cash in hand piece work and benefits

[Chundle]

Hi all I've just started doing some piece work, stuffing L plates into the bags and boxing them up that sort of thing. It's work from home. I get paid cash in hand but it goes through their books, they have my NI number. What I want to know is how I go about declaring this to the benefit people. Tax credits won't be a problem as I can give them an estimate. Housing benefit is my problem as they always want to see wage slips which I obviously won't have. So what do I do??? Thanks all

I would keep a diary record of each amount you are paid, and also a record of the name and address, and any telephone numbers/e mail addresses of the people paying you. Ask the person paying you if they will sign in your diary against the money they are paying you, you will then have proof of income.
IF this is going through their books it will not be a problem for them to do this

Thanks molly I did have to complete a special form at the workplace with all my details on for their books so I think its all legit. Was thinking of asking for a receipt? Housing benefit are just soooo difficult and rightly so but even though I want to declare everything I've a feeling it will be made difficult for me as I suppose they won't know if I'm withokd receipts etc and not declaring it all. It will only amount to about 40 quid a week perhaps less so not megabucks so ill be under the tax threshold

Hi chundle the HB department will want to see recepits of those payments and will recalculate your HB accordingly. Your payments will decrease as £40 per week is more than the maximum disregard allowed. It may be a good idea to phone the council ASAP and tell them about this so that they can advise you when to supply the receipts in order to avoid a large overpayment.
HTH

That's great thanks olimpia I rang them this afternoon to see what they would require am going to see if the company can give me a receipt every time I get paid the work will vary though so some weeks I may not work and other weeks I will so its going to be tricky

chundle well done for contacting the Council. You're right variable income is a bit tricky with any means tested benefit. It is very important that you supply receipts when they ask to avoid nasty surprises. It sounds like you'll be fine