Proof of earnings

whistle_pop

Hi. Since the recent increase in NMW and informing the council of such rise I've been asked to provide proof of earnings in the form of wage slips for the past 2 years to continue recieving an on going claim. In the meantime my benefit has been suspended. I haven't got these wage slips, would a p60 from my boss's accountant be sufficient?

TELLIT01

Only the council can provide a definitive answer, but P60 would seem to be the logical alternative in the absence of the payslips.

whistle_pop

I have just come off the phone from my boss and his accountant is sending through some type of paperwork. Basically I have been paid the minimum wage for the period that the council are asking to see proof of but they haven't been informed about the yearly increases. I have only informed them of the latest one, which is probably why they wrote to me and suspended my claim. Going by what my boss has and what I have there is a difference of just over £1000. This means I have been overpaid benefit by £1000 I would think. This is over 2 years. What happens now? I assumed all was OK because the government set NMW and surely the council would automatically adjust the benefit payments.

I feel I would be incriminating myself for fraud by handing in the information they require, but I really can't afford not to. I've already missed 2 rent payments and told my landlord it's a clerical error soon to be fixed.

I'm quite worried about this, does anybody have any insight or experience with this? I'm imagining a criminal charge and possible imprisonment?

xylophone

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/67043646#Comment_67043646

The question of pay slips was previously discussed. Are you now receiving them?

Assuming that you are now earning over £113 a week the employer should be operating PAYE?

https://www.gov.uk/employment-status/worker

You do appear to be a "worker".

https://www.gov.uk/payslips

whistle_pop

It would appear as though I am a 'worker', therefore not receiving wage slips. I guess. While this is the case I have no evidence of PAYE, although I have no reason to believe the contrary. I am waiting to see what this paperwork says exactly before I hand it over to the council. I know I haven't told them of my change in circumstances since April 2015, and since then there has been 3 NMW rises. I assumed with it being a government thing they would know this, as well as being on the books, but since speaking with a friend about thier own predicament I realise this is something I should've done myself. I fear now there will be a £1000 difference between what the council believe I've been paid and what I've actually been paid. I informed them of the latest NMW rise, now they're asking to see proof of the last 2 years which will contradict what they have. What is going to happen? I've been reading around and it seems £1000 isn't really that much, but then I'm thinking it's over 2 years. I'm really concerned about this and what is likely to happen.

Alice_Holt

Give them the info asap so your HB can be resumed.
If you delay your claim may be closed.
You will have an overpayment to settle with the council.
You will not face imprisonment.

nannytone_2

housing benefit works on income and not the amount of hours you work.they ex[ect to get that income figure from you.
if you haven't reported any change in income there will be an overpayment.
you should have informed them whenever you received a rise due to the changes in NMW.

they don't police how many hours you work and then work out what your wages will be, it is your job to keep them informed.

whistle_pop

Alice_Holt wrote: »

Give them the info asap so your HB can be resumed.
If you delay your claim may be closed.
You will have an overpayment to settle with the council.
You will not face imprisonment.

If you are sure. I will have the paperwork early next week but I will read it before I submit it. I hope I don't become unsure about handing it in because that won't be good but prosecution would be even worse

whistle_pop

nannytone wrote: »

housing benefit works on income and not the amount of hours you work.they ex[ect to get that income figure from you.
if you haven't reported any change in income there will be an overpayment.
you should have informed them whenever you received a rise due to the changes in NMW.

they don't police how many hours you work and then work out what your wages will be, it is your job to keep them informed.

I work 16 hours and have done since I started work, only NMW has gone up. I just presumed and and thought it was an office thing. They didn't need me to tell them I'd started work, they already knew that I'm assuming from the job centre. Thought this would work a similar way.

poppy12345

whistle_pop wrote: »

I work 16 hours and have done since I started work, only NMW has gone up. I just presumed and and thought it was an office thing. They didn't need me to tell them I'd started work, they already knew that I'm assuming from the job centre. Thought this would work a similar way.

All changes must be reported, never assume anything.

Sarastro

You can log onto the gov.uk website with a government gateway ID and get your tax records which will prove what income you had.