdahdah · 28/03/2022 16:38

Have you applied for pip? Cancer is an automatic qualifier I believe.

Sorry you are going through this & have the worry of finances as well. I hope someone really knowledgeable comes along who can advise & that all goes well with your treatment Flowers

Babyroobs · 28/03/2022 16:40

@Serendipity09

Hi all, I didn't know where to post this really, so am trying here (have already posted on a cancer thread) I am self-employed and I don't know whether I can claim ESA. I have read all the notes but I'm still not clear. Basically, I had surgery for breast cancer a few weeks ago, and took a few days off to recover, but have worked since then. Obviously had no income for that week I had off. I am due to start chemo and I will work when I can but I have no idea when or how often, I just know that, realistically, it won't be full time like now! I have full NI contributions. I just see that you can only claim ESA if you earn under a certain amount each week. Some weeks I will, some I won't, but surely I can't change it weekly. Any advice would be greatly appreciated Smile
If you are only going to be working a few hours, you may be better off claiming Universal credit as long as you don't have savings over 16k. However if you have a working partner then their earnings would be taken into account so if that is the case you may not qualify. If you are going to be earning less than 16 x nmw per week, then if you claim UC and hand in sick notes you can ask them to refer you for a work capability assessment from day 1 of claiming because you are having Chemotherapy. This would mean that you get more money on the Uc claim because you would automatically be awarded the LCWRA element from the fourth month of claiming, and also once this element is awarded, you would also get a work allowance, meaning a proportion of any earnings is disregarded before wages reduce your UC.
Original poster
Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 16:41

Thank you for your reply.
I haven't applied for PIP because at the moment I can do everything I need to do. I know that will change, but I was waiting to see how it goes. I know it takes weeks to come through though.
I didn't realise cancer was an automatic qualifier though, maybe I should apply if that is the case. Thank you.

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Babyroobs · 28/03/2022 16:42

@Adododoadahdahdah

Have you applied for pip? Cancer is an automatic qualifier I believe.

Sorry you are going through this & have the worry of finances as well. I hope someone really knowledgeable comes along who can advise & that all goes well with your treatment Flowers

Cancer is not an automatic qualifier for PIP. People going through cancer treatment may be awarded PIP if they meet the PIP criteria and score enough points on the descriptors. As everyone is affected differently by side effects of Chemotherapy some will qualify for PIP and some wont. I say this having worked previously as a macmillan benefits advisor for 4 years.
Original poster
Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 16:44

@babyroobs our household has savings of over 16k, not me on my own, but I have two teen/adult sons saving for a house deposit, so I think that would be taken into account?
I'm just so confused with it all to be honest!

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Original poster
Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 16:45

@babyroobs yes, that is what I thought re the PIP. That's why I haven't applied. I don't need help with anything at all at the moment. But when I have chemo I guess it will be a different story, but hopefully I won't meet the criteria!

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Babyroobs · 28/03/2022 16:45

@Serendipity09

Thank you for your reply. I haven't applied for PIP because at the moment I can do everything I need to do. I know that will change, but I was waiting to see how it goes. I know it takes weeks to come through though. I didn't realise cancer was an automatic qualifier though, maybe I should apply if that is the case. Thank you.
It is not an automatic qualifier ! If your cancer treatment means you are for example so wiped out that you cannot cook a meal from scratch, struggle to wash and dress yourself and cannot eat and drink because you are vomiting so much., or need someone to keep an eye on you, manage your medications, check your temperature etc as you feel too ill to do it yourself then yes you may qualify. It is always worth checking the descriptors to see if you would qualify.
Babyroobs · 28/03/2022 16:49

[quote Serendipity09]@babyroobs yes, that is what I thought re the PIP. That's why I haven't applied. I don't need help with anything at all at the moment. But when I have chemo I guess it will be a different story, but hopefully I won't meet the criteria![/quote]
Hopefully not but do apply if you have bad side effects. I have helped a lot of people to complete the forms and they have got an award but as above it does just depend on the severity of the side effects. Some people have very toxic regimes, need a semi permanent pic line in their arm, are constantly having blood transfusions and anti-biotics and just generally don't tolerate chemo well wheras others seem to sail through it. unfortunately there is no way of telling until you've had a couple of cycles. With the UC though anyone on Chemo will automatically qualify for the LCWRA element after completing a simple form, they do not need a face to face assessment or phone assessment, it is a simple process to qualify and would get you extra money on a Uc claim because you are limited in what work you can do whilst going through treatment.

Babyroobs · 28/03/2022 16:51

[quote Serendipity09]@babyroobs our household has savings of over 16k, not me on my own, but I have two teen/adult sons saving for a house deposit, so I think that would be taken into account?
I'm just so confused with it all to be honest![/quote]
Your sons savings would not affect a Uc claim for yourself so if your individual savings are below 16k, it would be worth applying if your earnings are going to be less than 16 x nmw per week. Any savings over 6k would reduce the amount of Uc you get. Definitely worth applying and get the form sent out to you if earnings are going to be low.

Babyroobs · 28/03/2022 16:52

Also if either of your sons is still in education you would get a child element on Uc for him too.

Original poster
Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 16:54

@babyroobs thank you so much for your advice. What about my husband's savings, is that taken into account? Also, I'm pretty sure I can't get UC with his earnings.

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PutinIsAWarCriminal · 28/03/2022 16:59

Hope your treatment goes well @Serendipity09.
Its worth having a chat with your accountant re what you can claim and also your insurance company to see if there is any illness cover.
Macmillan used to have an arrangement with Citizens Advice Bureau for money advice, so there might be an opportunity to speak to someone through them? Many CABx used to have business advisors.

Babyroobs · 28/03/2022 17:06

[quote Serendipity09]@babyroobs thank you so much for your advice. What about my husband's savings, is that taken into account? Also, I'm pretty sure I can't get UC with his earnings.[/quote]
Yes husbands savings would count as it would be a joint claim and his earnings may wipe out any claim.
You can look at new style ESA. The only thing I'm not sure on is whether you would need to have stopped work altogether to make a claim. As with Uc though, you would automatically be awarded the higher rate of ESA after a few months based on you having cancer treatment. It would be £114.10 per week after the higher rate awarded.

Original poster
Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 17:10

Thank you so much to both of you. My insurances are 'life' and 'terminal illness'. I really thought one of them was 'critical illness' which covers my type of breast cancer, but somewhere along the line it has been changed - that'll teach me to read my policies properly!

I really don't want to stop work altogether. It's taken me 14 years to build up to this point, but I am the sole person in the business so I am going to have to lose a few clients. I have already. I'm down by about 8-10 hours a week already.

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bowlingalleyblues · 28/03/2022 17:21

Sorry to hear about your illness. I’m also self employed. Would it be worth working collaboratively with another freelancer who could pick up some of your work? I have done this last year due to being overwhelmed with home schooling and actually it has been beneficial to allow me to take on larger projects and have someone to cover at times. Are you a sole trader or Ltd company? Am wondering if it would be worth being ltd and then you could pay yourself a salary the weeks you are well and claim when you don’t work? It’s very hard to ‘declare’ earnings when it can be £1000 that randomly comes in weeks after you do your work.

Original poster
Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 17:32

Hi @bowlingalleyblues I am a sole trader. I have actually collaborated with another freelancer, and she is being absolutely brilliant. Honestly, I couldn't have coped without her! I get paid every month around the same date (within a few days) as all of my clients are longstanding and pay within a few days of me billing them.
I wouldn't have a clue how to become LTD, but I guess it is worth looking into :)

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SandysMam · 28/03/2022 17:40

Sorry to hear about your diagnoses. Have you made sure you don’t have any kind of insurance policy that might pay out in the event of this kind of diagnoses. Sorry if this states the obvious. I have a serious illness but because I can recover/survive it to some extent, I didn’t think I could claim but turns out I could.

Original poster
Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 17:45

Hi @Sandysmam Yes, I have looked and one is 'life' cover and one is 'life and terminal illness'. My breast cancer is classed as 'curable' (and hopefully will stay that way!), so it would afaik only be covered under the 'critical illness' cover, which I am sure I used to have! I am sorry you also have a serious illness Flowers

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SandysMam · 28/03/2022 18:01

Well then I’m pleased that doesn’t apply to you Grin
Wishing you a speedy recovery Op! Life loves to throw these things at us but just got to keep going!

Original poster
Serendipity09 · 28/03/2022 18:04

Yes, I am VERY glad it doesn't apply to me! Yes, I'm keeping positive so far. Got to keep on going! Wishing you all the best too :)

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