Do I need to register as self-employed for Universal Credit?

scotguy

I have a bit of an odd situation.

I am claiming UC and told them when I claimed I periodically do online work.

I picked up some online writing work and send a message saying I had just been paid for some work. (about £70)

Now they have asked me to provide details of my self-emloyment.

1) I am not self-employed officially yet as I understood you only had to once you have earned £1000 and besides, nowhere near end of the tax year.

2) I don't have any contract or set hours and have received no pay slips from the company that pays me which is based in Sweden.

Any thoughts on what I should do? All I can show them is the bank statement I suppose showing money has gone in my account.

thanks

pmlindyloo

According to the gov website you need to register as self employed if you have to prove that you are self employed (for benefits purposes)

https://www.gov.uk/working-for-yourself/what-you-need-to-do

Have you information about the company that you did work for - an online advert, for example.

As someone who is self employed you should be giving the company an invoice for the work that you have done and start keeping records for your tax return. If you continue doing self employed work then it is a good idea to open a second bank account for this money. It can then be transferred to your current account as drawings.

calcotti

In respect of your Universal Credit your post is unclear whether you have asked them to treat you as self employed or whether you are a work seeker who occasionally has some other income from occasional bits of 'self employment'.

Either way I don't think there is any requirement to be registered with HMRC as self employed for Universal Credit purposes. However if you meet the tests described in the link provided by pmlindyloo you will need to register anyway.

soolin

scotguy wrote: »

I have a bit of an odd situation.

I am claiming UC and told them when I claimed I periodically do online work.

I picked up some online writing work and send a message saying I had just been paid for some work. (about £70)

Now they have asked me to provide details of my self-emloyment.

1) I am not self-employed officially yet as I understood you only had to once you have earned £1000 and besides, nowhere near end of the tax year.

2) I don't have any contract or set hours and have received no pay slips from the company that pays me which is based in Sweden.

Any thoughts on what I should do? All I can show them is the bank statement I suppose showing money has gone in my account.

thanks

Just to respond to point 2

2) if you are self employed you wouldn't need a contract and you almost certainly wouldn't be receiving pay slips from the people you work for. I have self employed income from U.K. Organisations and submit an invoice for my work, they pay me the agreed amount direct to my bank account. I prepare accounts once a year based on that received income less expenses wholly incurred in my business.