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Phone 'chat' work and Housing Benefit - PLEASE HELP
choco2
Posts: 7 Forumite
Housing Benefits are so blooming unhelpful. In my desperate Google search I found this website. I hope you guys can help.
I recently started some phone chat work - phone sex operator to be precise! Anyhow, I've been trying to do three hours a day, enough hours to avoid that gloomy job centre, but I need help with my rent, as I don't get paid per hour, I only get paid per call. So sometimes my pay for three hours work can be as little as £10!
The company do not provide payslips and they do not pay my NI, so does that mean I'm responsible for that myself then? With regards to that, the HMRC site have a calculator and according to the figures I put in, which was £200 two weekly; I don't pay NI...?? (confused)
So if I am indeed responsible for my own NI, does that in theory make me self employed? The issue with that is, the form HB sent pertaining to being self employed asks all kinds of questions that do not apply - i.e. annual turnover etc. So surely I'm not classed as self employed...?
My rent is due and I don't know what to do at all. Maybe I should of just carried on signing on, but I just couldn't handle that place anymore and I figured as I'm working I don't need to.
I'm pulling my hair out. Please someone help me.
I recently started some phone chat work - phone sex operator to be precise! Anyhow, I've been trying to do three hours a day, enough hours to avoid that gloomy job centre, but I need help with my rent, as I don't get paid per hour, I only get paid per call. So sometimes my pay for three hours work can be as little as £10!
The company do not provide payslips and they do not pay my NI, so does that mean I'm responsible for that myself then? With regards to that, the HMRC site have a calculator and according to the figures I put in, which was £200 two weekly; I don't pay NI...?? (confused)
So if I am indeed responsible for my own NI, does that in theory make me self employed? The issue with that is, the form HB sent pertaining to being self employed asks all kinds of questions that do not apply - i.e. annual turnover etc. So surely I'm not classed as self employed...?
My rent is due and I don't know what to do at all. Maybe I should of just carried on signing on, but I just couldn't handle that place anymore and I figured as I'm working I don't need to.
I'm pulling my hair out. Please someone help me.
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Comments
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You need to use the HMRC employment status tool and answer the questions honestly. It will tell you whether you are employed or self-employed.
If self-employed, you will need to register as such and then apply for a small earnings exception for national insurance contributions. You are not exempt automatically like an employee would be.
If you are an employee, then the company will be responsible.
IQ0 -
....The company do not provide payslips and they do not pay my NI, so does that mean I'm responsible for that myself then? ....
Yes....With regards to that, the HMRC site have a calculator and according to the figures I put in, which was £200 two weekly; I don't pay NI...?? (confused)....
See here;https://www.gov.uk/self-employed-national-insurance-rates....So if I am indeed responsible for my own NI, does that in theory make me self employed? ...
Yes.....The issue with that is, the form HB sent pertaining to being self employed asks all kinds of questions that do not apply - i.e. annual turnover etc...
The question does apply. Your annual turnover is simply the total amount you have received during any year.... So surely I'm not classed as self employed...?
You're earning money. You're either employed or self-employed. One of the two....
My rent is due and I don't know what to do at all. Maybe I should of just carried on signing on, but I just couldn't handle that place anymore and I figured as I'm working I don't need to.
I'm pulling my hair out. Please someone help me.
How much are you actually getting paid per week?0 -
Icequeen99 wrote: »You need to use the HMRC employment status tool and answer the questions honestly. It will tell you whether you are employed or self-employed. ...
No she doesn't. (I'm assuming the OP is a she.:))
It's really up to the paying company to decide on employment status. Using the ESI tool might help someone to see whether or not their 'employer' has made the right decision, but there is a fat lot you can do about it in practice, if they've made the wrong one.
If the OP is being paid gross (no payslips, no PAYE) then they should consider themselves as self-employed. If HMRC subsequently decide otherwise it is the employer that will carry the can.0 -
How much are you actually getting paid per week?
It fluctuates. It depends on how many calls I actually get. Additionally it depends on how often I log in. So I always they to do at least three hours a day., but it all depends on the calls. That's why I entered the figure of £200 every two weeks. that's what I would ideally like to make, but it's looking like it will be less than that to be honest.0 -
No she doesn't. (I'm assuming the OP is a she.:))
It's really up to the paying company to decide on employment status. Using the ESI tool might help someone to see whether or not their 'employer' has made the right decision, but there is a fat lot you can do about it in practice, if they've made the wrong one.
If the OP is being paid gross (no payslips, no PAYE) then they should consider themselves as self-employed. If HMRC subsequently decide otherwise it is the employer that will carry the can.
Yes I am
I had asked when I started do we get remittence slips and I was told quote -
"Yes – hosts can print off/download their payment reports online."
So, I am getting paid by them, the payment reports aren't payslips - they are payment reports! So all it shows is what I earned on each day. The question is does that count as gross...0 -
In line with the majority of Chat Line Service providers, the agency you signed up with is unlikely to be an employer. Your Agreement should have detailed terms and conditions; it should also explain pay rates/frequency and how you'd be paid.0
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No she doesn't. (I'm assuming the OP is a she.:))
It's really up to the paying company to decide on employment status. Using the ESI tool might help someone to see whether or not their 'employer' has made the right decision, but there is a fat lot you can do about it in practice, if they've made the wrong one.
If the OP is being paid gross (no payslips, no PAYE) then they should consider themselves as self-employed. If HMRC subsequently decide otherwise it is the employer that will carry the can.
She can at least be aware of her correct status though and if she should be employed, then she can go back to the company at least and have that conversation as there will be employment law issues to think about as well as the tax and NI consequences.
OP - even if you register as self-employed , you will still need to get a small earnings exemption for your NI contributions if you expect to earn under the threshold.
IQ0 -
Icequeen99 wrote: »
OP - even if you register as self-employed , you will still need to get a small earnings exemption for your NI contributions if you expect to earn under the threshold.
IQ
Hi, sorry if I sound stupid, but how do I do that?0 -
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Don't forget who you're talking to if you speak with the Tax Office or Housing Benefits on the phone.
(I mean you wouldn't want to talk rent with the tax people for example)0
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