Self employed for one year so no 2018 tax return and not eligible for universal credit

Davros_9

Hi,

My partner is self employed registered with the DWP. Meaning that she goes to the job centre every two weeks and gets her self employed earnings stamped and filed to HMRC. The income is for child minding at minimum wage. On Day 1 of the covid 19 her business stopped as schools are closed and people are working from home therefore not needing or wanting child minder. 

Her business started in early April 2019. Therefore she didn’t have a 2018 or earlier tax return. So didn’t qualify for the 80 per cent of earnings self employed scheme.

She then applied for universal credit but because of my earnings it was just over the threshold and therefore she didn’t qualify. DWP have said there’s nothing you are eligible for. 

So we are now 800 pound a month down with the same committed outgoings. The child minding for the two clients she has is unlikely to start again for some time. 

We can’t seem to find any further guidance or hope that anything is going to be there to support her.

Any guidance would be appreciated

Dazed_and_C0nfused

My partner is self employed registered with the DWP. Meaning that she goes to the job centre every two weeks and gets her self employed earnings stamped and filed to HMRC

Why do you think DWP send the details to HMRC?

A temporary (PAYE) job is likely the best option, supermarkets are (or were) after more staff.  And maybe Amazon if you live near one of their fulfillment centres.

loz0307

Hello,
I’m in a bit of a unique situation. Excuse the long message but I want to be clear on the detail.

February 2018 I got made redundant from a job. Unbeknown to me I fell pregnant just a couple of days before leaving this company.

March 2018 -  I start a new job. Find out I’m pregnant and not entitled to maternity pay (just maternity allowance) because I wasn’t at this current job when I fell pregnant. Go on maternity leave in October 2018.

October 2019 - job won’t offer part time work so decide not to return and start looking for a new job. It’s pretty hard because not many companies are open to part time. I’m not entitled to universal credit due to not meeting the criteria for money in savings. Enrol and start paying for my child to go to nursery so I’m able to work if I am offered a job.

February 2019 - finally find a job. It’s a temp-to-perm job where I’m initially employed on a freelance basis and if it becomes permanent I will be added to the payroll.

March 2019 - I’m let go due to covid 19. Now worried about finding a new job given it took me nearly 6 months to find a part time job before and now competition will be a lot higher.

My husband has also lost a large chunk of his salary as he works in sales and relies on commission.

So I only received minimal maternity pay even though I have worked and paid taxes since I left uni in 2006. I was entitled to no benefits and I had to pay for my son to go to nursery while I job hunted over fear that I might not have childcare when I found a job. This I can accept and have put down to bad luck.

However now I have lost my job, am entitled to no support, my husband is losing salary and I’m starting to feel a bit resentful about how many companies are taking advantage of furlough when I will end up paying for this in my taxes.

 Whilst I’m not living it on the poverty line, I can’t help but feel short changed. I’ve always worked really hard, been in regular employment and have paid my taxes. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks 

 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Whilst I’m not living it on the poverty line, I can’t help but feel short changed. I’ve always worked really hard, been in regular employment and have paid my taxes. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Two suggestions.

Make sure you are claiming Child Benefit and don't hijack other people's threads.

poppy12345

loz0307 said:

 I’m not entitled to universal credit due to not meeting the criteria for money in savings.

However now I have lost my job, am entitled to no support, my husband is losing salary and I’m starting to feel a bit resentful about how many companies are taking advantage of furlough when I will end up paying for this in my taxes.

 Whilst I’m not living it on the poverty line, I can’t help but feel short changed. I’ve always worked really hard, been in regular employment and have paid my taxes. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks 
 

Sorry but you have savings of more than £16,000, you state you're not living on the poverty line and that's a very good thing for you right now.

Unfortunately, there's thousands of people that don't have more than £16,000 in savings, have no income at all due to Covid19. If it wasn't for the government how on earth would they eat and pay some of their bills?

kremlinbot

This is kind of the bind being in the aspiring lower-middle-class - you're not rich enough to put your money in this or that tax haven, getting some money manager to look after if for you, so you pay in to the system in good faith, work yourself to the bone yet still can't afford a house, but you're just about well off enough not to get any freebies from the government, so it kind of feels like you're in the sweet spot for getting the worst deal. That os an over-simplification and the poorest do definitely have it worst off, but the lower-middle-class are probably getting screwed the worst in my opinion.