What Self-Employed Dog Walkers Need to Know About Sick Pay, Universal Credit & Taking Time Off for Surgery
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- Oct 3, 2025
- 5 min read
What Self-Employed Dog Walkers Need to Know About Being Sick
Being self-employed — especially in a physically active role like dog walking — can be incredibly rewarding. But when your job depends on your physical ability to walk and handle dogs, even a short illness or planned operation can leave you unable to work and suddenly without income.
Many dog walkers ask the same questions:
✖ Does insurance cover me?
✖ Can I claim sick pay?
✔ Can I get Universal Credit if my income stops?
✖ Do I need to claim as an individual or a couple?
✖ What if I run a limited company?
This blog breaks everything down clearly, so you know what support may be available and how the system works.
Do Self-Employed People Get Sick Pay?
✖ Self-employed people are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). SSP only applies to employees.
This means if you're unable to work due to surgery or illness, there is no automatic sick pay, and you must explore benefits or insurance options instead.
Does Income Protection Insurance Cover Existing Conditions?
Many dog walkers consider income protection insurance, but here’s the important part:
✖ Most insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. If you
already had symptoms
already had a diagnosis
or were already awaiting a procedure
…before you took the policy out, the insurer is unlikely to cover it.
✔ If you already have a policy that predates any symptoms, it may pay out — but you must check your individual terms.
Universal Credit: Can You Claim While You’re Off Work?
✔ Self-employed people can claim Universal Credit if their income drops due to illness or surgery.
Universal Credit is designed as a top-up for people whose earnings fall or stop entirely.
Eligibility is based on
household income, not just your own
savings
rent/mortgage situation
whether you file as self-employed or as a company director
Yes, couples must claim together. If you live with a partner, you are required to make a joint Universal Credit claim, even if you keep finances separate. UC is assessed per household, not per individual.
What Happens to Your Universal Credit If You’re Too Unwell to Work?
If you cannot work for several months, you can
✔ Report a health condition This triggers a process where you may be classed as
Having limited capability for work (LCW)
Limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA)
LCWRA usually adds an extra monthly payment to your UC after an assessment period.
This is especially helpful for self-employed people recovering from surgery.
How Universal Credit Works for the Self-Employed
If you’re normally self-employed, you usually report your monthly earnings. But if you're unable to work
✔ You can report £0 income during recovery.
Minimum Income Floor (MIF)Under normal circumstances, UC may assume you earn a certain amount each month (similar to a full-time job) — this is called the Minimum Income Floor.
✔ If you’re recovering from surgery and have reported a health condition, the MIF may be temporarily suspended, meaning your UC won't be calculated as if you're still earning.
What If You Run a Limited Company Instead of Being a Sole Trader?
This part is important, as rules differ.
If you're a company director
✖ You are technically an employee of your own company, but you still cannot receive Statutory Sick Pay in most cases, because
SSP requires an employer to pay it
You cannot pay SSP to yourself as the company director/employee without meeting strict criteria
Most small-company directors pay themselves via dividends, which don’t count for SSP
How UC views your company
They will look at what you personally receive, not what the business earns
Salary + dividends = your assessed income
If your company income drops because you can't work, the dividends you take may drop too — meaning you may still be eligible for UC
Can the company continue trading while you’re off sick
✔ Yes, as long as YOU are not the one working
Permitted
Staff walking dogs
Admin done by someone else
Billing continuing normally
Keeping the company open
Not permitted for sick benefit purposes
You handling bookings
Responding to client messages
Managing schedules
Completing admin
Walking or training dogs
Doing any work may be classed as you being capable of employment.
Other Support You May Be Eligible For
✔ New-Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)If you paid enough National Insurance in the past 2–3 years, you might qualify. This is separate from Universal Credit and not based on household income
✔ Council Tax ReductionMany people forget this — you can apply through your local council
✔ Business ExpensesEven during recovery, you may still claim legitimate business expenses, which prevents unexpected bills later
Practical Tips for Dog Walkers Facing Time Off Work
✔ Tell clients early. Most will be understanding and may even return when you're healed
✔ Consider hiring a temporary walker. This keeps your business active and prevents losing clients permanently
✔ Keep all medical evidence. This will help with UC and ESA assessments
✔ Look into future insurance. Once recovered, an income protection policy could help safeguard you later — as long as you declare previous conditions.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone
Taking time off for surgery is stressful, but self-employed dog walkers can get support. Universal Credit, ESA, and careful planning can bridge the gap while you focus on recovery
Running a dog walking business is physically demanding — and it’s absolutely okay to seek help when you need it
About Tori Lynn C. & The Dog House
Welcome to The Dog House — my cosy corner of the TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub. I’m Tori Lynn C., the founder of TLC Dog Walking Limited, mentor to professional dog walkers, and lifelong advocate for dogs and the people who care for them. With over 17 years of hands-on experience in the industry, my mission is to guide you through the realities of running a successful, sustainable dog walking business — from client care and safety to wellbeing, confidence, and professional growth.
The Dog House is where I share the honest, behind-the-scenes conversations we all need: the tricky moments, the funny bits, the business lessons, and the mindset work that keeps us thriving rather than merely surviving. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, you’ll always find support, guidance, and a friendly nudge forward here.
You’re never alone in this journey — you’re part of a community of canine crusaders.
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