Paying for meals if working away?

monkeychops

After a time out of work and getting JSA OH now has a job. He is self employed but sub contracted to a company. It involves working away quite often.


When he has sub contracted to other companies and worked away they always paid for his hotel and his evening meal. This company are saying that they are not going to pay for his evening meal and their reason is that he would be eating a meal in the evening if he were at home! My argument against this is that it's much cheaper to buy and cook food at home than it is eating out even at the cheapest restaurant or take away.


Because OH had a time out of work we are not particularly well off at the moment and really could do with his meals being paid for. In 5 weeks he has spent 3 1/2 of them away and obviously has to pay for fuel, hotel, food and any materials he needs and then claim those expenses back except the food. He is trying to eat as cheaply as possible but it's not always that easy especially if he is staying somewhere fairly remote. Also there is a limit to how often he wants to eat McDonalds or local chippie!


Is it not normal for meals to be paid for in these circumstances?

DigForVictory

HMRC certainly expects people to eat.
Either company is lax on its HR, or seeing how desperate for work you are.
Me, I'd try & find a Union rep & check sits vac, again.
Might the clients know affordable eateries?
Push come shove, take a serious picnic basket...

mumonashoestring

In my experience I would say it is normal for an evening meal to be covered if you're required to work away from home. I suspect this is probably an area where companies often find that people take the mickey though and are maybe trying to cut back on what could be seen as a bit of a jolly... Could he perhaps present the argument that an evening meal prepared at home is not really the same, in terms of expense, as being required to buy a meal and ask for a compromise - perhaps a fixed amount per overnight stay that he could claim back for meals (on the understanding that if he wants something more expensive he covers the difference himself)?

I'm fairly sure there's HMRC guidance on allowable expenses though - hopefully someone 'in the know' will be along to explain them

getmore4less

he can claim through his own pay to atleast pay from gross saving the tax and ni.

I would find a hotel that will invoice db&b as accommodation.

DKLS

Normally whenever I have been sent away to a conference or client site, I have received an allowance to cover evening meals, usually based on the premise that I should be as comfortable as I would be at home.

Some have been stricter than others and for example haven't allowed alcohol with meals, others have allowed cinema tickets and a few drinks, although most non-chain restaurants are happy to put through a couple of drinks as "starters".

I am on client site currently and sometimes I spend the full allowance and others not, monday I had a bag of chips for my dinner , and last night I had 5 pints and burger n chips whilst watching the footie.

System

My norm has been B&B only. All other meals have had to come out of my own pocket on the basis that I would be eating, or not, at home anyway

Takeaway_Addict

DigForVictory wrote: »

HMRC certainly expects people to eat.
Either company is lax on its HR, or seeing how desperate for work you are.
Me, I'd try & find a Union rep & check sits vac, again.
Might the clients know affordable eateries?
Push come shove, take a serious picnic basket...

The OP's OH is self employed so I don't see what a union could do about it?

I'm sure he could find cheap meals for less than a quid, might not be the most appetising but needs must and all I guess.

Tiddlywinks

monkeychops wrote: »

After a time out of work and getting JSA OH now has a job. He is self employed but sub contracted to a company.

Your OH is self employed - all expenses are his own.

He is not 'sub contracted to a company' - it's the other way around - the company may be using him as a sub-contractor BUT the payment should have been agreed in advance.

I don't see how you expect anyone else to pay your husband's expenses when he should have negotiated his fees to cover his costs.

bellrooster

My OH is self employed and often goes away subcontracting. He gets his hotel/BB paid for then has £20 a day allowance for food.


I always make up a big bag of food/drink for him to take with him.


eg, bottled water (not always easily available on site and expensive from vending machines etc)


The new breakfast bars that you can now buy, I never pay full price so whatever is on offer and the bonus is they keep well and our very filling.


Fruit, several bags of!


Crisps, nuts and cereal bars


and not to everyones taste but I send him off with a few pot noodles and snack pots


non of these are substitute for a proper evening meal but help to make the allowance go a bit further.


My hubby also tries to find a local supermarket with a rotisserie so he can buy hot meat and bread buns.


I know what you mean OP, my OH has gone away to work when we are struggling and to have some of his meals covered by the job does save pennies at home. However, as far as I am aware the company that he is sub contracting to don't have to pay for food etc.

skivenov

mumonashoestring wrote: »

I'm fairly sure there's HMRC guidance on allowable expenses though - hopefully someone 'in the know' will be along to explain them

£10 with receipts, £5 without.

Get a mini fridge and stock up art the start of the week.

getmore4less

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Your OH is self employed - all expenses are his own.

He is not 'sub contracted to a company' - it's the other way around - the company may be using him as a sub-contractor BUT the payment should have been agreed in advance.

I don't see how you expect anyone else to pay your husband's expenses when he should have negotiated his fees to cover his costs.

It is quite common to have rate + expenses on jobs.


Having expenses paid by the client can simplify accounts and if using an umbrella that is a bit on the case much less hassle

The OP can still claim on his own accounts for stuff not covered by the client