Signing off/NSA/self-employed carework

[Nospot]

Hello there beagles. please feel free to offer me some support and guidence as I am currently on ESA in the support group but I am toying with the idea of becoming self employed as a careworker. I am fully trained in geriatric care with dementia training.

Not to sound egotistical but I know I am a good carer and I really feel like I have something to offer. I want to be able to offer my support/services for anyone regardless. Basically I feel good quality care is so expensive and I would like to be able to step in if finance is a problem. Pay/donate whatever you can afford.

That is the plan but how do I roof over my head. I have hears of or looked online about the new enterprise allowance. Does anyone have any experience with claiming this and would they see care work as a valid business?

I dunno any suggestions appreciated. I already have insurance but if something I should know or forgotten please feel free to comment.

[Nospot]

I can not see how to edit the above so I apologise for the spelling/grammatical errors.

[Wylderose]

Depending on whether you are in a full service Universal Credit area or not will affect what happens to you when your income changes. I am assuming that being on ESA with SC, you will have a Housing Benefit claim in pay.

If you are in a Universal credit area, the change in your income will mean that you need to apply for Universal credit with Housing costs as your local authority will be unable to continue paying housing benefit. As UC replaces Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Jobseekers Income Based, Employment and support allowance Income Based and Working Tax credits, this is a one way ticket. So if you claim Universal Credit you can never again make a claim for Housing Benefit unless you live in Supported accommodation or are of pension age or have more than 2 children. Because there is no limit on how many hours you can work when you claim UC, you can be either self employed or full time employed. Their advisors will be able to give advice from the aspect of Enterprise allowances etc.

If you are not in a Universal Credit area then you will be able to come off ESA and continue your claim for Housing Benefit based on (self employment - projected earnings at first) and you will still be able to claim the other benefits such as Tax Credits. However with the rate that areas are changing to Full Service areas, your claim would change to UC in the future.