coming off benifits

tonty_2

i went self employed after being made redundent about 18mnth ago. I claim hb council tax benefit and some working tax credit. has im now getting busyer than when i claimed for benifits i want to come off them. If i write to them to say i dont want to claim benifits will they just stopp them (which is what i want) or will the want more info
thanx

CIS

The will stop them from any date you wish, its is completley your choice if you want to claim or ened a claim for any benefits that you are entitled to.

You may still be entitled to some Tax credits, even after you earn too much for HB/CTB,it might still be worth claiming any Tax Credits you are eligible for.

tonty_2

thanks im just worried as i took on new work 2 months ago and have waited to make sure the new work is regular for me which it has been scince late nov. i will write to ask for my benifits to stop asap will they want to know why ect and should i mention iv been buser foe a couple of months?

CIS

You just need to tell them that you wish to end your claim as your circumstances have changed, they don't need to know anything other than that.

For the tax credits they may still need to send you a form fter the year end, to check the income for the year so that they can pro-rate it for the period ou where claiming.

Fran

If you have been claiming income related benefits such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit you should tell them what you have earned because it will affect the amount of benefit you have been entitled to. It's better to declare it than end up with an unexpected bill for overpayment in a few weeks.

starving

Fran wrote:

If you have been claiming income related benefits such as Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit you should tell them what you have earned because it will affect the amount of benefit you have been entitled to. It's better to declare it than end up with an unexpected bill for overpayment in a few weeks.

that is the correct and official response, however the fact is we live in the real world.

my advice is just stop claiming and leave it as that, the benefits people will be more than happy that you have stopped claiming.

the problem with this area (self employment & benefits) is that is a minefield mathematically.

lasy year i won some money, after 6 months, 6 different documnet requests, they are still investigating as i have to prove that i deliberatly didnt dispose of my money, once this is concluded they are then having to go into my finances week by week to calculate my claim for each week, imagine what a mess yours will be with the varying income plus the fact that with some of this income you will be able to write off as costs (remember its your profit that counts, not the total money income).

Anthillmob

information will be sent at some point by the dwp to the la and then benefits will be stopped from the date started work thus creating an overpayment which depending on its size may result in fraud asking questions. so its best to tell them to stop benefits from the day you started work and arrange tp pay back the overpayment.

tonty_2

so if i just phone and say id like to end my claim from today due to a change in my circ they will just leave it at that? or will they ask why ect sorry to ask again.

elaine373

tonty wrote:

thanks im just worried as i took on new work 2 months ago and have waited to make sure the new work is regular for me which it has been scince late nov. i will write to ask for my benifits to stop asap will they want to know why ect and should i mention iv been buser foe a couple of months?

The longer you wait the more difficult it will get,surely? Just ring them before you are in a more compromising position, at least by telling them your change of circumstances you wont be committing fraud.( which it has been and will continue to be if you carry on) Sorry if this sounds harsh..........

hjb123

I would ring them and tell them the date that you started work as you may have to pay some benefits back! I would of thought that the moment that you start work you should notify them regardless of whether you want to wait to see if the work is right for you!

dag_2

has im now getting busyer than when i claimed for benifits i want to come off them.

Like cis says, you can stop most benefits at any time, with the exception of tax credits. Bear in mind, however, that if you ask to stop your tax credits, you may be hit by a nasty overpayment bill in the following year. The best way to avoid this problem is not to make a claim for tax credits in the first place.

Tax credits are only really recommended for homeowners. If you're a tenant, then claiming tax credits could adversely affect your housing benefit. Combine the immediate housing benefit loss with the subsequent tax credit overpayment demands, and it could leave you worse off than you would have been if you never claimed tax credits in the first place.