Sole Trader / Benefits

Hello, I am currently in receipt of Hardship payments due to sanction on my JSA claim, however I have decided to go self employed as I know there is work out there. The problem I have is that when I sign off and start to claim Working Tax Credit, my child tax credit payments will be stopped for 4 weeks until WTC is sorted out, This means my partner and I will have to live off £20 child benefit and whatever I can earn (which won't be alot).

I don't know much about Hardship payments, I assume they stop when I sign off and there is no 4 week extra payments?

Any help/Advice will be of great help

David