De-registering self employed and claim job seekers while I find 'proper job'?

[vogonmothership]

Please can anyone tell me if I can do that?
I have been freelancing since 2003 and paying my class 2 NI. Some years have been very good, some very lean. When DS2 goes to school next year I have have to go out and get something more stable.
So, my question is, would I be eligible for for some sort of job seekers allowance (it's been so long I don't know what it's called) and do I have to completely de-register as self employed and stop my NI payments?
Or shall I just stop being lazy and ring up HMRC or someone?

Hi

I was self employed and co director whilst signing on & fell foul of the "looking for work" requirement, in which hours spent looking for jobs etc ironically counted as "working" as a self employed person. However, the importance is it is non-remunerative (so you can't claim wtc), and you are still available for work - so make sure any unpaid or paid work does not come to 16 hours or more per week. The number of hours can be averaged over a reasonable period too - for instance I was doing school clerking which had 2 meetings per term paid, whilst signing on. The pay is then averaged in my case pro rata over the year & then the pay - less freelance expenses offset against Jobseekers. There is a weekly earnings disregard for JSA.
From an Ni point of view - if your self employed earnings are below the NI threshold, then you apply for a low earnings exception - you can do this retrospectively. Your NI credits will be paid by JSA.
Hope that helps.

thank you ever so much
some really interesting points there, I will definitely look into the low earnings exception

Look at this first.

I thought of registering as low earnings but didn't want to lose my eligibility for benefits. It wasn't worth it.

I also at a different time tried to claim job seekers and on the form said that on average i was working 8 hours a week. At the time i was earning nothing but for some reason they decided that i was entitled to only 2.58 a week. It didn't even cover my expenses of getting to the job centre.

I wasn't sure why to be honest. It didn't seem fair. My partner was working full time but i know of others in the same situation who were still entitled. Really needed that money!

I think that you won't be eligiable for contributions based JSA - which you get regardless of what your partner earns - I am pretty sure class 2 doesn't cover it - it covers other benfits and pension
so it will if you have a partner and what they earn - have you checked your benifits status currently - turn2us is a good website - and moneysaving expert has loads of good advice

MrAnchovy, your site is a revelation, thank you, will spread on FB you clever man!