- Posts: 13
× Members
Self-employed of sick query.
- ZenZen
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
3 days 9 hours ago #297949 by ZenZen
Self-employed of sick query. was created by ZenZen
Hello,
I'm self-employed and am on UC due from migration from WT. I had an appointment with them when I first migrated, and they said in 6 months they will send me another appointment, which is coming soon. I messaged the coach and said due to me being off sick, do they still require me to come to the next appointment for self-employment. They already have my sick notes.
The coach said yes, to come for appointment. I messaged the coach back and explained I'm in a lot of pain, could I not make another appointment for when I get better. The person answered me and said I should make a declaration to say I'm unemployed, and they will transfer me over to the team that does the health journey.
I don't understand how this goes, I have already had a WCA recently, ( haven't had the decision back from them yet) don't know why they didn't know I had their assessment. If someone Was employed and then was off sick, would they have to be declared as unemployed? or is this just for self-employed people?
I'm not sure what I should say back to them, should I do as he said and do the declaration to say I'm unemployed ? and should I let them know I have had a WCA assessment already ?
I'm self-employed and am on UC due from migration from WT. I had an appointment with them when I first migrated, and they said in 6 months they will send me another appointment, which is coming soon. I messaged the coach and said due to me being off sick, do they still require me to come to the next appointment for self-employment. They already have my sick notes.
The coach said yes, to come for appointment. I messaged the coach back and explained I'm in a lot of pain, could I not make another appointment for when I get better. The person answered me and said I should make a declaration to say I'm unemployed, and they will transfer me over to the team that does the health journey.
I don't understand how this goes, I have already had a WCA recently, ( haven't had the decision back from them yet) don't know why they didn't know I had their assessment. If someone Was employed and then was off sick, would they have to be declared as unemployed? or is this just for self-employed people?
I'm not sure what I should say back to them, should I do as he said and do the declaration to say I'm unemployed ? and should I let them know I have had a WCA assessment already ?
- David
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 785
3 days 8 hours ago #297952 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic Self-employed of sick query.
Hi ZenZen,
There a lot of cases where Work Coaches don't do the job they are supposed to.
If you are submitting Fit Notes because you have a health condition they are supposed to consider what effect the health condition has on your working patterns. So instead of having 35 hours per week as your expected hours of work which is the number for a fully fit person they should reduce the hours proportionally to the severity of the health condition. This is important as it will directly affect the self employed Minimum Income Floor.
If you are in your first year of UC then you will be excused the Minimum Income Floor ( MIF ) which reduces your UC. So if you are exempt from the MIF you could wait until the day before this interview and just phone in sick as they say or with UC send a Journal Message to that effect.
If you were to declare yourself unemployed that means stating in writing to them that you have permanently given up self employment, you would be asked to attend the Jobcentre fortnightly for employment related interviews.
However all this changes if you get LCW or LCWRA as a result of the WCA. Let me know how you get on. The Work Coach will know if you have submitted a UC50 for the health journey.
David
There a lot of cases where Work Coaches don't do the job they are supposed to.
If you are submitting Fit Notes because you have a health condition they are supposed to consider what effect the health condition has on your working patterns. So instead of having 35 hours per week as your expected hours of work which is the number for a fully fit person they should reduce the hours proportionally to the severity of the health condition. This is important as it will directly affect the self employed Minimum Income Floor.
If you are in your first year of UC then you will be excused the Minimum Income Floor ( MIF ) which reduces your UC. So if you are exempt from the MIF you could wait until the day before this interview and just phone in sick as they say or with UC send a Journal Message to that effect.
If you were to declare yourself unemployed that means stating in writing to them that you have permanently given up self employment, you would be asked to attend the Jobcentre fortnightly for employment related interviews.
However all this changes if you get LCW or LCWRA as a result of the WCA. Let me know how you get on. The Work Coach will know if you have submitted a UC50 for the health journey.
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
- ZenZen
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 13
3 days 6 hours ago #297954 by ZenZen
Replied by ZenZen on topic Self-employed of sick query.
Thanks David,
You are so right, that's what I thought, if I declare I am unemployed then they may try and do the fortnightly going to the Job centre as I haven't received my WCA decision yet. I'm not going to go as unemployed, as I only stopped working because of my health. IF someone was working, and was receiving some UC, and their income was low, if they were off sick, I don't think they would be told to declare they were unemployed. I was excused from the MIF level when I first went on.
Thank you David, I will let you know, once I know.
You are so right, that's what I thought, if I declare I am unemployed then they may try and do the fortnightly going to the Job centre as I haven't received my WCA decision yet. I'm not going to go as unemployed, as I only stopped working because of my health. IF someone was working, and was receiving some UC, and their income was low, if they were off sick, I don't think they would be told to declare they were unemployed. I was excused from the MIF level when I first went on.
Thank you David, I will let you know, once I know.
The following user(s) said Thank You: David
- ZenZen
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 13
2 days 12 hours ago #297993 by ZenZen
Replied by ZenZen on topic Self-employed of sick query.
Hi David, the coach again has messaged and asked me to check the message and update the action, (basically to say I'm unemployed) I've just ignored it for now. should i try and call UC and speak to someone else to see if that is what I am supposed to do?, or shall I just leave it till the day before the appointment and send the message to them that I'm still off sick.
I'm not working, but when I become better, I will be self-employed, not unemployed.
He said if I'm unemployed they can push me to the health team, so if i'm self- employed why they can't push me to the health team. I don't understand it. if this was what I was supposed to do then surely they would have sent the message to say this was what I supposed to do some time ago, he only said now, because I messaged him about the appointment coming up.
I'm not working, but when I become better, I will be self-employed, not unemployed.
He said if I'm unemployed they can push me to the health team, so if i'm self- employed why they can't push me to the health team. I don't understand it. if this was what I was supposed to do then surely they would have sent the message to say this was what I supposed to do some time ago, he only said now, because I messaged him about the appointment coming up.
- David
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 785
2 days 12 hours ago #297994 by David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by David on topic Self-employed of sick query.
Hi ZenZen,
I wonder if the Work Coach has been badly trained or what ! A serious health condition does not change when you are self employed as opposed to unemployed. The Work Coach cannot force you to give up self employment. You are already on the Health Journey and have had a WCA and if you get LCWRA then officially you will lose your Work Coach. So just bide your time until you get the WCA letter and as I said if you feel you are not up to it just phone in sick the day before the Jobcentre interview.
David
I wonder if the Work Coach has been badly trained or what ! A serious health condition does not change when you are self employed as opposed to unemployed. The Work Coach cannot force you to give up self employment. You are already on the Health Journey and have had a WCA and if you get LCWRA then officially you will lose your Work Coach. So just bide your time until you get the WCA letter and as I said if you feel you are not up to it just phone in sick the day before the Jobcentre interview.
David
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
- ZenZen
- Topic Author
- Offline
Less More
- Posts: 13
2 days 12 hours ago #297995 by ZenZen
Replied by ZenZen on topic Self-employed of sick query.
Thank you David, that's what I needed to hear. It was worrying me, as I wondered if he could try and get me into trouble if I don't put myself down as unemployed, I thought he may try and say you're not working so you're unemployed. Will message them the day before the appointment.
Thank you
Regards
ZenZen
Thank you
Regards
ZenZen
Moderators: Gordon, Gary, BIS, Catherine, Wendy, Kelly, greekqueen, peter, Katherine, Super User, Chris, David