Working Tax Credit and illness (self employed)

Maybelle22

Hello,
I am currently self employed and receive WTC (incl. disability element).
I also receive Carers Allowance for taking care of a disabled family member.
I am currently unwell myself, and would be off sick if I was employed.
Having read about sickness & WTC I see that it can still be paid for up to 28 weeks, whether employed or self employed.
What I don't know, and hope someone here will be able to tell me, is do I have to report my illness to HMRC (I assume yes), and do I need a note from my doctor? It wouldn't be a problem, I just need to know I'm doing things the right way.
Also, would there be any effect on my Carers Allowance? I am still a carer, and caring for the same number of hours so there's no real change there.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

pmlindyloo

Will you be claiming contribution based ESA whilst you are off sick? i.e have you been paying class 1 NI contributions for the last two tax years?

Contribution based ESA would not be affected by working tax credits.

You would need a fit note to apply for contribution based ESA.

If you are not eligible for contribution based ESA then you could try claiming income based ESA. This is a means tested benefit and is based on household income (partner's income included) and on any joint capital/savings. Working tax credit would be counted as income.

Carer's Allowance would not be affected if you can meet the eligibility criteria whilst you are sick.

Wait for someone who knows about tax credits to come along to give you information about these.

Darksparkle

You don't need to report it unless you are off for more than 28 weeks.

You do need to meet the criteria here - https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/tax-credits-technical-manual/tctm02421

A self-employed person does not have to receive one of the benefits listed above. They will be treated as engaged in qualifying remunerative work for up to 28 weeks providing that:

they were engaged in self employed qualifying remunerative work in the week immediately before the period of sickness began
they would have qualified for one of the benefits listed above if they had been employed

Maybelle22

Hi, Thanks very much for your response. No, I wouldn't be intending to claim ESA or any other benefit. I don't anticipate being out of action for for than a few weeks.

Maybelle22

Thank you so much for your reply, that's good news :-)

equestor

I am in a similar position to the OP in that I am self-employed and receiving Working Tax Credit (inc. the disability element), and I am currently unwell and unable to work.
Thank you to Darksparkle for your reply to the OP. The OP asks if they would need a note from their doctor to continue claiming WTC. I cannot see an answer to this particular part of the OP's question. Darksparkle says that the illness doesn't need to be reported unless it lasts longer than 28 weeks.
It would seem that without a doctor's note, a claimant for WTC would be self-certifying themselves as unfit to work, and this might not be good enough for the purpose of continuing to receive WTC.
Could someone please clarify whether a doctor's note would be required, or whether it might just be better to have one, in case the period of illness is questioned at some point.
Thank you.

Darksparkle

HMRC do not request fit notes. If questioned, you need to show how you meet the criteria outlined in the above link.

equestor

Many thanks for your reply Darksparkle.