I saw this on BBC's your money: Income Max | The Entitlement & Benefit Experts | UK wide Entitlement Check Service

very interesting website!

I know when I was unemployed I didn't get anything for being unemployed as I was brought up in Australia, where we were taught finance at School, which meant get in 0 debt; unless it's for a house, and that we should also save, so I had too much savings and no debt. However after trying to get a job for 18 months I decided to become selfemployed, my savings were getting low and I may have been entitled (I hate that word) to get £65/week. Once I became selfemployed the government gave me £75 a week until I started making enough money to be self sufficient. It was very very helpful!

As you can see being self employed was £10 better off per week, plus the money from the work I was doing.