Housing Benefits Irrelevant Questions

ibuprofen

Hi all.

I'm starting a business and my income is extremely low. Hence I am living off credit cards.
I have been told by the local benefits jobsworths that I must supply "evidence" of what I am spending the credit card money on.

My problems with this are as follows:
1. Since my income is so low, surely it doesn't matter what my outgoings are.
2. Surely it's none of their business what I spend my money on.
3. I consider my business expenses to be proprietary information.

Since I have refused to supply the above information on principle, my housing benefit has been suspended.

Do they have the right to know the exact details of my personal and business expenditure?
Has anyone else been in this situation?

missapril75

ibuprofen wrote: »

I'm starting a business and my income is extremely low. Hence I am living off credit cards.
I have been told by the local benefits jobsworths that I must supply "evidence" of what I am spending the credit card money on.

You know it's insulting to describe them as jobsworths I suppose? You'd rather them not have them do their jobs properly and open themselves to disciplinary actions?

How about if I generalise and call you typical tax fiddling self employed operating with under the counter payments and not working to code? Of course if you do meet certain required standards would that make you a jobsworth?

My problems with this are as follows:
1. Since my income is so low, surely it doesn't matter what my outgoings are.

Well, if you have an income it may affect your benefits claims.

There's also the possibility that income is low because you don't charge a proper commercial rate...you know the sort of thing, you do something for your brother or a friend, claiming all the expenses related to the job but you undercharge him at a lower rate hoping to make up the difference in benefits.

2. Surely it's none of their business what I spend my money on.

If you have business expenses then they have to know what they are to see if they are allowable.

3. I consider my business expenses to be proprietary information.

Well you don't have to give it. But you've seen the response.

Since I have refused to supply the above information on principle, my housing benefit has been suspended.

As one would expect.

Do they have the right to know the exact details of my personal and business expenditure?

No.
Yes, if you want to claim benefits.

Has anyone else been in this situation?

Several other threads. Usually with less polite answers.

ibuprofen

Well, that was a non-reply. You're not a jobsworth, are you?

I call them jobsworths because thus far they have conducted themselves as..... jobsworths.

I don't see how my expenditure matters at all, since my income is so low (£500 in the last six months for example). Even if I'd spent nothing over that period, then I'd still qualify for housing benefit.

Why must the government poke its nose in when it has no need to?

Murphybear

Your post comes across as a little unpleasant so don't be surprised if the responses are the same.

Housing benefit is funded from tax payers money. The councils must ensure it is going to people who genuinely need it so detailed evidence of income is required. I understand in the case of self employed claimants they want to see much more detailed financial information.

I'm sorry you don't like the rules but they are there for a reason. The councils are not going to hand out money just for the asking. The government is not poking its nose in as you put it, they are safeguarding taxpayers money.

Maybe in the future when your business is successful and you are paying a lot of tax you will see it from the other side.

In the meantime, if you want housing benefit then you will have to provide the information they request.

Remember, lots of people here on MSE have been in a similar situation without complaining.

May I suggest you put the energy you have into running your new business and I genuinely hope it is successful. Being self employed can be very difficult (I have been there)

CKhalvashi

ibuprofen wrote: »

Well, that was a non-reply. You're not a jobsworth, are you?

I call them jobsworths because thus far they have conducted themselves as..... jobsworths.

I don't see how my expenditure matters at all, since my income is so low (£500 in the last six months for example). Even if I'd spent nothing over that period, then I'd still qualify for housing benefit.

The government need to know what you earn and spend, so it can assess your entitlement to housing benefit.

If income minus expenses is positive, your benefit will go down.

If income minus expenses is negative, your benefit will go up, to the maximum payable.

Why must the government poke its nose in when it has no need to?

As explained above, it has every need to.

If you don't want this level of scrutiny, then please consider funding your own rent and not claiming benefit.

Londonsu

ibuprofen wrote: »

Well, that was a non-reply. You're not a jobsworth, are you?

I call them jobsworths because thus far they have conducted themselves as..... jobsworths.

I don't see how my expenditure matters at all, since my income is so low (£500 in the last six months for example). Even if I'd spent nothing over that period, then I'd still qualify for housing benefit.

Why must the government poke its nose in when it has no need to?

It has every need to, you want benefits, you want tax payers money you supply the information.


OR you get a real job earn all your own money and pay your own rent like millions of others have to do

warwicktiger

These "Jobsworths" are also guardians of public i.e. our money, would you be happy for them to hand it out to anybody who asked for it, or do you think they should have a procedure in place to ensure only those in genuine need receive it?

tomtom256

Oh Andy, you changed names and made a new topic, I've missed you, oh Andy.

xylophone

Oh Andy,

Are you sure it's Andy? There's no mention of pension credit, AA, offset mortgages, Aged P needing attention or Flo's handbags.....:rotfl:

missapril75

xylophone wrote: »

Are you sure it's Andy? There's no mention of pension credit, AA, offset mortgages, Aged P needing attention or Flo's handbags.....:rotfl:

There often isn't until a few posts in.

NYM

I don't think the OP is Andy....

'Andy' wouldn't have admitted only earning a pittance of £500 for 6 months work