End of Back To Work Allowance - What now?

[39parolles]

Having been made redundant last year, I decided in October to take up the Back To Work Allowance, (which is essentially the same as the Job-seekers benefit).
My income as a self-employed person has been decidedly patchy, and although I've managed to cover the mortgage & bills to this point, the future projections are not good.
I'm afraid that when the Back To Work Allowance winds up at the end of May, we'll be up the Swanee.
Do I have any recourse to some sort of welfare assistance?

 

[Ildánach]

Having been made redundant last year, I decided in October to take up the Back To Work Allowance, (which is essentially the same as the Job-seekers benefit).
My income as a self-employed person has been decidedly patchy, and although I've managed to cover the mortgage & bills to this point, the future projections are not good.
I'm afraid that when the Back To Work Allowance winds up at the end of May, we'll be up the Swanee.
Do I have any recourse to some sort of welfare assistance?

If the business goes bust and closes down completely then you'll have access to Jobseekers Allowance provided you pass the means test. If you have the stamps from any period of employment (not self-employment) then you may qualify for Jobseekers Benefit.

If the business is still going, but slowly, then it is more complicated, as well as the income from the business being taken into account, you will also need to show that you are only employed in running the business max three days a week, and also that you are looking for and are available for full-time work.

 

[39parolles]

Thanks very much for that.
The situation is closer to the second scenario you made.
I'm operating as a sole-trader as a freelancer in my industry, and things are just limping along (four days work in March, and so far, just one in April).