HMRC 'does not accept' that I work more than 40s hrs per week? What can I do?

Azmataz

Sixer wrote: »

The only way you can overturn this decision is on an evidence-based scenario.

Agree with Sixer: give them ALL the paperwork you can muster! Prints of each tender application, even prints of emails demonstrating the different times you spent emailing back and forth. Same for phone calls: complete phone logs with annotations. Give them copies of your admin files too - anything from databases to Word documents to copies of the finished products you design - they will be marked with timestamps and should demonstrate work over time. Make sure you date them and photocopy your diary, including travel time if any and meetings. Even take screenshots of all your digital files and folder locations and include: it can't hurt!

I would be inclined to start by providing the above for one example month and if that chunk of paper based evidence is not enough for them, hit them with a month-by-month breakdown for the rest of the time-frame.

Don't panic. Just approach it methodically.

Sixer

vintagebrighton wrote: »

Think how many more people would be claiming unemployment benefit if they weren't SE and earning a little but surviving by being topped up with tax credits? There's already a million young people officially unemployed, the official rate of unemployment is nearly 2 million and rising, sick people are being put to work as they no longer qualify with the official version of 'sick'. How will taking support from everyone help the economic situation and 'growth'? There are no jobs. Period. Rant over..... maybe I should go to the discussion board

I hear you, VB. But you must see that there is the POTENTIAL for fraud here, and there must be due diligence? Not saying anything against the OP, just illustrating the situation.

I agree it's better to work a few self-employed hours than languish on the dole. Of course it is.

But WTC claimants don't have any conditionality like JSA claimants do. They don't have to sign on. They don't have to prove they're looking for [better paid] work. So for some (again, speaking generally, not against the OP) it is a good way to avoid the harsh JSA regime and with a bit on [un]healthy exaggeration, they can pretend they're doing a full-time job when they're actually not. That is as unfair on the millions of JSA claimants, surely?

JSA is £67.50 a week.
Full WTC inc 30 hours element is £52.11 a week.
Full WTC under 30 hours is £30.92 a week.

As you can see, the 30-hour payment isn't much less than JSA. The only forum threads from low-income self-employed people I have seen who have had this type of decision or request for evidence are those who are claiming the 30-hour element.

So yes, I agree it's better to work a bit than not at all. But claimants should beware of saying they work 30 hours a week when they cannot prove it.

mildred1978

Something doesn't add up with the OP's story:


October 2010

"I am hoping to be able to settle some of my debts in the new year, after nearly 9 years of pain and low income"

December 2009

" I'm a self-taught, freelance graphic designer. This is my main source of income whilst I develop my main creative career!

I currently make very little out of my design service (anything from £3,000 - 5,000 per year) so I survive only with the additional help of tax credits and housing allowance for the time being."

June 2009

"I am in a very unique situation - Next year I will be given a life changeing sum of money from a family member, around £100,000.

I would want to pay off my student loan and other unpaid debts and then invest in property right away; a 2 bed flat or house in London/Brighton.
But I am and have been self-employed and on a low wage for the last 3 years - my credit history is also terrible."

" My salary at present is dismal, anywhere from £5 - 8,000 per year."

November 2008

"A family member is giving me a gift of a fair amount of money. "

"Probably around £4,000"

July 2007

" I am going bankrupt on Wednesday for about £11,000. "


:think:

The graphic designers I know all earn £40k+ per year - even now during the recession. Surely at some point you'd realise you're not that great at what you do, that you're not making a living in "the arts" and that you'd be better off getting a job that does pay your bills.

What happened to all of the money you've been given?

lovetowinacar

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

I wasn't comparing it, of course. I was highlighting your tone and your attitude towards people on benefits which seems incredibly presumptuous and generalised, and so 'in line' with the Tories policy of "you deal with it because we won't"), I just assumed you might also agree with their disability benefit cuts too. I apologise, I was just getting irritated by your patronising tone and self-rightous statements. I appreciate the help which you offered.

Anyway, as for the lump sum I was supposed to inherit, it didn't happen due to the recession. If it had, I would not be writing to you now. Alas.

Apology accepted. I do not mean to judge but to get the HMRC off your back you need to look around for something else to supplement your income whilst continuing your self employment. It may not be easy but things are not easy for many and many will receive similar letters. Good luck with the future whether it be job hunting or trying to gain further self employed work that pays better. Lots of us me included have to cut back and I am lucky to work and pay tax but I prefer my tax to go to people (with cancer, long term illness, disabilities etc) at least whilst the country is unable to pay its way.

HappyMJ

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

I was on benefits for 4 years until last Feb, I hope not to have to go back on them again.

Working tax credits, housing benefit and council tax benefit are benefits....or do you mean job seekers allowance and the requirement to look for work to be get the allowance?

mildred1978

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

Wow. That is really nasty.

Not that it's any of your business whatsoever, but the money 'promised' from a family inheritance (from a death, if you must know) never reached me due to the impact of the recession and the many other debts in my family that had to be prioritised above mine. Happy with that answer? Do you really think I would be on here looking for help if I had had that kind of money?

If you wish to investigate my past posts for some creepy and bizarre reason just to make a point, then I hope you will eventually just see that I have just been having endless difficulty with money since I graduated from University with my 'useless' arts degree. I got into serious debt from studying, even though I worked part-time throughout my entire degree. All these things, as well as the economic situation and the abominable lack of support or work opportunities for graduates have led to the situation I am in now. Low income, high living costs, no jobs only unpaid internships and clearly I have nothing to show for my 5 years of study, according to you.

Shame on you. Go and bother some other vulnerable people looking for help.

Hang on. Nobody held a gun to your head to go and get an arts degree, did they? I have a lot of friends and family in the arts who make decent amounts. On the other hand there's a reason lots of actors and musicians work behind bars or in restaurants. It's called doing what uou have to to make a living. Why is that below you?

You had a subsidised extended education, decided to 'teach yoursekf' graphic design, and now exist through years and years of claiming from the taxpayer. Is this how you see yourself at 50?

What happened with the bankruptcy?

A friend manages a restaurant in Brighton and is ALWAYS looking for staff. I can pass on your details if you like.

tomjonesrules

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

Well isn't this nice? I came on this forum in a moment of genuine desperation and worry looking for help only to be insulted, told I'm 'no good at what I do' and accused of leeching off society because I have had the supposed luxury of living on benefits for a few years whilst I try to make a career for myself in the field in which I studied.

None of you who have judged me know anything about my personal life or my situation other than the things you have snooped at on my previous posts.

You make me depressed to be a human being.

Thanks for the people who genuinely offered advice.

END OF POST.

You don't come across as desperate to me! There is plenty of work out there if you are willing to work outside of your niche area, but by your own admission you have chosen not to spread your job search. Would you be so picky if you did not have recourse to benefits?

I appear to have missed where you thanked mildred1978 for her kind offer to pass on your details to a local employer. I trust you are going to take up this opportunity?

FBaby

No Jobs?
I've just googled 'Brighton jobs Graphic designer' (because I happen to be local too and curious to that 'there are no jobs' which wasn't my understanding) and it came up immediately with 44 positions..... that's only a 2 second search....and between Christmas and New Year, the worse time for employment.

Not judging your situation, but personally tired of the old excuse...'but there are no jobs around', which seems to affect big metropolis as well as the country side of England if you were to believe people posting here....

FBaby

I'm genuinely sorry this has made you feel so bad, but maybe it is an opportunity to review where you are and the choices you are making. Sometimes it takes that kind of unpleasantness to reevaluate your choices. I hope for you you will look back one day and be grateful for this post.

mildred1978

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

Well isn't this nice? I came on this forum in a moment of genuine desperation and worry looking for help only to be insulted, told I'm 'no good at what I do' and accused of leeching off society because I have had the supposed luxury of living on benefits for a few years whilst I try to make a career for myself in the field in which I studied.

.

You've had over 10 years of state support and help and have probably paid less than £1k into the pot yourself.

I'm all for dreaming, but not when it becomes an excuse for an able bodied, capable person to not support themselves.

I'd have liked to have spent the last 10 years staring at the stars and making daisy chains, but that wouldn't have put a roof over my head.

Time to get real, grow up, and take responsibility for yourself.