Self-employment for people with disabilities (UK)
Encyclopedia
In the UK
, self-employment
is a popular option for disabled people. Of those in paid work, 18 per cent of disabled men and 8 per cent of disabled women are self-employed as their main job, compared to only 14 per cent and 6 per cent of non-disabled men and women respectively. Unfortunately, many people are not familiar with the rules that can help disabled people into self-employed work. Self employment is also sometimes the only option for some disabled people who may require flexible working patterns as a result of their impairment .
: to be socially excluded. UK policy has created a number of different programmes which have the aim of addressing social exclusion
through employment
, including self-employment. One example, which aims to address the additional barriers disabled people face, is the Access to Work Programme, which may provide impairment related equipment, support worker and travel costs (if you are unable to use public transport)Access to Work.
There are also opportunities to work whilst claiming some benefits, such as Employment and Support Allowance and Disabled Persons Tax Credit. For example, Employment and Support Allowance
(ESA) allows disabled people to do some (‘Permitted’) work, which includes self-employment, not only as a route to independence, but also to ‘allow them to be socially included’. This 'permitted work' must satisfy a number of criteria. For example, if a disabled person’s income
is less than £20 per week, they can work any number of hours whilst still claiming ESA.
Income-related ESA is non-taxable whilst contribution-based ESA is taxable.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, self-employment
Self-employment
Self-employment is working for one's self.Self-employed people can also be referred to as a person who works for himself/herself instead of an employer, but drawing income from a trade or business that they operate personally....
is a popular option for disabled people. Of those in paid work, 18 per cent of disabled men and 8 per cent of disabled women are self-employed as their main job, compared to only 14 per cent and 6 per cent of non-disabled men and women respectively. Unfortunately, many people are not familiar with the rules that can help disabled people into self-employed work. Self employment is also sometimes the only option for some disabled people who may require flexible working patterns as a result of their impairment .
UK Self-Employment and Benefits
Being at a disadvantage in the workplace means one is more likely to be isolated from the rest of societySociety
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
: to be socially excluded. UK policy has created a number of different programmes which have the aim of addressing social exclusion
Social exclusion
Social exclusion is a concept used in many parts of the world to characterise contemporary forms of social disadvantage. Dr. Lynn Todman, director of the Institute on Social Exclusion at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, suggests that social exclusion refers to processes in which...
through employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
, including self-employment. One example, which aims to address the additional barriers disabled people face, is the Access to Work Programme, which may provide impairment related equipment, support worker and travel costs (if you are unable to use public transport)Access to Work.
There are also opportunities to work whilst claiming some benefits, such as Employment and Support Allowance and Disabled Persons Tax Credit. For example, Employment and Support Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance is a UK Government State Benefit which replaced new claims for Incapacity Benefit and Income Support on the basis of incapacity for work for most claimants from 27 October 2008. Initially, claimants already receiving Incapacity Benefit continued to receive it as...
(ESA) allows disabled people to do some (‘Permitted’) work, which includes self-employment, not only as a route to independence, but also to ‘allow them to be socially included’. This 'permitted work' must satisfy a number of criteria. For example, if a disabled person’s income
Income
Income is the consumption and savings opportunity gained by an entity within a specified time frame, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. However, for households and individuals, "income is the sum of all the wages, salaries, profits, interests payments, rents and other forms of earnings...
is less than £20 per week, they can work any number of hours whilst still claiming ESA.
Income-related ESA is non-taxable whilst contribution-based ESA is taxable.