Working from home - additional expsenses

w00519773

I asked this question back in May: Working from home in the 2021/2022 year after claiming in the 2020/2021 year — MoneySavingExpert Forum.  I claimed the minimum allowance for working for home.

I was recently informed that my gas and electricity will increase this year: Energy provider not taking Smart meter readings — MoneySavingExpert Forum and my water will increase this year: Pandemic (work from home) water bill increased by 58% — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I have taken monthly (sometimes quarterly) readings since moving in.  When I switch energy providers my usage is usually fairly consistent.  Therefore I am wandering if I can increase my working from home allowance by the following:

Debit balance to pay when switching energy providers last year: £41
Debit balance to pay with water: £58.54
Debit balance to pay with gas and electricity: £86

I am wandering if I can increase my monthly claim from the minimum of £1.20 per week to: .  I have worked this out as follows:

41+58.54+86=185.54
(20/100)*185.54=37.10
37.10/12=£3.09 PCM

It hardly seems worth it really.  Has anyone else done this? Did you do anything with the other 80% (you can only claim on the 20%).  When I say 80%; I mean:

185.54-37.10=148.44

Did you ask your employer to contribute to this? I guess you can ask but they can say no! Not sure it is reasonable though as they still have costs even though I am not working from the office. 

TELLIT01

Have you deducted the reduction in travel costs etc to your normal place of work? An employer may be agreeable to compensating for overall increase in costs, but is unlikely to simply pay for the additional cost of gas and electricity at home.

w00519773

TELLIT01 said:

Have you deducted the reduction in travel costs etc to your normal place of work? An employer may be agreeable to compensating for overall increase in costs, but is unlikely to simply pay for the additional cost of gas and electricity at home.

I work within a few miles of my home so fuel is negligible and use to cycle a lot anyway.

GrumpyDil

I'm a for claiming what you can but for the amount involved here really wouldn't bother. 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

You are already claiming expenses of £6/week.  Which is saving you £1.20/week in reduced tax.

If you try and claim more then the default £6/week expect HMRC to ask a lot of questions about your claim.

As others have said is it really worth the hassle?