Self Employment & Benefits

effortless

Hey guys,

I'm a bit concerned after reading a previous thread regarding someone who had failed to report a change in circumstances with benefits.


I have an issue related to this of my own (and hope people won't pre-judge), I started self employment back in Oct '09 and have been receiving Housing & Council Tax benefits since as I was told by another self employed person to wait until I have completed my tax return to give the office evidence of earnings as I had nothing to prove what I got, and that he was earning more than me and he still gets Housing & Council Tax Benefits. I work Part Time along side my self employment, which the benefits is based off.


I understand I will be largely overpaid and will have to pay it all back, but am I in the same position as the person who has lost their job? Will I be prosecuted for this?


Thanks for any help.

themull1

You have to tell the Benefits office straightaway, or it will be classed as benefit fraud.

Oldernotwiser

themull1 wrote: »

You have to tell the Benefits office straightaway, or it will be classed as benefit fraud.

You have to tell the Benefits Office straight away and hope it isn't classed as benefit fraud.

effortless

Phew! Well I phoned the office and they've asked me to write in with bank statements as soon as possible saying the change in circumstances, and shes added a note on my account to say it is all innocent and that I haven't known what I was earning month to month.

Thanks for the tips guys, I've been mulling it over for a while now.

I'll be paying it all back ASAP!

Turn2us

It is your duty to report any change in your circumstance which might affect your benefit award.

If you don't report a change promptly (within one month) any resulting overpayment may be recoverable from you. If they consider that you deliberately acted dishonestly you may also be guilty of an offence which could result in a caution, a penalty, or in some cases prosecution.

A specialist benefits adviser can prepare you for the possible outcomes and help you through the process.

Horace

My local council require me to provide proof of earnings and they ask to see copies of my receipts for anything that I have paid out. They send me a form to complete which I then take to the neighbourhood office along with my receipts so that they can be verified and I can continue receiving housing and council tax benefits..I have noticed that I do this every 6 months.