Stephanie Whalley

Total Post: 156

Serial snacker, compulsive cocktail sipper and full time wordsmith with a penchant for alliteration, all things marketing and pineapple on pizza.

About the Author

We know what it’s like to be a freelancer, so here at Freelancer News we love keeping you up to date with all the latest news, tips and advice for freelancers. We cover tips on how to get work as a freelancer, economic news which may affect the way you work and the best way to handle your accounts and finance.

To make sure you’re always getting the latest news, we’ve gathered a team of writers with specific expertise and industry knowledge. That way you know that our writers can handle any aspect of freelancer life that you might need help with. Below are the latest articles from Stephanie.

Can I Freelance Whilst I Study for my Degree?

Can I Freelance Whilst I Study for my Degree?

Whether it’s to pursue a passion, expand a skillset or support themselves financially through their studies, some students turn to freelancing.

If you’re a UK resident attending a UK university, part-time freelancing is accepted as a great way to earn extra money and gain experience in a particular area.

But freelancing is not permitted if you’re an international student attending a UK university on a student visa. This is because of restrictions about the number of hours and type of work you’re allowed to do on this type of visa.

 

Benefits of freelancing while studying for a degree

The obvious advantage of freelancing while studying for a degree is that you can make some extra money to supplement your student loan. The benefits of running a side hustle while studying go way beyond making some extra cash though.

 

Flexible earning

Not only is freelancing a great way to open an additional income stream, it’s also an incredibly flexible way to earn money.

Many students take up part-time work in the retail or hospitality industries to earn extra cash, but part-time self-employment is far more adaptable than working for an employer.

Working for yourself means you can scale your workload up or down depending on how busy you are with your studies, and ensure your university deadlines and freelance deadlines never clash. Contracted employment hours and shifts can be far more rigid.

 

Practical experience

While working in retail or hospitality is a proactive way to support yourself financially as a student, freelancing in your chosen industry is a great way to get ahead professionally while earning at the same time.

Many industries evolve rapidly so if you’ve been freelancing during your degree course, you’ll be able to hit the ground running post-graduation with practical skills and actionable knowledge of the sector.

It will also give you a competitive advantage in the professional market.

If you want to start applying for jobs, your freelance experience will boost your employability as you’ll already have a portfolio of freelance work to support your applications.

If you want to continue freelancing and turn your side hustle into a full-time business, you will have solid self-employment foundations to build on.

Plus, what you learn through your freelancing can also have mutual benefits for your academic work, hopefully boosting your grades.

 

Building contacts

While you’re out gaining experience in the professional world alongside your studies, you also get the opportunity to meet people in your industry and make connections.

Just like skills and a portfolio, this will support your employability once you start looking for a job post-graduation. Or, if you plan to freelance full-time or start your own business after university, these connections can form the start of your client base.

 

Establishing strong work ethics

Part-time freelancing while studying is a great way to get a feel for what the working world is like without having to dive right in at the deep end.

Freelancing exposes you to things like client communications, time management, and negotiating costs – all of which are incredibly useful soft skills for a graduate.

Balancing a side hustle with your academic studies also teaches you valuable lessons about discipline, organisation, and striking a healthy work-life balance.

 

Things to consider as a side-hustling student

Before kick-starting your freelance side hustle whilst you study, there are some important things for you to think about in order to manage expectations and ensure you’re not spreading yourself too thinly.

 

Impact on your studies

First and foremost, it’s vital to make sure that your freelance work doesn’t get in the way of your academic studies. Only commit to a realistic number of hours or projects and leave adequate time and head space for your degree.

The beauty of freelancing is that you can adapt your workload in between semesters. So, when your university work is more intensive, you can focus less on side hustling. In your academic breaks, you can ramp up your freelance work if you want to.

 

Uncertainty around earnings

Employment might be rigid and inflexible in terms of time, but it is pretty stable when it comes to weekly or monthly pay. Freelance work, on the other hand, is less reliable as you will be counting on clients to pay their invoices within the agreed terms.

Clients sometimes miss payment deadlines and it’s up to you to chase them to settle their bills. This can be stressful and eat into your valuable time.

Only work with clients you know are going to pay their invoices on time and not add to your to-do list (or stress levels).

 

Finding freelance work

Completing work is one thing but sourcing gigs and maintaining client relationships takes time and effort. Even sending emails back and forth to sign off prices, discuss amends or arrange meetings is time that pulls you away from your studies.

Applying for freelance jobs and preparing your portfolio to present to potential clients can also be super time intensive.

Make sure to factor all of this in before agreeing to any work. It’s important to be open and honest with your freelance clients too, so that they’re aware of your situation and that sometimes, your studies will have to come first.

 

Do students have to pay tax on freelance work?

Yes, all of the same tax rules apply to students who earn money through self-employment alongside their academic studies.

This means you need to pay personal income tax on any taxable earnings you make through your freelance side hustle.

You can earn up to £1,000 from self-employment in a tax year before you need to register with HMRC and report your income. After that, you may need to sign-up for Self Assessment so you can submit a tax return each year and pay what you owe.

The Personal Allowance means you don’t have to pay income tax on the portion of your earnings that fall below the current £12,570 threshold.

Your student loan and things like bursaries, grants and scholarships are normally tax-free and therefore don’t typically contribute to your Personal Allowance.

If you make money from selling goods and services overseas, you might also have to pay taxes to other countries as well.

Dealing with your accounts takes time and energy too, so just make sure you’re realistic about what you can take on alongside your degree.

 
Find even more advice and guidance for freelancers in our handy info hub!

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Can I Freelance After I Retire?

Can I Freelance After I Retire?

For some people, retirement plans include travelling to bucket list destinations, investing time into new hobbies, or home renovation projects that have been neglected for many years. It’s a chance to leave behind the world of work altogether and turn their attention to other things entirely.

For others, retirement is the perfect time to focus on a post-employment freelance venture. This could be continuing a freelance side hustle that is already up and running, or it could mean venturing into the world of freelancing afresh. There’s absolutely nothing to stop you freelancing once you reach retirement age, or even if you take early retirement.

We explore the benefits of freelancing after retirement and share our advice on things like tax liabilities and marketing your freelance services.

Should I start freelancing once I retire?

OK, so you can freelance, but should you? There are plenty of benefits depending on what you’re looking to get out of it.

Nurture your passion

Just because you’ve reached retirement age, it doesn’t mean you should give up doing what you love or what you’re good at. If you’ve still got energy and expertise, freelancing is the ideal way to go about it.

Earn extra income

As well as continuing to do something you love or exploring an untapped talent you’ve always had, freelancing is also a great way to earn extra money. It can be lucrative too.

Plus, freelancing is a far more flexible way to generate income. You can scale your workload up or down depending on your personal schedule, without having to commit to contracted employment hours.

Better wellbeing

Retirement is a cause for celebration, but it can also be a common trigger for anxiety and depression.

Leaving a life’s career behind can cause people to feel like they’ve lost their sense of purpose, which can lead to feelings of grief too. Plus, leaving employment behind can also come with financial stress.

Freelancing not only provides an extra stream of income, but it also reinstates a sense of purpose. This will support better mental stimulation, happiness, and improved physical health too.

You’re off the National Insurance hook

Once you reach State Pension age, you stop paying Class 1 and Class 2 National Insurance contributions (NIC). This is true even if you’re still working.

Class 1 relates to the NIC paid through employment, while Class 2 refers to the NIC paid through self-employment.

This means you get to keep more of your freelance earnings post-retirement than you would have done before reaching State Pension age.

Note: you will need to carry on paying Class 4 contributions until the end of the tax year in which you reach State Pension age.

Will I pay income tax if I freelance after retirement?

You might not be liable to pay National Insurance contributions once you reach State Pension age, but you may need to pay tax on your freelance earnings.

The good news is that everyone is entitled to the Trading Allowance, permitting you to earn up to £1,000 from self-employment in a tax year before you need to report it to HMRC or pay tax.

After that, you’ll need to register for and submit Self Assessment tax returns so you can pay Income Tax on any earnings over the (tax-free) Personal Allowance.

The current Personal Allowance threshold is £12,570, which means you don’t need to pay any Income Tax on the first £12,570 you earn.

Your Personal Allowance encompasses all sources of income, so your total income will include:

  • State Pension
  • Private pension (although some of this can be taken tax-free)
  • Self-employment earnings (e.g., freelance income)
  • Taxable benefits
  • Income from property
  • Investment earnings

Any income above the £12,570 allowance will be subject to tax. You are responsible for reporting these earnings to HMRC and paying the necessary taxes.

How to promote freelance services

So, you’re excited to take on post-retirement freelancing – but how do you go about sharing your offering with the world? Whether you’ve got a pre-established client base or not, here are some quick tips on how to market your freelance services successfully.

Be active on social media

Social media is one of the most effective ways to expand the reach of your offering and be an active part of current conversations in your industry.

These days, many people also use social media as an additional search engine so if people are searching for an expert in your field, being present online will help them find you. It’s also a great place for customers to share their reviews and recommendations.

Don’t think you need to be active on every single platform though – go where your customers are and speak to them in their language. If you’re a freelance financial advisor, for example, you might find it harder to target your audience on TikTok.

Consider setting up a website

This won’t be necessary for the operation of every freelance service but for some, a business website can be an invaluable tool. If you’re a freelance copywriter or wedding photographer, for instance, a website is the perfect place to collate examples of your work and explain pricing structures.

Attend online and in-person events

Getting out there and meeting people is a tried and tested way to find new business. There are stacks of digital events to attend online these days but don’t forget about good old-fashioned, face-to-face networking too.

Encourage word-of-mouth referrals

Ask clients to recommend you to their contacts, share your content on social media, and write testimonials for you to share on your own channels. Customer recommendations are a powerful force when it comes to finding and retaining business.

Find more expert advice and resources in our freelancer information hub.

The Freelancer’s Guide to Dropshipping
Freelance Christmas Side Hustles

Freelance Christmas Side Hustles

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the most expensive. There are extra costs coming at you left, right and centre, not helped, of course, by the increased cost of living.

If you’re looking for extra funds to support your seasonal spending this year, you might consider setting up a freelance side hustle to help you generate some additional income.

Ways to make cash for Christmas as a freelancer

 

If you have some spare time outside of paid employment and would like to make some extra spends in time for the festive period, here are some cool ways you could go about it.

 

Sell seasonal products on Etsy

 

If you got a penchant for arts and crafts or a creative skill left untapped, now is the perfect time to let it shine by making seasonal products to sell online, such as:

  • Greetings cards
  • Thank you cards
  • Scented candles and wax melters
  • Hand-decorated baubles
  • Handmade wreathes and garlands
  • Personalised decorations
  • Personalised Christmas Eve boxes for children
  • Plates to leave snacks for Santa and Rudolph on
  • Knitted hats, scarves, and gloves
  • Handmade crockery
  • Balloon arrangements

These are just some common examples of what people create and sell around Christmas time to make some extra money. However, get your creative juices flowing because the more unique your seasonal product, the more likely you are to stand out in the market and sell.

Top tip: don’t forget to factor seller fees into your budget and expenses if you are going to use ecommerce marketplaces like Etsy, Amazon, or eBay.

 

Sell edible festive treats

 

Two hot commodities you know are sure to sell, especially during the festive season when people are drinking and being merry, are food and drink. People are more liberal around Christmas time with their calories and their cash, which is a lucrative opportunity for you.

Examples of edible treats you could make and sell include:

  • Christmas cookies or cupcakes
  • Festive flavoured fudge
  • Homemade Panettone
  • DIY cookie or cupcake jars
  • DIY hot chocolate sets with all the trimmings
  • Gingerbread
  • Edible wreaths made from sweets
  • Food and drink hampers

Get creative with it – just make sure you comply with all the necessary health and safety regulations if you are going to go down the food or drink route.

Be sure to check out the legalities before you stock your pantry, so you don’t end up in a sticky spot of trouble with lots of costly ingredients left on your hands.

 

Turn the jobs nobody wants into extra cash

 

Christmas is a time when many people want to kick back, relax, and forgot about their to-do lists until the new year. This is the perfect opportunity for somebody looking to earn extra money to strike by offering to do the tasks nobody wants to do in exchange for payment.

This includes things like:

  • Picking up and dropping off Christmas trees
  • Putting decorations up and taking them down
  • Present wrapping
  • Trips to the tip to get rid of cardboard boxes and other junk
  • Housesitting while people are visiting family and friends elsewhere
  • Dog-sitting while people head off on last-minute holidays

It goes without saying that, in order to offer any ad hoc services like these, you need to make sure you’re able to do so safely and legally.

Do some research to make sure there aren’t any qualifications or safety checks you need to have passed before starting anything as a freelance side hustle.

 

Turn your skill into seasonal spends

 

The world of business doesn’t stop just because Santa is coming to town, which means your Christmas side hustle doesn’t necessarily have to be Christmas-related at all.

If you have a skill that you could be putting to use to generate an additional income stream in time for the festive period, there’s no time like the present. If it goes well and you see success, you could even continue your side hustle once Christmas has passed.

That said, even if you have a non-festive skill up your sleeve, there are ways you can capitalise on the season to upsell or attract new customers.

If you’re a freelance photographer, for example, you could pull together a limited-time service where you offer families Christmas-themed photoshoots for things like greetings cards and calendars.

It doesn’t have to be creative either. If you’re a plumber, for instance, you could offer a discounted service to check pipes and plumbing during the cold season when people often experience issues with freezing and water pressure.

Or maybe you’re a freelance wedding planner wondering how to make some money during the quieter wedding season. You could transfer your organisational skills and contacts list to Christmas or New Year party planning instead temporarily.

 

Don’t let taxes tarnish your festive spirit

 

No matter what your side hustle is, you’ll need to let HMRC know about it if your total self-employed income is more than £1,000 in a tax year. Anything below that threshold is covered by the trading allowance, which enables you to earn up to £1,000 through miscellaneous means (e.g., Christmas side hustles) without having to declare it or pay tax on it.

If your earnings go above the threshold, you’ll need to register for Self Assessment and submit a tax return. Fortunately, you can still offset the allowance against your earnings and only pay tax on anything above the threshold, or you can claim tax relief on your expenses instead.

How much tax you pay will depend on your overall income for the tax year, including what you earn from your main income source (i.e., employment), although you won’t need to pay tax on the same income twice. And no, your employer won’t find out unless you tell them!

Find more of the latest news and guidance for freelancers in our info hub.

How Do Freelancers Pay Tax?

How Do Freelancers Pay Tax?

The nature of being a freelancer means that you’re self-employed, and therefore not paid by an employer who will make tax deductions on your behalf through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system.

Generating your own income from self-employment means you’re also responsible for paying your own tax and keeping HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) up to date with your financial situation.

How you pay the tax you owe on your freelance earnings depends on how you are set up as a business.

For most freelancers this usually means operating as either a sole trader or as a limited company. These structures have different rules for reporting and paying tax (as well as different tax rates) but because they’re the most common options, we’ll go over both.
 

Paying tax as a (freelance) sole trader

If you’re set up as a sole trader, you will need to submit an annual Self Assessment tax return online or through the post and pay Income Tax on your freelance earnings. This is the most popular route for self-employed freelancers to take (but other options are available!).
 

Submitting a Self Assessment tax return

There are different deadlines depending on whether you submit your Self Assessment tax return online or through the post.

HMRC is encouraging all taxpayers to file returns digitally moving forward (as part of Making Tax Digital) but for now, paper returns are still accepted.

If you submit a paper tax return, the deadline is 31st October following the end of the tax year being reported. If you submit an online Self Assessment, you have a little longer, until 31st January.
 

Paying Income Tax

After submitting your tax return, you’ll receive a tax bill detailing how much you owe in Income Tax and National Insurance.

Your tax bill can be paid:

  • Online through your account with HMRC by debit or corporate credit card
  • Via Direct Debit
  • By approving a payment through your online bank account
  • Telephone bank transfer
  • At your bank or building society
  • By cheque via the post

You also have the option to pay your tax bill through your tax code. Taking this option means your tax code will change, and your employer will deduct the tax you owe for self-employment alongside your usual deductions. It might be something to avoid if you don’t want your employer to know you’re self-employed! This is only available if:

  • You owe less than £3,000
  • You already pay tax through PAYE
  • You submitted your paper tax return by 31st October or your online tax return by 30th December (a little earlier than the usual 31st January deadline for online submissions)

 

Making payments on account

If your tax bill comes to more than £1,000 then you might also need to make payments on account. This is where HMRC ask you to make advance payments towards next year’s tax bill, based on predictions of what you are likely to earn.

These are paid in two installments and need to be paid by the following deadlines:

  • First installment – 31st January (the same deadline for paying the current year’s tax bill)
  • Second installment – 31st July of the same year.

 

Paying tax if you’re set up as a limited company

If you’re set up as a limited company, you will need to submit an annual Company Tax Return and pay Corporation Tax on your freelance earnings.

The deadline for filing this type of tax return is 12 months after the accounting period it covers has ended.
 
Paying Corporation Tax

Once you have submitted your Company Tax Return, you will then be informed how much Corporation Tax you need to pay.

If your taxable profits are below £1.5 million, this needs to be paid within 9 months and 1 day of the accounting period ending.

If your taxable profits exceed £1.5 million, you will need to pay your tax in installments, each with their own separate deadlines.

Can a freelancer claim tax relief on expenses?

Yes, just like any other business, freelancers are allowed to claim allowable expenses as tax relief against their bill, helping to keep your tax bill down!
 
Common examples of allowable expenses freelancers claim include:

  • Work-from-home expenses (such as a portion of your rent, utility bills, internet connection, etc.)
  • Business-related supplies and equipment (laptop, printers, software, stationery)
  • Work-related travel costs (tickets, hotels, food and drink)
  • Professional services (solicitor, accountant, etc.)
  • Marketing and advertising costs (business cards, web hosting fees)
  • Membership fees and subscriptions

Any expenses you claim need to be directly related to your freelancing work and necessary to the operation of business-related activities.

Remember to keep receipts and documentation to support your claims, just in case you ever need to produce them for an audit!
 

Find more expert advice and handy resources for freelancers in our info hub!

Will Digital Content Help My Freelance Business?

Will Digital Content Help My Freelance Business?

Valuable, accurate and original content can be critical to your success when freelancing. Digital content (content you create to share online) can help you connect with your existing customers, as well as reach new audiences who will hopefully also become paying clients. So what can you do? We go over some of the different types of digital content to consider for your freelance business.

 

Professional or portfolio website


Pitching for (and securing) work can be tricky, so having a professional website or some other platform to show off your skills and reviews is a good one to tick off your digital content to-do list.

If you feel a website will help (although it’s not always essential for every business) there are a few costs involved in getting started, like web hosting, a domain, design work and maybe some technical software expertise.

That said, investing time, energy and money into your website will pay dividends (literally, hopefully) as it is such a versatile and practical tool. It’s also worth mentioning that you might be able to offset your costs as a business expense, helping to reduce your tax bill!

A professional website can be a way to carve out your own space in the digital landscape. It fulfils a whole host of vital functions, including:

  • A place for potential clients to find out more about what you do
  • A means by which people can contact you with enquiries
  • Somewhere to show what services you offer, as well as pricing information if applicable
  • A foundation on which you can build other digital content, such as blogs and videos

 

The perfect place to put your portfolio

A business website is also where you can house a portfolio of your work. This doesn’t have to be every single project you’ve ever worked on, which could be overwhelming and tricky to browse for visitors.

Instead, showcase your best work and update this regularly with the projects you’re most proud of. Show off the diversity of your skillset and support this with some client case studies and testimonials to show the value you bring to your customers.

If you’re not ready for a website of your own, there are lots of portfolio sharing platforms out there which are worth a look.

 

Social media content for freelancers

In the modern world, it’s safe to say that most businesses need a social media presence if they’re going to succeed. Think of social media as your digital soapbox and your way to share thoughts, resources, blog posts, videos, images, and more with your target demographic.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter are all super powerful communication and digital marketing tools. They enable you to reach people near and far, including existing customers, potential customers, peers, mentors and even the competitors you want to keep a close eye on.

Share engaging organic content that adds value, interact with your audience and invest in paid media advertising to reach a wider audience if your cash flow permits.

Make sure the content you’re creating is native to each of the different platforms so you’re appealing to the users on there. This is an important part of forming a strong social media strategy that generates business – something some freelancers with wiggle room in their budget prefer to outsource.

Even if the content you share is minimal, lots of people will make word-of-mouth recommendations through social media groups, so it’s a good thing to keep an eye on.

 

Written content for freelance marketing

Create articles that showcase your skills, offer tips and focus on common client pain points or struggles to show them how your services are their ideal solution. A blog for your freelance business will help establish you as a credible thought leader and can even help pull organic traffic to your website.

Written content also includes text-based resources such as white papers, guides, reports and eBooks. Again, fill these with expert advice and rich knowledge that your audience will want to get their hands on. It shows that you’re a pro in your field.

Resources like this can either be free to download from your website if you’re feeling generous, or you can gate them behind a lead generation landing page or paid social ad. The latter requires somebody to fill in their details in order to access your content – a tried and tested data capture tactic.

 

Video and audio content

Video and audio are increasingly popular as forms of digital content when it comes to what audiences now want to consume. That’s why we’d recommend adding things like social media video content (Instagram reels, TikTok videos, etc) YouTube videos and podcasts into your content plans.

The nature of your video content could include things like tutorials, explainer videos or even client testimonials.

 

Email marketing

Email is one the most effective ways to keep customers informed about your services, and for you to share valuable content and offer exclusive promotions.

Although email marketing could become one of the most vital parts of your comms and marketing strategy, it’s also usually one of the most inexpensive. Email campaigns are also far easier to track in terms of performance than things like social media content and blogs.

Send out regular newsletters and updates to make sure the people on your mailing list keep you in mind. Make sure you’re only sending valuable, informative emails, though, otherwise you run the risk of annoying recipients and pushing them towards the dreaded ‘Unsubscribe’ button. Include a link back to your website or contact form in all your emails!

 

Guest content

The freelance life is a busy one, we get it – but if you can find some spare time in your schedule to dip your toes into guest content, it will provide you with invaluable exposure. You might even be able to produce guest content in exchange for a fee and make some extra cash at the same time.

Guest content includes things like:

  • Authoring blogs or articles on somebody else’s website or publication
  • Appearing as a guest on podcasts or video series
  • Creating content that is shared on other social media platforms

To reap the true rewards of guest content, you should make sure the platforms you’re featuring on are relevant to your industry. Doing so means you can reach people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say or share.

You can also invite people to create guest content for your own digital platforms. Not only will this help flesh out your content marketing plan, but it’s also a great way to go about online networking and relationship building.
 
Find more advice and guidance for freelancers in our info hub!

Why Do I Need a UTR Number?
Can Freelancers Claim the Employment and Support Allowance?

Can Freelancers Claim the Employment and Support Allowance?

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a type of financial benefit that might be available if you have ‘limited capacity to work’, such as a health condition or disability which inhibits your ability to work.

The allowance is designed to provide some financial security whilst you are unable to generate income. It’s particularly useful if you’re a self-employed freelancer and don’t have an employer to pay Statutory Sick Pay when you need time off sick.
 

What is the new-style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?

Most people who claim ESA now get what is called ‘new style ESA’, which replaced the previous income-based and contribution-based allowances.

It’s a contributory benefit, which means that you must have made sufficient National Insurance contributions or NI credits in last few years to receive it.

Although there are still some people receiving the old types of ESA, any new claims will now receive the new style Employment and Support Allowance which provides:

  • Financial support towards your living costs
  • Class 1 National Insurance credits, which can support your State Pension and other benefits.
  • Professional support if you’re able to return to work.

 

How much can I claim with the Employment and Support Allowance?

A new claim for the ESA can take several weeks, or even months, to be assessed, so you’ll normally be entitled to an ‘assessment rate’ of ESA until a decision has been made. The assessment rates of new style ESA are currently:

  • £67.20 per week for anybody under 25
  • £84.80 per week for anybody 25 and over

If you are deemed eligible following assessment, any money owed from the assessment period will be backdated.

Assessment categorises those who are eligible for ESA into two groups: ‘work-related’ (those who will likely be able to work again) and ‘support’ (those who aren’t likely to work in the future).

The new style ESA rates for these groups are currently:

  • Work-related: up to £84.80
  • Support: up to £128.85

Note: a private pension of more than £85 per week may impact how much you can receive in ESA.
 

Who is eligible for new style ESA?

Employment and Support Allowance is available to those who are employed, unemployed, or self-employed, although you will need to meet the criteria in order to qualify.

To be eligible to receive ESA, you must:

  • Have a disability or health condition that directly limits your capacity to work
  • Have worked as an employee or been self-employed
  • Be aged 16 or over
  • Be under the State Pension age (you can find out more about this on the GOV.UK website)
  • Live in England, Wales, or Scotland
  • Have paid sufficient National Insurance (NI) for the last 2-3 tax years (this also includes National Insurance credits)

Note: Even if you aren’t eligible for new style ESA right now, you may still be able to get National Insurance credits if you are unable to work. These NI credits could then help you qualify for ESA further down the line.

 

Can a freelancer claim Employment and Support Allowance?

Yes, freelancers are allowed to claim ESA providing you also meet the other conditions. It’s worth noting that if you have a full-time job as well as a self-employed side hustle (i.e., you freelance to supplement your PAYE salary), you can claim ESA but only for one type of income. You won’t be able to claim ESA on both employment and self-employment income at the same time.
 

How do I apply for ESA?

If you think you qualify for ESA and need support while you’re unable to work, you can apply via the GOV.UK website.

Make sure you’ve got the following to hand:

  • National Insurance number
  • Bank or building society account number and sort code (yours or somebody else’s if you don’t have your own)
  • Your doctor’s name, address and contact details
  • A note from your doctor (i.e., a ‘sick note’, ‘fit note’ or a ‘statement of fitness for work’)
  • Date your Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is due to end (if applicable)

Once your application has been submitted, you will then be contacted by phone with next steps.
 

Can I still work whilst claiming ESA?

You can still work if you are claiming Employment and Support Allowance but only if you:

  • Work fewer than 16 hours per week.
  • Aren’t earning more than £167 a week.

Any hours you do work will need to be recorded with Jobcentre Plus.
 

Can you get ESA alongside other benefits?

You may be able to claim some benefits whilst claiming the Employment and Support Allowance, but others will not be available during the claim period.

In most cases, you are able to claim Personal Independent Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit at the same time as new style ESA.

Some people choose to get ESA instead of Universal Credit because the payments are more frequent (every 2 weeks rather than monthly), while others choose to claim both.

If you do choose to claim ESA and Universal Credit simultaneously (and are eligible to do so), your Universal Credit allowance will be reduced by whatever you receive through ESA.

You cannot normally claim ESA alongside Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), Income Support or Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Of course, SSP only applies to freelancers that are also in employment and paid through the PAYE system.

If you are a freelancer who is also in employment, it’s worth noting that you can apply for new style ESA up to 3 months before your SSP is due to finish. ESA will simply replace your Statutory Sick Pay once that comes to an end.
 

What else can I do?

Being off sick is never easy, especially if your only source of income is the money you make working for yourself. The way that ESA is structured can mean that it’s not that useful for shorter absences, so lots of self-employed freelancers build potential absences into their pricing structure.

Consider what time off you might need over the year for much-needed holidays or for short-term sickness, and factor this in to your fees so that there’s more of a buffer if anything does happen.

Some freelancers also look at self-employed income insurance, to protect them in the event of longer-term issues.
 
Find more advice and guidance for freelancers in our info hub.