"Self-employed" but not.

Fay_elizabeth

Hi everyone,

I really don't know what to do about my current work situation and I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.

I am currently working for a small ltd company based in central london on a "Self-employed" basis. I am an admin / postal assistant and I work 27-30 hours a week and my wage is £7.00 per hour. I work the same hours every week in the same office, my bosses give me tasks and tell me what to work on, I have to ask for time off and book it in advance and I cannot 'refuse work' I am obviously liable for paying all my own taxes and N.I.

In my opinion I should be an employee. My partner and I want to apply for housing and council tax benefit but when we received the forms the "self employed" segment for me was obviously written to be filled in by someone who is actually self employed. I can't fill in a form for someone who is employed by an employer because I'm not, essentially.

I earn roughly £749 every 4 weeks and spend £80 on travel to and from work in this time. I'm barely surviving but I don't know where I stand. Is there anything I can do?

Notmyrealname

Report your employer to HMRC. And yes, under HMRC rules you are an employee. A company cannot just decide you're self employed.

m-bee

I think most recruitment agencies operate in a way where they call you self employed. My one is pretty big and I think they call it "self employed" is because you have to manage your own holiday hours.
I've never ever put self employed down on any application forms. I just put I'm doing full time work because we are working for other people.
Don't stress your self out about it and just fill it out as a normal employment.

Fay_elizabeth

But if I put that I am employed they will ask for payslips which I don't have, I only have invoices.

m-bee

What kind of data is on your invoice?
Does it have NI and Tax deductions it.
If it doesn't then I would get advice from your Citizens Advice Bureau