Self employment

Hi everyone,

I have been on long term sick since 2006 for mental health issues. Due to mood swings I can potentially be a risk so do not go out. However, you become despondent that you will never be able to do anything else than be classed as disabled.

I have developed interests through the internet and believe I could potentially become self employed from home via online means. But the fear is that it would be a massive failure, no customers and no money. Does anyone know exactly how the DWP deals with someone that hopes to be able to do something but is too frightened to try. Ultimately, if I earned £20 one week and nothing the next and £70 the next etc. That would in no way replace what I get now and more than that would place me in the position of not being able to support even the basic lifestyle I have now but which is propped up completely by benefits. I never wanted to be on the sick and would love to be classed; by myself as much as anyone else; as more than a disability. But how can you move from one to the other if there is no way at all of guaranteeing even a single job from it when in reality the job I'd be looking at would entail numerous, different customers on an ongoing basis. I am so grateful for all the help the government has been able to give me but don't want to die knowing I could have tried something else. The fear is can I try. A roof over my head and food trumps my 'wishes and fantasies'. My wife fears my concentration would in no way allow me to do the tasks I think I could be capable of. She is my carer and I don't know who is right. I can become over optimistic or absolutely pessimistic with not much in between. Any advice is welcome please.

Thank you Gordon,

It wouldn't require any venturing outside as it would be entirely online. Specifically, many years ago I used to develop websites and part of that entailed photo-editing. It is quite a relaxing endeavour. At the same time I can either be hyper-focused to the point where I don't realise I need to eat or go to the toilet. Or I can be completely the other way and have no interest. I think that is where my wife is coming from; no guarantee I could follow through no matter how much interest I could suggest on say a Monday morning, I may be despondent and mentally focused on something else by Monday evening. I think I would definitely have to seek advice medically first surrounding that.

My specific interest though at the moment is that if I could attempt to go self employed. My fear is that even if I could do the work; that I couldn't get any; that I would have to advise the DWP ESA of such work attempts. They could read more ability in to this than there necessarily is and especially as my own mental issues never put me forward as stupid but potentially dangerous due to mood swings etc. DWP assessors can create such differing conclusions to the real one. I just don't want to die, whenever that may be, unwilling to try; especially if there isn't anything specifically illegal in me trying. The actual work I could do. But until I try I couldn't guarantee the required focus or ability to do anything to timescales. The biggest thing to me is that I have Cont Based ESA in Support Group; PIP enhanced daily living only and my wife is my carer. Fear is that any suggestion at all that I'd like to not be 'disabled and claiming' forever would be jumped on by ESA and with it potential spillover to PIP and my wife's passported Carer's Allowance. I see people doing more even though they are unwell and I envy them. But no envy is worth going for if we lose everything that keeps us afloat. Wouldn't mind losing all benefits if I knew I could earn money though as that would be a form of work built around my own limitations and not around normal day to day avenues of work everybody else does. I would not need to break my own safeguards and go against my own restrictions to try at least.

Thank you all once again.

The thing that set me off thinking was mentioned elsewhere on the web in relation to ESA and is called the Test Trading Scheme. I don't want any government grants or anything like that but simply not to lose everything by attempting something. If I fail miserably as my wife thinks I will it would be nice to know I haven't blown myself out of the water regarding my current benefits which are absolutely lifesaving but which are completely unnecessary if I could make a go of it. I would not attempt to apply for benefits if I could survive otherwise. Never wanted to claim for any other reason than I've had to. Be nice to be 'normal' again.
Thanks again.