Forgive the lack of details - I am just going off a conversation in memory, and I'm not sure I've been passed the right info!

My uncle made a benefits query to see his entitlement - and he was told as a company director he must pay for the first 26 weeks out of the company?

He has his own building company and times have been very bad indeed. He's also had a hip operation a few weeks ago. He'll need the other one doing at some point too - but he says he wants to get back to work and earn some money first. But there's no guarantee of immediate work anyway!

But both hips were deemed 'emergency ops'.

I know myself prior to the hip op he hadn't had a job for at least 2 months, and in the previous two years - he's had no extensions, only walls, chimneys, drives and a garage.

There's no money in the pot. No money in the business. Without the hip ops he was desperate to work, but now he's got the recovery time to deal with. I've been harping on at him for months to claim - surely he is one of the types of person the whole system was set up for in the first place!!!!!

Wants to work - can't get the work, now CAN'T work - has no money - needs some benefits. Must wait 26 weeks!

Anyway - if anyone knows any info that can either confirm or refute the above I'd be grateful.

Further info if needed - he is a company director, it's a limited company, he owns his own house, his wife works - not full time, but the part time hours she does result in a decent salary, they have 2 kids - one living at home (12 yrs old).

He pays his taxes, and prior to two years ago he woulda been putting a decent amount through (dunno any figures). But the last two years have been shocking, I'd say in total he's worked 6 weeks this last year.

Is he fooked? Does he get a big fat NO when so many get the easiest YES in the world

Plus - he needs that second hip op!

It depends which benefit he is claiming.
Sickness benefit
Unempployment benefit
Social Security benefit
Disabled benefit
Rules vary for each one

Unemployment benefit I'm guessing is the one he spoke to someone about

It's not any kind of sickness benefit, altho with the hip operation maybe that would be a better one to consider?

Maybe he should tell them he's just arrived from another country, or that he's the father of 18 kids from 16 different women - it would be a lot easier than saying he's genuinely out of work and could do with a little state help!

It's a bit of a maze Mark, as I found when trying to help my Niece. Your best bet is here http://www.benefitshelpline.com/ All your Uncle has to do is register and they call you back.

Edit: Forget that one Mark, I just realised you have to pay for the service.

Try here. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directo ... G_10026920

If he can prove the date of his first hip operation (doctor's letter?) he could back date the company benefits he should have paid himself and knock it off the 26 weeks period?

Not sure this will work... just an idea. Also, I would suggest he goes for incapacity benefit.

Thanks for the link Paw



Good point - i'll mention that

One thing you will have to combat is the good old "left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing" syndrome.

Over the last couple of months we have had to make many calls to the benefits people for various reasons. (JSA for me for a couple of months, WFTC for us and Income support for my partner).

Each time we rang we would get different and contrasting information.

Good luck with your claim, it's a minefield and VERY frustrating.

the way its going at the minute his claim will never get through

he just wanted a few weeks to ease the pressure, but seems as tho by being relatively successful before and - god forbid - running his own business, he is in a worse off position!

i think it's ridiculous to be told to fend for yourself for 26 weeks. i'd starve to death!

just goes to show, even if you did want to rely on the social it's uphill all the way