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Musician and Benefit Recipient

I'd be grateful for advice on managing a situation for a claimant in receipt of:
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Credit
Income Support
Family Tax Credit
Disability Living Allowance @ the high rate as a carer
Mobility Allowance @ high rate
And is a musician playing about 20 engagements last year about half of which were paid. The amounts involved range from £20 - £250. As band-leader the claimant is usually given the entire fee which is then distributed to other band members/support acts/transport. At a recent gig £85 was disbursed in this manner the claimant receiving £15, which is put in a fund to finance recording (no other band members claim benefits).
Performing, earning small amounts of money on an erratic basis with the range of benefits claimed – what is the situation with the DWP?
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Comments

  • woody01
    woody01 Posts: 1,918 Forumite
    If they are earning, then that person has a bloody cheek claiming all that and putting money into a band!

    If they can get off their behind and go gigging, then they can work for a living like everyone else.

    This person is stealing from public funds and hopefully someone will shop them shortly.
  • Fire_Fox
    Fire_Fox Posts: 26,026 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    If there are any means tested benefits then the money MUST be declared. Put the money into a fund to finance recording sounds like a choice, so would need to come out of the recipients income not be written off!
    Declutterbug-in-progress.⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
  • sunnyone
    sunnyone Posts: 4,716 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Fire_Fox wrote: »
    If there are any means tested benefits then the money MUST be declared. Put the money into a fund to finance recording sounds like a choice, so would need to come out of the recipients income not be written off!

    Apart from DLA its all means tested!
  • DaveX wrote: »
    I'd be grateful for advice on managing a situation for a claimant in receipt of:
    Housing Benefit
    Council Tax Credit
    Income Support
    Family Tax Credit
    Disability Living Allowance @ the high rate as a carer
    Mobility Allowance @ high rate
    And is a musician playing about 20 engagements last year about half of which were paid. The amounts involved range from £20 - £250. As band-leader the claimant is usually given the entire fee which is then distributed to other band members/support acts/transport. At a recent gig £85 was disbursed in this manner the claimant receiving £15, which is put in a fund to finance recording (no other band members claim benefits).
    Performing, earning small amounts of money on an erratic basis with the range of benefits claimed – what is the situation with the DWP?

    You seem to be inpossession of ALL the facts so why dont you ask the DWP what the position is?Why come on here as a new member expecting us to decide what you should do?
    I suspect it will be your one and only post.
  • Nearly spat my glass of chianti over the screen at this one!

    Wot a cheek!
    Be happy, it's the greatest wealth :)
  • woody01
    woody01 Posts: 1,918 Forumite
    Nearly spat my glass of chianti over the screen at this one!

    Wot a cheek!

    Exactly.
    Its a layabout wanting their cake and eating it.
  • Jowo_2
    Jowo_2 Posts: 8,308 Forumite
    Am I missing something from the original post?

    20 part-time gigs a year across 365 days for peppercorn fees on 10 of these? Perhaps £100 to £300?

    Of course, income has to be declared for means tested benefits and they can get adjusted.

    This isn't Paul McCartney on the fiddle and you are allowed to have hobbies...
  • daska
    daska Posts: 6,212 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    From the sounds of it he'd have been lucky to come out with £500 which would average out at less than £10/week.

    It makes no difference to the DLA (care or mobility) or any Child Benefit as these are not means tested. As for the other benefits well, it's not going to make a massive difference.
    Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants - Michael Pollan
    48 down, 22 to go
    Low carb, low oxalate Primal + dairy
    From size 24 to 16 and now stuck...
  • Hithere
    Hithere Posts: 95 Forumite
    daska wrote: »
    From the sounds of it he'd have been lucky to come out with £500 which would average out at less than £10/week.

    It makes no difference to the DLA (care or mobility) or any Child Benefit as these are not means tested. As for the other benefits well, it's not going to make a massive difference.

    Might make a difference if they feel if he is able to work as a musician (paid or unpaid) then he is not quite as disabled as they must have thought he was to award the highest rate of DLA Care & mobility.
  • Indie_Kid
    Indie_Kid Posts: 23,097 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hithere wrote: »
    Might make a difference if they feel if he is able to work as a musician (paid or unpaid) then he is not quite as disabled as they must have thought he was to award the highest rate of DLA Care & mobility.

    Not being able to walk doesn't always make someone incapable of working.
    Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
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