Claiming expenses - wifes employer NHS frowns upon it

[Deleted User]

Wife is a nurse and she was asked to go on a training course 20 miles away. She was also asked if she could pick up another member of staff who didnt drive (making it a further 5 miles).

Anyway, she filled in the expenses claim form and was told that claiming expenses was 'frowned upon'. !!!!!!?

I work in IT and whenever I've had to do anything like use my private car I've claimed expenses. I even used to work in IT for the NHS and claimed expenses no problem.

Nursing seems to have come a long way in the last few years with becoming a more accepted 'profession' rather than a menial task with the introduction of nursing degrees etc. However, I do feel the profession does sometimes let itself down with its lack of professionalism like this and the way nurses are treated.

Anyway, if it was me I'd have told them to sort out transport then if they werent paying expenses.....

DVardysShadow

The sun shines equally on those who claim expenses and on the silly ar535 who frown upon claiming expenses. I personally would take it with a pinch of salt and ask if they want to start with the expenses claim form or go straight to a grievance. These people should not be given time of day or taken seriously.

lucylucky

They can frown all they like as long as they pay her what she is entitled to.

getmore4less

NOTE : she needs buisness insurance for the car to do this.

Thats the way out of it in the future if she does not have it.

Also note on the NHS mileage claim there should be extra 5p per mile for giving lifts so make sure she claims that on top of the standard rate.

Check the rates carefully if they are not the standard ones.
Also check th tax situation if over or under 40p

A lot of NHS trust are like this on expences they think only maagers should be able to claim them.

MrRedundant

I agree with them. Claiming for this journey is a bit off. Its 5 extra miles from her usual journey and the cost to her of it is miniscule. I take she will be supplying her business insurance certificate with the claim.

If it was 200 miles then fair enough.

lucylucky

MrRedundant wrote: »

I agree with them. Claiming for this journey is a bit off. Its 5 extra miles from her usual journey and the cost to her of it is miniscule. I take she will be supplying her business insurance certificate with the claim.

If it was 200 miles then fair enough.

So what is your cut off?

10 miles? 20 miles? 50 miles?

If it is a legitimate business expense then it should be paid.

EDIT - the total journey as I read it was 50 miles, 25 each way, so not minuscule.

The company (NHS) should have of course checked with her that her car was insured for business use, there would be no need to supply a copy of car insurance with every claim.

If it is not insured then she cannot claim, but then again neither can she use her car for this purpose.

McKneff

I work in IT and whenever I've had to do anything like use my private car I've claimed expenses. I even used to work in IT for the NHS and claimed expenses no problem.

of course this is a legitimate business expence, you are doing work for someone else.

Bud If your wife is going on a training course to educate her self so to speak
how can it be classed as a business expense. She is going to work, nothing more than that.

As for the car, going on a training course is not business travel, it is personal so no business insurance is needed.

And dont forget, it's our money we're talking about here.

lucylucky

McKneff wrote: »

I work in IT and whenever I've had to do anything like use my private car I've claimed expenses. I even used to work in IT for the NHS and claimed expenses no problem.

of course this is a legitimate business expence, you are doing work for someone else.

Bud If your wife is going on a training course to educate her self so to speak
how can it be classed as a business expense. She is going to work, nothing more than that.

As for the car, going on a training course is not business travel, it is personal so no business insurance is needed.

And dont forget, it's our money we're talking about here.

If she is going to a place other than her normal place of work and is required to do so by her employer then it is a genuine business expense.

Unless her contract states otherwise, in which case the claim would be rejected rather than "frowned upon"

pjcox2005

McKneff wrote: »

I work in IT and whenever I've had to do anything like use my private car I've claimed expenses. I even used to work in IT for the NHS and claimed expenses no problem.

of course this is a legitimate business expence, you are doing work for someone else.

Bud If your wife is going on a training course to educate her self so to speak
how can it be classed as a business expense. She is going to work, nothing more than that.

As for the car, going on a training course is not business travel, it is personal so no business insurance is needed.

And dont forget, it's our money we're talking about here.

I'm not sure you understand what a business expense is, nor HMRC's definition of business mileage which this would clearly qualify for.

Yes the indiivdual has the benefit of extending their own knowledge, but it is the business who get the immediate benefit and clearly see it as important by putting employees on the course.

We have a number of courses run in London at my work. I think I'd be a little more reluctant if I had to pick up the tab for train travel down at peak times.

Final thought, if we followed your rule, individual decides they don't want to improve their knowledge, then do you think the business would mind if it was key to how they operate (or for that matter you as a patient)?

Mikeyorks

getmore4less wrote: »

NOTE : she needs buisness insurance for the car to do this.
.

Not really ........ she just needs 'including commuting' on the 'use' aspect - as mine has always indicated.
She would need business use if carrying fare paying passengers ..... but the additional passenger supplement isn't construed as that. It's merely the extra wear and tear being compensated for.

iwb100

Mikeyorks wrote: »

Not really ........ she just needs 'including commuting' on the 'use' aspect - as mine has always indicated.
She would need business use if carrying fare paying passengers ..... but the additional passenger supplement isn't construed as that. It's merely the extra wear and tear being compensated for.

Sorry but that is incorrect.

If you use your car to travel to and from work each day ONLY then you do not need "business use" on your policy.

However, if during your work time you need to travel in your car, frequently, sporadically or even just once every 6 months, then you should have business use on your policy. Otherwise you will not be covered as this is not considered personal use.

Having previously worked in the NHS I know that no mileage claims could be allowed (where I worked) unless the relevant insurance certificate with the business use included and been produced and signed off by the persons line manager.