tax credits/help for self employed?

[pixiewitch]

Hi there,
I'm self employed & expecting my 1st child in June. I hope to be able to go back to work in September (with dp taking child care duties when I'm working) & would really like to know:

• how little do you have to earn to be entitled to working tax &/or child credit?
• How do hmrc calculate my hours when they are totally different every week/month, are very erratic & non-predictalbe? (do they take a monthly/yearly average?).
• Do I have to do a minimum of 16 hours work a week to be entitiled?
• What happens if I don't do 16 hrs in one week?
• what happens if i do more than 16 hours in one week?
• How do I prove to them that I have/haven't worked those hours?
• if I don't work 16 hrs am I entitled to any help from anywhere?

I've been on the hmrc website & tried to find answers to these questions, but has gone round & round in circles ! I'm more confused now that before I started.

If anyone knows where I can find or has the answers, I'd really appreicate it!

Many thanks,

Pix

First of all, I am not a benefits expert but I can give you some pointers, and as noone else has stepped forward...

- how little do you have to earn to be entitled to working tax &/or child credit?
In theory nothing, but in practice it needs to be at least minimum wage x 16 hours a week i.e. about £100 a week.

- (do they take a monthly/yearly average?).
They don't do anything, you need to state that you normally work at least 16 hours each week - see the guide linked to below.

- Do I have to do a minimum of 16 hours work a week to be entitiled?
Normally yes, but you can take time off for holiday etc.

- What happens if I don't do 16 hrs in one week?
Nothing.

- what happens if i do more than 16 hours in one week?
Nothing. If your earnings for the year are more than declared your benefit for next year will be adjusted.

- How do I prove to them that I have/haven't worked those hours?
If they investigate your claim then you will have to come up with something.

• if I don't work 16 hrs am I entitled to any help from anywhere?

Sorry, can't help with benefits generally.

Have you read this information and seen the notes and examples in this guide?

Should have mentioned - as a self employed person the hours you work are not the same as the hours you charge people. You spend time on adminstration, paperwork, promoting your business etc: you are therefore in control of whether you work 16 hours or not.

OH THANK YOU SO SO MUCH.
You've made it so clear. Thanks a lot.
I Really appreciate that.& made some great points I hadn't though about.

Pix

No problem. I'd like to change one of my answers though - I was trying to keep it brief, but I overdid at and ended up with something misleading.

- how little do you have to earn to be entitled to working tax &/or child credit?
You don't have to earn anything (many self employed people make a loss in their first year of trading and may still claim WTC), but in practice if it is less than minimum wage x 16 hours a week i.e. about £100 a week HMRC are likely to make further enquiries to determine that your claim is genuine.