Council assumes income question

shagzdan

Hi,
I have been asked by the council to complete a self employment for my current H/B form and they said that they are going to calculate my income as 35 hrs p/week at min wage, whereas in reality I am a sole trader with zero hour contract & no idea what I am going to earn from one week to the next and I don't even work 35 hours per week either.

I earn way below what their assumption is,:( yet they are going to use this calculation for any future decision, doesn't seem right to me.

Shane

Ames

Is this decision after returning the form about your self employment?

Icequeen99

Genuine sole traders don't have a zero hours contract - are you sure you are self-employed? There is a calculator on the HMRC website where you can check.

Lots of councils are doing this to follow the Universal Credit rules.

IQ

Here_Comes_The_Judge

The only people who don't like UC appear to be those whose Gravy Train is about to hit the buffers.

shagzdan

Here_Comes_The_Judge wrote: »

The only people who don't like UC appear to be those whose Gravy Train is about to hit the buffers.

Lots of hate on this site, so hope you all have a nice day!:p

I don't claim UC but my business has been going for 3 years fairly steady but I am below the assumed threshold (which is a possibility)

We don't all work 35 hrs per week is my point, it is only a slight discount for my HB as I do not own my own house.

shagzdan

Icequeen99 wrote: »

Genuine sole traders don't have a zero hours contract - are you sure you are self-employed? There is a calculator on the HMRC website where you can check.

Lots of councils are doing this to follow the Universal Credit rules.

IQ

Well, I haven't got a pin badge telling me I am a sole trader but I do pay my taxes and complete self assessment every year,,If that counts..:p

My point is, I do not work 35 hours at min wage.
Shane

Kim_kim

If you don’t make minimum wage then is your business isn’t viable.
It’s best you get a minimum wage job & you won’t need so much state support.

shagzdan

Here_Comes_The_Judge wrote: »

The only people who don't like UC appear to be those whose Gravy Train is about to hit the buffers.

I don't claim it but thanks for the input.:rotfl:

TELLIT01

Rightly or wrongly, being self employed and not earning minimum wage as a full time worker is deemed to be personal choice when benefit entitlement is calculated. That's why the assumption on income has been made by the council. I think the same assumption is being introduced on some other benefits as well.

IAmWales

Do you have health problems OP? If so the 35 hour requirement may not apply to you.

tboo

shagzdan wrote: »

Hi,
I have been asked by the council to complete a self employment for my current H/B form and they said that they are going to calculate my income as 35 hrs p/week at min wage, whereas in reality I am a sole trader with zero hour contract & no idea what I am going to earn from one week to the next and I don't even work 35 hours per week either.

I earn way below what their assumption is,:( yet they are going to use this calculation for any future decision, doesn't seem right to me.

Shane

The council should be working your HB on the zero hrs

Then they do an additional amount for CTR only at min wage x 35hrs because you have been trading for 3 yrs

But they may not believe you don't work 0 hrs all the time so have used 35 hrs for the whole assessment