Earning Support Allowance

[J-C]

After being self employed for the past 26 years I recently had hip surgery which will lay me off for 6-8 weeks. I applied for earning support allowance and after 4 weeks waiting, was told that I was getting the huge sum of £5.83 per week, whoop de do!

This was because my wife who works 18 hrs a week and earns £110 pw is seen as enough income, I was originally given £115.83 pw but they took my wifes wage into account and took it away leaving me all of £5.83.:confused:
This used to be incapacity benefit and was changed last year, in one and and out the other.

I was also told that the NIC I had paid was not enough, I pay class 4 and it should be class 1 NIC. The tax man doesn't tell you this when you pay your tax and nic every year, why?

I've an appointment with my local MP today to let him know the problems we self employed people have when it comes to things like this.

[GlesgaeHibby]

After being self employed for the past 26 years I recently had hip surgery which will lay me off for 6-8 weeks. I applied for earning support allowance and after 4 weeks waiting, was told that I was getting the huge sum of £5.83 per week, whoop de do!

This was because my wife who works 18 hrs a week and earns £110 pw is seen as enough income, I was originally given £115.83 pw but they took my wifes wage into account and took it away leaving me all of £5.83.:confused:
This used to be incapacity benefit and was changed last year, in one and and out the other.

I was also told that the NIC I had paid was not enough, I pay class 4 and it should be class 1 NIC. The tax man doesn't tell you this when you pay your tax and nic every year, why?

I've an appointment with my local MP today to let him know the problems we self employed people have when it comes to things like this.

Absolute farce when you hear genuine cases of needing Income Support like yours being dealt with in this way, when sponging wasters can walk into council offices having never done a days work in their lives, with no intention of doing so, and pick up a handsome amount each week.

[Jay]

I've been thinking about my NIC as I have never earned enough to pay tax but paid a voluntary NIC. This year I had a tax bill so I think I should change the NIC as well but I dont know how to go about it.

Its all very confusing

[Woody1985]

This is precisely why people declare that they live on their own and not with a partner.

The system penalises families, who the government are always bleating on about how they should be the focus of our attention and the building blocks of our nation. Always telling us that breakdown of family units leads to crime and poverty etc.

Yet when you're honest and in need of help they bend you over and ram you.

[CropleyWasGod]

I was also told that the NIC I had paid was not enough, I pay class 4 and it should be class 1 NIC. The tax man doesn't tell you this when you pay your tax and nic every year, why?

.

As self-employed, you should also be paying Class 2.

Class 4 is not really NI at all, it is a tax by any other name. It entitles you to very little.

[Peevemor]

As self-employed, you should also be paying Class 2.

Class 4 is not really NI at all, it is a tax by any other name. It entitles you to very little.

Is it not just your contribution to your state pension?

[J-C]

As self-employed, you should also be paying Class 2.

Class 4 is not really NI at all, it is a tax by any other name. It entitles you to very little.


It may well be class 2, I'll check my tax returns, still annoying tho.

[EH6 Hibby]

After being self employed for the past 26 years I recently had hip surgery which will lay me off for 6-8 weeks. I applied for earning support allowance and after 4 weeks waiting, was told that I was getting the huge sum of £5.83 per week, whoop de do!

This was because my wife who works 18 hrs a week and earns £110 pw is seen as enough income, I was originally given £115.83 pw but they took my wifes wage into account and took it away leaving me all of £5.83.:confused:
This used to be incapacity benefit and was changed last year, in one and and out the other.

I was also told that the NIC I had paid was not enough, I pay class 4 and it should be class 1 NIC. The tax man doesn't tell you this when you pay your tax and nic every year, why?

I've an appointment with my local MP today to let him know the problems we self employed people have when it comes to things like this.

Your wife should be entitled to Working Tax Credit for the period that you are not working. It might not be loads but it would be something. :agree:

[Gatecrasher]

Your wife should be entitled to Working Tax Credit for the period that you are not working. It might not be loads but it would be something. :agree:

that depends if they have kids or not.

http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

[J-C]

Just applied for tx credit package to be sent out, not loads but I'm taking everything they can give me after all this. Hopefully back to work in about 10-14 days time.

[EH6 Hibby]

that depends if they have kids or not.

http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

Ah I didn't realise that you have to work 30 hours in order to qualify if you don't have kids. :doh:

[Gatecrasher]

Ah I didn't realise that you have to work 30 hours in order to qualify if you don't have kids. :doh:

that catches a lot of folk out :agree:

[lapsedhibee]

It may well be class 2, I'll check my tax returns, still annoying tho.

As well as the Class 4 that you have to pay through the self-assessment tax return, you should also be paying Class 2, which is administered completely separately from the tax return. If you're self-employed HMRC should be sending you a quarterly demand for about £30. (£2.30/week last year, £2.40/week this year.)