Council assumes income question

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shagzdan
shagzdan Posts: 87 Forumite
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in Benefits & tax credits
Hi,
I have been asked by the council to complete a self employment for my current H/B form and they said that they are going to calculate my income as 35 hrs p/week at min wage, whereas in reality I am a sole trader with zero hour contract & no idea what I am going to earn from one week to the next and I don't even work 35 hours per week either.

I earn way below what their assumption is,:( yet they are going to use this calculation for any future decision, doesn't seem right to me.

Shane
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  • Ames
    Ames Posts: 18,459 Forumite
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    Is this decision after returning the form about your self employment?
    Unless I say otherwise 'you' means the general you not you specifically.
  • Icequeen99
    Icequeen99 Posts: 3,775 Forumite
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    Genuine sole traders don't have a zero hours contract - are you sure you are self-employed? There is a calculator on the HMRC website where you can check.

    Lots of councils are doing this to follow the Universal Credit rules.

    IQ
  • Here_Comes_The_Judge
    Here_Comes_The_Judge Posts: 52 Forumite
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    The only people who don't like UC appear to be those whose Gravy Train is about to hit the buffers.
  • shagzdan
    shagzdan Posts: 87 Forumite
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    Here_Comes_The_Judge wrote: »
    The only people who don't like UC appear to be those whose Gravy Train is about to hit the buffers.

    Lots of hate on this site, so hope you all have a nice day!:p

    I don't claim UC but my business has been going for 3 years fairly steady but I am below the assumed threshold (which is a possibility)

    We don't all work 35 hrs per week is my point, it is only a slight discount for my HB as I do not own my own house.
  • shagzdan
    shagzdan Posts: 87 Forumite
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    Icequeen99 wrote: »
    Genuine sole traders don't have a zero hours contract - are you sure you are self-employed? There is a calculator on the HMRC website where you can check.

    Lots of councils are doing this to follow the Universal Credit rules.

    IQ

    Well, I haven't got a pin badge telling me I am a sole trader but I do pay my taxes and complete self assessment every year,,If that counts..:p

    My point is, I do not work 35 hours at min wage.
    Shane
  • Kim_kim
    Kim_kim Posts: 3,726 Forumite
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    If you don’t make minimum wage then is your business isn’t viable.
    It’s best you get a minimum wage job & you won’t need so much state support.
  • shagzdan
    shagzdan Posts: 87 Forumite
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    Here_Comes_The_Judge wrote: »
    The only people who don't like UC appear to be those whose Gravy Train is about to hit the buffers.

    I don't claim it but thanks for the input.:rotfl:
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 16,479 Forumite
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    Rightly or wrongly, being self employed and not earning minimum wage as a full time worker is deemed to be personal choice when benefit entitlement is calculated. That's why the assumption on income has been made by the council. I think the same assumption is being introduced on some other benefits as well.
  • IAmWales
    IAmWales Posts: 2,024 Forumite
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    Do you have health problems OP? If so the 35 hour requirement may not apply to you.
  • tboo
    tboo Posts: 1,379 Forumite
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    edited 19 October 2017 at 11:51AM
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    shagzdan wrote: »
    Hi,
    I have been asked by the council to complete a self employment for my current H/B form and they said that they are going to calculate my income as 35 hrs p/week at min wage, whereas in reality I am a sole trader with zero hour contract & no idea what I am going to earn from one week to the next and I don't even work 35 hours per week either.

    I earn way below what their assumption is,:( yet they are going to use this calculation for any future decision, doesn't seem right to me.

    Shane

    The council should be working your HB on the zero hrs

    Then they do an additional amount for CTR only at min wage x 35hrs because you have been trading for 3 yrs

    But they may not believe you don't work 0 hrs all the time so have used 35 hrs for the whole assessment
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