Housing Benefit - Self Employed and refusing to agree Net Profit

Mermibridg

ILW wrote: »

HMRC will also require you to use opening and closing stock figures in your P and L calcs.

Yes my point exactly! I used them in my self assessment tax return and would happily have provided them if housing benefit office had asked me for them!

Mermibridg

Dogger69 wrote: »

Sorry, I don't think you understand what a compliance investigation involves. The chances of HMRC classing a six year old business as viable with your profit levels are next to zero. Most people make more than you when selling goods as a hobby.

I think you misunderstand me. I am not complaining about not getting enough benefits. I'm saying my net profit is different to what they say it is. If the rules were, and they told me that my business does not make enough profit therefore I wont' get benefits then fair enough. I'm disagreeing with the figures they're quoting.

You don't really know a thing about my business. Not all businesses have the purpose of making a huge profit. I'm not planning on it making me rich, that's not where my ambitions lay. There is more to life than making money! And if the system says that I shouldn't be given benefits because I don't make enough profit then fair enough.

M

FBaby

Mermibridg wrote: »

You don't really know a thing about my business. Not all businesses have the purpose of making a huge profit. I'm not planning on it making me rich, that's not where my ambitions lay. There is more to life than making money! And if the system says that I shouldn't be given benefits because I don't make enough profit then fair enough.
M

So why are you claiming benefits? Would you still do it all if it wasn't for the benefit you get to claim? Will you continue to believe in your business and not mind that it isn't making huge profit when under the UC rules, you won't be entitled to the same level of benefit if at all?

Mermibridg

Yes I would still do it if I didn't get benefits. I've only received benefits recently and I've had the business for a few years. I don't do it for the money, I do it for the experiences it brings me and the people I meet and the service I provide.

I will see how much I've managed to improve it by the time UC comes in and make a decision then but I expect to keep it going. If my benefits are cut I'll go back to PAYE employment. Unfortunately at the moment that would mean putting my 3 year old in childcare 10 or 11 hours a day as the type of work i normally do tends to be in cities. Personally I think raising a child is a job so if I can stay home to be a mother and run a business and work part time for national trust that's what I'll do while I can. I have some very appreciative customers who also aren't in it for the money!

M

FBaby

You contradict yourself....on one hand you say you would still do it even without the benefits you are currently receiving, then go on to say that if you suddenly can't get the same benefits, you might have to go back to PAYE. So you are relying on tax payers to do allow you to do something you are enjoying rather than working to support your family.

You are also contradicting yourself in regards to how much you are putting in your business. You say that working on your business means that your daughter doesn't have to go to nursery and that looking after her is a job, so clearly you are not putting that much into your business.

Sorry but having been a single mum of two children working full-time, both of them in childcare for long hours, and paying high rate tax, I have very little sympathy for those who use the system and receive benefits to enjoy running a hobby whilst staying at home and enjoying quality time with their children. I am so glad UC is coming to stop that practice.

Mermibridg

This is my last post in response as really this isn't about what you morally judge of my personal situation, I was asking for benefits advice. You can think what you like.

Firstly I have a son. Secondly I worked and saved up enough for 6 months off before I claimed benefits. I spent two years working full time and away some of the week in order to do so, so I've been in a similar position to you as a single mum. Then I have worked many hours on the business and raised my son and worked part time, its all possible. Its not a hobby its a business. If you chose to work rather than stay home with your kids that's up to you. Maybe you should have saved more so you could have more time off with them like I did. I don't really care about you, your circumstances or you opinion of mine.

For those other people actually interested in my original post (!) I rang the benefits office today. they're still working on January's figures and haven't recalculated based on the May to May figures I've provided so that was the problem. they're going to recalculate.

Mermibridg

FBaby wrote: »

You contradict yourself....on one hand you say you would still do it even without the benefits you are currently receiving, then go on to say that if you suddenly can't get the same benefits, you might have to go back to PAYE. So you are relying on tax payers to do allow you to do something you are enjoying rather than working to support your family.

No contradiction. I would still run the business withotu the benefits. I would run the business AND go back to PAYE work if I don't get the benefits. There is no contradiction. I have supported my family both ways. You really don't have a clue do you.