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Original poster

do i need to register?

18 replies

mn983 · 04/04/2022 22:41

I have been helping my elderly neighbour with doing some cleaning and housework as she was starting to struggle. It's just a couple of hours once a week. I've been doing it just as a friendly neighbourly favour but now she wants to start paying me £10 per week.

I've said no but she got a bit upset and said she doesn't want to take advantage of my kindness. It started out as she just needed some help for a few weeks while she was recovering from an illness but it's now been a few months and she's realised that she needs the help and not just temporarily but wants to pay her way (I didn't have the heart to tell her how how much an actual cleaner would cost) and would rather it be me who she knows and trusts and not some random cleaner she doesn't feel comfortable with.

So my question is, if she's paying me do I need to register as self employed?

OP posts:
Squiff70 · 04/04/2022 22:50

No. We have a gardener who is a retired landscape architect. She asks for £20 for three hours - NOT as a job but doing favours for people because she loves being outdoors and in her words she "loves noseying in other people's gardens".

If you were to register as self-employed, you'd need to be paid minimum wage (or above) and would need to take on lots of other clients to make enough money to sustain yourself/your home/your family.

Doing a bit of cleaning for one lady whilst she bungs you a tenner for your troubles doesn't make you self-employed. It's no different from young people babysitting for a couple of hours for a trusted friend and getting a bit of pocket money in return.

IF the DWP or Inland Revenue ever asked you about it, just be honest and tell them, but I really don't think you have anything to be concerned about!

If it really worries you, tell her you're happy to do a little bit of housework to help her out you really don't want paying. You shouldn't have to give her a reason why but any reason you do give is entirely upto you.

You sound very kind for doing this lady a favour in your own time for no monetary gain. I'm sure she really appreciates that!

Original poster
mn983 · 04/04/2022 23:17

Thank you for replying.
I'm happy to continue doing it unpaid, it's no trouble, we've been neighbours/friends for years. She potters around doing stuff she's able to and I do the stuff she can't and then we have a coffee and a chat. If I wasn't doing the cleaning I'd still be there doing the coffee and chatting part.
I'm definitely not interested in taking on other clients or charging minimum wage! I already have a job. As far as I'm concerned I'm just spending my saturday afternoon with a friend - and cleaning her bathroom, changing her bedding etc while I'm there. I don't want to have to register as self employed and fill out a tax return for doing that!

OP posts:
DreamingOfTowels · 04/04/2022 23:59

No - you can earn £1,000 a year tax free as the trading allowance which is just shy of £20 a week. For £10 a week you are fine

Original poster
mn983 · 05/04/2022 00:15

I didn't know about the trading allowance, thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
mn983 · 05/04/2022 00:19

Next question.

Do I have to declare it as earned income to Universal Credit?

I work but only receive minimum wage per hour so I receive some rent help from UC

OP posts:
mycatsarecool · 05/04/2022 00:28

No don't declare this, its only 10 quid

Original poster
mn983 · 05/04/2022 15:02

bumping in case anyone else knows if this should be declared or not to UC

OP posts:
Original poster
mn983 · 05/04/2022 22:57

anyone?

OP posts:
Movingonup22 · 05/04/2022 22:59

Honestly I’m hugely uptight about people declaring but I really don’t think you need to for this!!!

RagzRebooted · 05/04/2022 23:01

@mn983

Next question.

Do I have to declare it as earned income to Universal Credit?

I work but only receive minimum wage per hour so I receive some rent help from UC

If you consider it paid work, then yes. But it's not even minimum wage so it would be difficult for them to process anyway. For a tenner a week, I'd just keep it to cash and consider it a contribution to expenses rather than paid work.

Unless you'd rather not do it any more, which is also fine.

CharityShopChic · 05/04/2022 23:02

If you were to register as self-employed, you'd need to be paid minimum wage (or above) and would need to take on lots of other clients to make enough money to sustain yourself/your home/your family.

Total nonsense.

Self-employed people can choose to work for 50p an hour should they wish to do so.

Original poster
mn983 · 05/04/2022 23:19

Thank you. If she insists on giving it to me I will probably use it to restock her cleaning cupboard (and the coffee and biscuits cupboard!). I was just so worried about getting in trouble for not registering and declaring it if I was supposed to do that.

OP posts:
NannyGythaOgg · 06/04/2022 00:06

@mn983

Thank you. If she insists on giving it to me I will probably use it to restock her cleaning cupboard (and the coffee and biscuits cupboard!). I was just so worried about getting in trouble for not registering and declaring it if I was supposed to do that.
In that case it is definitely expenses

OR do it another way. She could claim attendance allowance, be entitled to the money to then pass on to you as a carer. I appreciate that is not what you or her want BUT by doing what you are doing you are saving the social care budget money and it certainly is not an issue

Original poster
mn983 · 07/04/2022 22:46

Tagging @Babyroobs in the hope that you see this as from other posts you seem to be very knowledgeable about UC

OP posts:
ButtockUp · 08/04/2022 08:49

Honestly OP, just take the money

You don't need to tell anyone, it's just a tenner.

You are being incredibly kind to your neighbour and your neighbour will feel better for paying you. She probably belongs to a generation that feels quite proud about accepting help.

carefullycourageous · 08/04/2022 08:52

Because you are on UC, I would ask her to buy you items instead, if you feel you can have that conversation.

ElenaSt · 08/04/2022 09:35

I might be wrong but I was under the impression that the moment you get paid for something it forms a contract and you are liable for breakages, damages etc.

WhereHasSpringSprungTo · 08/04/2022 09:37

No dont declare. It will be so much hassle with UC

Just dont tell anyone u get paid.

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