Benefits

[ohoneybeeo]

Hi,

I'm doing the online benefits calculator to see what I'm entitled to, but I'm not sure whether I should but 'self employed' or not?
Also it asks me to state how many hours a week I work... Help!

Yes as a foster cater you will be self-employed. You are completing a tax return aren't you??

There are special rules for foster carers for tax so you shouldn't have to pay too much.

I haven't even registered as self employed yet. I'm ringing up tomorrow to do it.
How many hours should I put I work?

Fostering Allowances are disregarded in full for some benefits so putting them into a benefits calculator as "self employed" income will give an inaccurate result. More info here: www.fostering.net/all-about-fostering/foster-carers/finances/benefits

Try and register online if you can - it's 13 days from the deadline for filing tax returns for last year so there's zero chance of your call being answered for weeks yet!

For the purpose of the benefits calculator your hours worked are (from memory) 168 but your income is nil - any income derived from fostering is discounted for benefit purposes.

Claiming is so confusing. I went to my local job centre when I initially claimed and they helped fill the form in, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're not allowed to do this now.

Thankyou for the replies!

The maximum number of hours worked a week you can put in the calculator is 60, so I will probably have to ring up and sort it out.
Thanks again x