Remaining politically neutral during General Election 2024
Under guidance from the Electoral Commission and Charity Commission, it's important that Scope remains politically neutral during General Elections.
While we understand that this period will see many passionate discussions, please make sure that your comments remain respectful of other people's opinions and keep to our online community house rules.
Confused about self-employment status for UC purposes.
Options
Commanded2bwell
Community member Posts: 79 Courageous
Hello. When I was migrated to UC last year, I was told I could not be considered "gainfully self-employed" for the purposes of UC because I had not recorded a profit from my self employment in the month prior to making my claim.
Since then I have been granted LCWRA status which, as I understand it, probably precludes me being "gainfully" self-employed: I can work if and when I choose, but there is no requirement to make a profit in order to preserve my status as self-employed.
After getting LCWRA, I noticed I was still getting messages about reporting my income, as if UC thought I was self-employed. So, confused, I asked on the journal if I still needed to report my income considering that my work coach had originally told me I couldn't be considered gainfully self-employed due to the lack of profit, and considering that I was now LCWRA.
Basically, me no longer being self-employed is all their idea, not mine.
In response to this question, I have now had a message saying that if I no longer consider myself self-employed, I need to report this under the 'Work and Earnings' section.
But... er... does anyone else see the logic problem with this? I was happy to carry on being self-employed, but the DWP have told me that absent a recent record of profit, I can't be, and now they're saying if I choose not to be, they have to tell me.
I'm confused.
I'm also paranoid. What might happen if I report it under Work and Earnings? What new bureaucracy might this trigger?
Comments
-
Yes. Do nothing. -
Hello @Commanded2bwell.
In order to help you, I think the most important question I can ask is: are you or have you been earning anything at all from self-employment since you migrated to UC?Being found “gainfully” self-employed is not about whether or not you can be self-employed. It’s a determination UC make to decide whether or not to apply the minimum income floor and for work search requirements.Now you have LCWRA, the minimum income floor and work search aren’t relevant to your claim.However, if you are still working self-employed, alongside your UC and LCWRA (which you are allowed to do), you need to report your earnings each month to UC.
If you’re not earning anything or working self-employed then you would report the change to UC that you are no longer working.Commanded2bwell said:I was happy to carry on being self-employed, but the DWP have told me that absent a recent record of profit, I can't be, and now they're saying if I choose not to be, they have to tell me.Commanded2bwell said:I'm also paranoid. What might happen if I report it under Work and Earnings? What new bureaucracy might this trigger?Community Manager
Scope -
I am down as self employed with LCWRA (selling some hobby craft items).
When I first told them, they sent a letter to my journal telling me it wasn't gainfully employment but I would still have to send them figures.
I get a reminder they day before my last day for the assessment period. I enter everything whether it's at a profit, loss or zero. My statement tends to arrive the day after and my money goes in the bank about 6 days later.
My only concern is it going against me at reassessment.
-
In terms of my ambition to earn money, yes, certainly. But I cannot currently envision a situation in which I can earn enough to significantly offset my UC. Whatever I do earn will be sporadic and vary a great deal in amount. That's the nature of the business I was in (as a freelance) and still dabble in when I get the chance. So, in order to keep this option open, but without knowing when and how much this option might earn in the future, I suppose I must continue to submit earnings reports, even if most of them are zero. Correct?
-
Yes or you will be reporting a change of circumstances (CoC) where there isn't one
Categories
- All Categories
- 13.2K Start here and say hello!
- 6.7K Coffee lounge
- 70 Games lounge
- 389 Cost of living
- 4.3K Disability rights and campaigning
- 1.9K Research and opportunities
- 203 Community updates
- 9.3K Talk about your situation
- 2.1K Children, parents, and families
- 1.6K Work and employment
- 778 Education
- 1.7K Housing and independent living
- 1.4K Aids, adaptations, and equipment
- 594 Dating, sex, and relationships
- 363 Exercise and accessible facilities
- 746 Transport and travel
- 32K Talk about money
- 4.4K Benefits and financial support
- 5.3K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 17.3K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 5.1K Universal Credit (UC)
- 6.3K Talk about your impairment
- 1.8K Cerebral palsy
- 875 Chronic pain and pain management
- 183 Physical and neurological impairments
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 1.2K Mental health and wellbeing
- 317 Sensory impairments
- 822 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
Do you need advice on your energy costs?
Scope’s Disability Energy Support service is open to any disabled household in England or Wales in which one or more disabled people live. You can get free advice from an expert adviser on managing energy debt, switching tariffs, contacting your supplier and more. Find out more information by visiting our
Disability Energy Support webpage.
If we become concerned about you or anyone else while using one of our services, we will act in line with our safeguarding policy and procedures. This may involve sharing this information with relevant authorities to ensure we comply with our policies and legal obligations.
Find out how to let us know if you're concerned about another member's safety.
Find out how to let us know if you're concerned about another member's safety.