Hello all & Happy New Year!

Just a quickie - we are trying to assist a client of ours in sending proof of his earned income to support his HB claim. Normally we would advise 5 weekly wage slips + bank statements, but we have just discovered he is self-employed. Can anyone give a guide to the documents that would be required for self-employed people to ensure HB is awarded?

Thanks

Try the HB guidance manual s 3.310 to 3.464. Can be found
at:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/housingbenefit/manuals/hbgm/parts/ptc_03d.asp#j

In brief -a summary of his last 12 months trading, normally in the form of a profit & loss account or the same information provided on a pro-forma issued by the LA.If he has not been trading for 12 months than details of income & expenses from start of business to date.
The LA can ask to see invoices & receipts at their discretion. There are many rules about what are allowed as 'business' expenses -see SHAC book etc for more info.
In my experience as a HB assessor -the more ordered the accounts, the quicker it will be processed and the less supporting documents will be requested!

Hope this helps.

Thanks all. It turns out the guy has only just become self-employed (was on JSA up until mid-November). I'm not sure he's going to be living with us for much longer, and therefore it's unlikely he'll provide much proof of income before he leaves. Once he's left, I think it unlikely he will provide any further evidence. Can I request that an interim HB assessment is made based on the proof of income we manage to gather?

Thanks

Nothing to stop you asking, but it's worth bearing in mind the following:

1) An LA is under no obligation to issue a payment on account if the clmt has not provided all the info / evidence requested.

2) In any case, if the LA subsequently decide there is no entitlement, any payment on account overpaid SHALL be recoverable.

3) There is no provision for a "provisional" assessment - it's either a "decision", or a "payment on account".

Regards

Thanks Kevin - I'll give it a go.