A UC thought.

[KeepTheFaith]

If you are found to not be gainfully SE then you can still carry on your SE and claim UC without coming under the MIF, so that's another way people are getting around it.

On the plus side of the MIF I was hoping it might shake the market removing some competition. I have to compete with a lot of casual underground workers already sometimes vastly undercutting me in my line of work. But looks like that situation is only going to get worse.

[Berlingogirl]

I guess that's what they used to do before tax credits. The problem is that a lot of lower income SE are there for a reason eg restrictions due to caring responsibilities and long term health problems. These will end up having to quit SE as difficult to meet their MIF. In the absence of finding employment suitable for their circumstances will then just end up long term unemployed/claiming disability under UC and not doing anything.

Yes, they will and then do their SE for cash and be loads better off! It's happening already, there's an 'undergound' of SE workers, or so I'm told.

[Berlingogirl]

Claymore,

It IS a nightmare. If any LLs are claiming tax credits join FB sites - UC and the SE etc and see the devastation UC has caused.

I'm there just offered a survival package to somebody living fairly near by.

[Moderator2]

Now why would my last post suddenly go "Unapproved"

Automatic spam detection software, probably all those links triggered it. Please send me a PM in future.

[KeepTheFaith]

I guess that's what they used to do before tax credits. The problem is that a lot of lower income SE are there for a reason eg restrictions due to caring responsibilities and long term health problems. These will end up having to quit SE as difficult to meet their MIF. In the absence of finding employment suitable for their circumstances will then just end up long term unemployed/claiming disability under UC and not doing anything.

[Berlingogirl]

KeepTheFaith,

It's all just bonkers for the SE. I can see us all slipping through the net, only using cash and going underground.

[Berlingogirl]

That's accruals basis accounting, which Berlingogirl say that the UC people won't accept, whereas HMRC prefer it, and insist on it for companies.

When I pay my insurances i pay them all in the same month which will totally wipe out any income so I've no chance of meeting the MIF for that month, but I would if accounts were taken yearly by UC. At the moment there's no carry forward of any earnings over the MIF to the next month. I'll have to arrange a loan (from Mother) and pay it back month by month. How loopy is that?

[KeepTheFaith]

I am an SE T and been worrying about the MIF since hearing about it in 2013. But hope is that someone will judicial review it on discrimination grounds, (see fb UC and SE group for info) and that could lead to them changing it or abandoning it altogether, hopefully not before too long and before they start migrating people over to UC!

[Berlingogirl]

Claymore,

It IS a nightmare. If any LLs are claiming tax credits join FB sites - UC and the SE etc and see the devastation UC has caused.

[Berlingogirl]

That's accruals basis accounting, which Berlingogirl say that the UC people won't accept, whereas HMRC prefer it, and insist on it for companies.

That's a problem UC and HMRC don't accept the same accounting.

Leaseholder - you don't . don't , don't want to investigate UC and the SE (bet you do though!).

[nukecad]

My post just went unapproved as well. Although that's probably because I had 4 links in there.

Maybe the spam filters have been tightened up?

[nukecad]

Self employment with an irregular income is a recognised problem with UC.

(TBH although replacing 6 benefits most of UC seems set up as if it was for unemployed Jobseekers only).

You might be interested in these 3 (short) threads on Rightsnet, (a forum for benefits advisors):
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/12487/
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/11922/
https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/12302/

That last one refers to this Works & Pensions Select Committee inquiry into the problem of SE and irregular income.
https://www.parliament.uk/business/c...vidence-17-19/

[leaseholder64]

Sounds like a nightmare! I would guess you would just record the rent as if it had been received and continue in the normal process of chasing debts.

That's accruals basis accounting, which Berlingogirl say that the UC people won't accept, whereas HMRC prefer it, and insist on it for companies.

[Claymore]

Sounds like a nightmare! I would guess you would just record the rent as if it had been received and continue in the normal process of chasing debts.

I guess UC have a help desk, but I bet they won't know what to do either. Anyway, relax for the mo - its not UC yet and it might not happen if everyone prays hard.

[Berlingogirl]

Hmmmmm perhaps rent paid weekly rather than monthly might help.