Housing Benefit Officer-Advice please?

WantToBeSE

Hello HBO

I am just about to start self-employment with an agency (i am currently on JSA, but will be making a claim for WTC) and i am wondering if i could ask some advice on Housing Benefit.

In a previous thread, you said

I ask for a projection of income - then use that figure for 3 months - 3 months time I ask for 3 months self employed income and expenditure - repeat every 3 months until I have 1 years self employed figures - once I have 1 years figure I use the last years figures to calculate the coming years benefit. Most benefit departments should use a similar method in calculating benefit entitlement for the newly self employed.

Can i ask you, if this is the method that my council use then does that mean i will only be paid HB every 3 months?
I will obviously be in contact with my council on Monday, but am just trying to get my head around things.
Also, is Council Tax worked out the same way?

Thanks

rogerblack

No, the projection of income or the income so far is used to calculate HB, but HB is not paid at these times.
So, HB in month 0-3 is based on your estimated income.
In month 3-6 is based on months 0-3.
In months 6-9 - months 0-6, and so on up to a year.

The HB is paid as normal, not at these times only.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Each Council will apply their own way of working things out for the ease of administration. Most ask for updated income every 3 months if just started trading. Housing Benefit should continue while waiting for updates every 3 months. Speak to your Council and find out what information they need to allow your benefit to continue with the minimum disruption and the quickest processing time.

If you have been in receipt of JSA without a break for more than 26 weeks your should get an additional 4 weeks Extended Payment Benefit where your full HB and CTS should continue for another 4 weeks after starting work..

WantToBeSE

Thanks very much I am just waiting until Monday but trying to work out a budget.
I am too impatient..i'll just have to wait

Housing_Benefit_Officer

The post from RogerBlack is how we calculate income for the newly self employed. After 1 year we ask for one years whole trading accounts and then use that income to calculate the coming years benefit entitlement.

With the self employed we always use the last years accounts to calculate the coming years benefit.

WantToBeSE

Thank you

Also, in regards to the HB and CT 4 week run on, do i have to apply for that, or does it process automatically as i have been on JSA for a year?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thank you

Also, in regards to the HB and CT 4 week run on, do i have to apply for that, or does it process automatically as i have been on JSA for a year?

It should be automatic as the ETD from the DWP should indicate HBR.

But speak to our Council - some may make you apply in writing or complete a form others will just take the details and do a CIS check with the DWP to confirm you qualify.

Where I work if we get a cancellation from the DWP we suspend the claim then phone the customer - we award 4 weeks EPB if they meet the criteria and at the same time process the claim after the 4 weeks EPB using whatever gross wage figure the customer gives us and either diary date it for 4 weeks to check if first wage slip has arrived or for 3 months for first 3 months self employed accounts.

WantToBeSE

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

It should be automatic as the ETD from the DWP should indicate HBR.

But speak to our Council - some may make you apply in writing or complete a form others will just take the details and do a CIS check with the DWP to confirm you qualify.

Where I work if we get a cancellation from the DWP we suspend the claim then phone the customer - we award 4 weeks EPB if they meet the criteria and at the same time process the claim after the 4 weeks EPB using whatever gross wage figure the customer gives us and either diary date it for 4 weeks to check if first wage slip has arrived or for 3 months for first 3 months self employed accounts.

Brilliant, thanks so much for your help.
I'll be invoicing the agency at the end of every week (and will be getting paid from them at the end of every week too), so will just keep all of the invoices and receipts.
Because i also have 1 private client (i am a SE cleaner) every week who will be paying in cash every week, do i just write out a receipt and use that as evidence of income for HB purposes?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Brilliant, thanks so much for your help.
I'll be invoicing the agency at the end of every week (and will be getting paid from them at the end of every week too), so will just keep all of the invoices and receipts.
Because i also have 1 private client (i am a SE cleaner) every week who will be paying in cash every week, do i just write out a receipt and use that as evidence of income for HB purposes?

Travelling expenses? Expenses for protective clothing and equipment? Telephone use for your business? Advertising for new clients (i.e. leaflets etc). All are reasonable expenditure for the self employed. Don't overestimate your income by not including all self employed related expenditure.

WantToBeSE

Hi HBO,
just wanted to say thanks for your help. I have contacted my council and they operate the same way that you do-look at the estimate for the first 13 weeks of trading etc.
Many thanks.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Hi HBO,
just wanted to say thanks for your help. I have contacted my council and they operate the same way that you do-look at the estimate for the first 13 weeks of trading etc.
Many thanks.

Hurrah

:beer: