Cashback & Benefits

Lip_Stick

Hi all. I'm thinking of joining Quidco, and I'm wondering if it'd affect benefit payments. Does anyone have a clue if it'd count towards earnings for housing benefit? In theory, I believe it shouldn't, as the payment is 'cashback', so you're getting something back of what you've paid, but I'm guessing it's not as simple as that lol.

real1314

It is as simple as that for cashbacks - you pay £200 and get £10 back = you paid £190.

However some quidco stuff generates payment for free sign-ups etc. These are a bit more iffy, but you get a £5 a week earned income disregard - unlikely to be exceeded by quidco free sign-up payments

Lip_Stick

That £10 back though, I take it, is paid into the bank so it could look as though it's an additional income?

I only get just over £10 housing benefit a week, am I allowed to earn up to £5 extra a week with that too without having to mess about declaring it?

real1314

The £5 is allowed against any earnings, but if you're only getting £10 HB do you have other earned income at the moment?

Although the cash back will show as a credit in your bank, if you print a record of the quidco payments, that should suffice.

Bear in mind that there may be a lot of the staff that have never heard of quidco and may need the whole thing explaining to them

Lip_Stick

I have other earned income, so I'm guessing the £5 leeway won't apply then, but thanks very much for the info, I'll give quidco a go then.