Projected income for internet marketing- what to put?

homeworker987

Hi All,

I have been asked to give a projected income figure by the council, I am doing internet marketing, so it could be a log time, maybe a few months before I earn anything.
I have thought I could put :-

'months 0-6 0.00
months 6-12 £60

This is a rough estimate, as it is difficult to say exactly what my income will be, it may be more, or less.'

I am worried that they won't accept this, and that they will carry on suspending my housing benefit.

They have said that they do't think it's a viable business as I am using my neighbours wifi, but I don't see that as a problem, as he doesn't use it much.

Any help or suggestions would be gratefully received.
Thanks

Lady_strange

To be honest, if you are only looking at earning something like £60 in 6 months, then I can see why they wouldn't see it as a viable business. Also what would you do if your neighbour decided he didn't need the internet any more, or he moved house? Or you had a dissagreement, and he changed the wifi password?

Caz3121

What other benefits are you claiming? JSA/WTC?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

They would normally accept whatever figures you provide but review every 13 weeks for a year. Once they have a full years trading figures they will use these to calculate the coming years benefit entitlement and then review you every 52 weeks.

homeworker987

Hi, Thanks for your comments, firstly they asked for a projected income, not what I would like to earn, so I have to be realistic.These things take time.

I am also on WTC.

Housing benefit officer, are you really one?

I was just concerned that the council would say, 'sorry that's not viable - we're not going to accept it, so no more' HB.

So if I presented figures with the explanation that there would be little or no return for the first few months, a bit like what I put in my first post, then that would be ok?

Thanks

Housing_Benefit_Officer

homeworker987 wrote: »

Hi, Thanks for your comments, firstly they asked for a projected income, not what I would like to earn, so I have to be realistic.These things take time.

I am also on WTC.

Housing benefit officer, are you really one?

I was just concerned that the council would say, 'sorry that's not viable - we're not going to accept it, so no more' HB.

So if I presented figures with the explanation that there would be little or no return for the first few months, a bit like what I put in my first post, then that would be ok?

Thanks

Yes I really am a Housing Benefit Officer

Phone and speak to an advisor at your local office (they are friendly and should be there to help).

It would probably be unrealistic to expect everyone commencing self employment to make an instant profit.

I have paid HB on a projected income of nil for 13 weeks. If you are just commencing self employment how can you realistically know what your income is until you have traded for a while. It is not upto the Housing Benefit Department to say what is or isn't a viable business. You will know if you can continue trading if you have a turnover and make a profit.

BigAunty

homeworker987 wrote: »

...

I am also on WTC.

You need to review the terms of receiving WTC on the HMRC website, namely that you are performing business activity with the expectation of receiving payment (not just the hope of it). We see many self employed WTC claimants on this forum who have failed a compliance review on these grounds.

Also, you should look into how the scrapping of WTC and replacement by the Universal Credit system will affect the self-employed.

The govt are not impressed with the level of long-term benefit dependency by the self employed so are building into UC an expectation that a person who has founded a business can earn the National Minimum Wage from it after a year of it being established. There will be higher conditionality to receive UC - the self employed who cannot make a decent profit from their business will be expected to dissolve them or look for regular employment on top of it.

[Deleted User]

what on earth are you selling (or not selling)that will produce £60 profits in a full year?
and using neighbours wifi ???

iammumtoone

BigAunty wrote: »

The govt are not impressed with the level of long-term benefit dependency by the self employed so are building into UC an expectation that a person who has founded a business can earn the National Minimum Wage from it after a year of it being established. There will be higher conditionality to receive UC - the self employed who cannot make a decent profit from their business will be expected to dissolve them or look for regular employment on top of it.

Really?? Do you have link to where you found this information?
This is VERY worrying news to me. I have applied for a job of 10hrs which I am hopeful/have a good chance of getting. The hours of the job are perfect (meaning no childcare fees) and is just 5 mins walk from my house (no travel costs) It is also paid at more than minimum wage. I explained to my adviser I was quite happy to live off this wage (topped up with the WTC). As its only 10hrs it is not enough to come off JSA and claim WTC (needs to be 16hrs). The adviser then went on to explain I could work for myself for the extra 6hrs, he asked if there was anything I could do, I explained I could sell my craft work but it was highly unlikely I would make any money out of this as it is an extremely difficult market. Not a problem he said as long I worked those extra 6hr I would be able to claim full WTC it did not matter if I made any money!

Housing_Benefit_Officer

iammumtoone wrote: »

Really?? Do you have link to where you found this information?
This is VERY worrying news to me. I have applied for a job of 10hrs which I am hopeful/have a good chance of getting. The hours of the job are perfect (meaning no childcare fees) and is just 5 mins walk from my house (no travel costs) It is also paid at more than minimum wage. I explained to my adviser I was quite happy to live off this wage (topped up with the WTC). As its only 10hrs it is not enough to come off JSA and claim WTC (needs to be 16hrs). The adviser then went on to explain I could work for myself for the extra 6hrs, he asked if there was anything I could do, I explained I could sell my craft work but it was highly unlikely I would make any money out of this as it is an extremely difficult market. Not a problem he said as long I worked those extra 6hr I would be able to claim full WTC it did not matter if I made any money!

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/simplifying-the-welfare-system-and-making-sure-work-pays/supporting-pages/introducing-universal-credit

Self-employment start up period

We recognise the need for claimants who are setting up a business to be given time to establish themselves and find sources of support. Therefore where a claimant has been self-employed for less than 12 months, a start up period will be granted.

This means that claimants will not be required to look for work or satisfy requirements to be available for work, and we will not assume a minimum level of income from self-employment (known as the ‘Minimum Income Floor’). This will give them time to concentrate on developing their business.

Claimants will be allowed a new start up period every 5 years rather than once in their lifetime.

iammumtoone

Thank you Housing Benefit Officer I shall be printing this out taking it to the adviser and asking him to explain how he can tell me incorrect information - I could have got my self into difficulties if I had not found this thread

thanks again

I am not saying I disagree with the ruling I did think at the time it was odd that I could claim self employment and not earn very much from it, but I am mad that I was told incorrect information from the people who are suppose to be helping me, in fact he even TOLD me to do it!