Benefits available to big issue seller

pmd123

There is a guy who I see most weekends, sells the big issue in our town centre. I've taken to bringing him a bag of food when I go there, as he looks like he barely eats enough to keep himself alive. Chatting to him today, I enquired what benefits he gets, to which he said housing benefit only (has recently got his own home for the first time in his life). I know he has been in touch with CAB, so I presume they would have set this up for him, and probably advised what else was available.

My question is, as he is there 7 days a week, he obviously works over the 30 hour threshold for working tax credits, so I'm guessing that selling the big issue does not qualify as 'work' in the entitled to claim top ups sense. just wondering if any of you knowledgeable people can give me any advice on whether any other benefits would be available to him?

[Deleted User]

difficult if you/we dont know all the circumstances

specialboy

He can sell quite a lot of copies in 7 days and might not need benefits,

pmd123

It's possible, and he could be feeding me a pack of lies, but taking him on face value, he says he struggles to pay his rent, and can't afford gas / electric on a regular basis. At a guess i'd put him on £50 - £60 a week given what he says, his rent is £20 on top of his HB.

Guess my question is simply, would WTC be possible in his position? if so I'll advise him to speak to CAB to make a claim, it's then something he can investigate further, if not WTC, is there any other benefit I could advise he looks into that may be applicable?

Cheers for your input.

specialboy

Do big issue sellers have to register as self employed and fill out tax returns?

missapril75

According to the big issue website

Becoming a Big Issue vendor gives you the opportunity to sell the world’s best known street paper in order to earn some cash.
If you are:

• Homeless or rough sleeping
• In temporary accommodation
• In danger of losing a home
• Unemployed and facing financial crisis

The original idea was pretty much that they were rough sleepers or in certain homeless situations where HB wasn't appropriate (like sofa surfing) Seems there's a bit more flexibility now.

I know back in the late 90s the sellers in my town had to sign to say they would NOT claim benefits. It may not have been the same everywhere.

PoorCharleyBear

There was a furore that Eastern Europeans were using the self employed status of selling Big Issue to claim benefits when they were generally disallowed...so guess they were claiming WTC. Using that minimal knowledge, self employed can claim top ups.

Without knowing his circs he may be diverting his funds elsewhere- a lot of people on the streets are substance abusers, and he may be spending his money that way.

fabforty

pmd123 wrote: »

There is a guy who I see most weekends, sells the big issue in our town centre. I've taken to bringing him a bag of food when I go there, as he looks like he barely eats enough to keep himself alive. Chatting to him today, I enquired what benefits he gets, to which he said housing benefit only (has recently got his own home for the first time in his life). I know he has been in touch with CAB, so I presume they would have set this up for him, and probably advised what else was available.

My question is, as he is there 7 days a week, he obviously works over the 30 hour threshold for working tax credits, so I'm guessing that selling the big issue does not qualify as 'work' in the entitled to claim top ups sense. just wondering if any of you knowledgeable people can give me any advice on whether any other benefits would be available to him?

If he has been in touch with the CAB, he is probably getting whatever he is entitled to and advised accordingly. Also the Big Issue Foundation do more than just hand out magazines to vendors to sell - they provide ongoing help, advice and support in housing, benefits, help from food banks and food kitchens etc. So personally, I wouldn't worry about it - he is probably has a very clear understanding of what he can or cannot claim and what help is available to him and how to access that help should he choose to.

Morglin

Seems there was a recent legal ruling, which would suggest, you can claim HB, at least:

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/jan/17/big-issue-seller-wins-right-housing-benefit

Lin

pmd123

I didn't know they were advised on these things by the organisation themselves, if that's the case I'd assume he's getting what he's entitled to.

Thanks for all the advice and input, appreciated.