Hi, my name is Womble66! Been classed as self-employed after UC migration, is this right?

Womble66

I became disabled due to fast onset illness/ disability 2015 ish.

I still try to help others as much as possible ( like my life before being sick ).

I have had ESA since 2015 and PIP since 2018.

I have now been moved to UC. I have filled in the online link they sent. And was shocked to see they think I'm "self-employed" now unemployed due to disability.

I have mobility issues that force me not to work. It's frustrating and I'm receiving counselling because it has really affected me, how I can't work.

The reason they have put me as "self-Employed" is because I am a director on a company ( only director ). It runs by subcontractors with T/O of £15k yearly.

No profit ( in fact it owes me £ 8000 from over the last 13 years).

It's there running just paying for itself in case I die, so my kids have something.

Anyway, now UC want me to go to a meeting with a work coach and want all info to do with my earnings.

I don't leave my house except to go counselling. I'm really struggling with this.

I guess I'm asking, why - when I've been on ESA for so long, I have PIP and the dwp have had all the info on the business a few years ago. Why am I all.of a sudden now when changing to UC deemed " self-employed".

II'm scared I'm gonna lose my HB more than anything else.

Not eating i can deal with. But if I lose HB - after living here for 35 years. What do I do?

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

The earnings rules are different for UC than they were for ESA. That is why UC need to understand how this business works.

I'm afraid I don't know much about business itself, but can advise on earnings with UC. Assuming you are in the LCWRA group (having migrated from Support Group of ESA) then you will get a Work Allowance. This allowance is currently £411 per month. You can earn more than that, but a deduction of 55p per £1 will be made for any earnings above that amount.

You will be classed as self-employed, and have to report your earnings each month on the final day of each Assessment Period, even if you have not earnt anything in that period.

You can ask for the meeting to be changed to a phonecall if that would be better for you.

Womble66

Thank you - I will ask for a phone interview definitely.

Its so very difficult to navigate this all. its like its set up to make you fail.

Talk about trying to crush people when they are down.