Housing Benefit Self Employment Rebate...?

Taxi_Driver_2

Hi, I'm Marc and its a first post from me but I'm a long time reader.

I've scoured the net and cannot find info on the forthcoming question so would appreciate any help...

I applied for housing benefit earlier this year and was successful. However, as I was in my first year of self employment I gave the Council figures for the year so far and they estimated my earnings for the year ahead. Now I have my tax return completed I will be giving the Council it-I think they've came in lower than they originally estimated. My question is will I be entitled to a rebate payment if they owe me money for the year?

Thanks in advance.

fluffymovie

Not usually as we use your projected earnings and then when you have earnings, we use them going forward so we would use your lower earnings for the next year of your claim

uganda

Taxi Driver,

fluffymovie is correct in what he/she says, but let me elaborate slightly.

Generally, if you are just starting out in business when you claim, you make an estimate of your income and the local authority sets a short period - generally 3 months - then asks for an actual breakdown of your income and expenses in the intervening period.

It sounds like you had already been in business for several months, so they used your figures so far to make the assessment. Let's say you earned on average £100pw net in that time and had been assessed on £110pw net. No rebate would be given. It sounds unfair, but then you will now, for the next 6 months say, be assessed on £100pw net when in fact you were netting £150pw by then.

It doesn't always work so neatly, but you get the idea. There is no provision to go back on an assessed period later unless there has been an actual error made by the authority.