Any ladies getting childcare costs covered by UC AND Self Employed?

I can get more time if I go as self employed. I think I’ll need to be invoicing my own business bank account (or set up company) for my wages. Most of my ‘income’ is reinvested so I don’t usually take much money out for myself, if any. Does anyone else have expertise in this? 1. What do I have to submit to UC each month? Invoice/expenses? 2. What do I need to submit to prove I’m self employed atm. I have a UTR code but haven’t worked much this year. Does that matter? The fact I’m invoicing myself but currently I’m not registered as a company. Does that make a difference? I'm likely to put the money toward buying new equipment so on the 'business side' I won't be earning or taking a wage, I guess I'll be putting it back as a loan..? I think I need to speak to an accountant about this to avoid any hmrc penalties.
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My partner is self employed, we have twins in childcare, we pay the fees then each month I upload the invoice and proof we've paid fees then UC will pay up to 85% back for childcare. Regards to self employment. Have you had an appointment at the job centre and they've told you you are gainfully self employed? The 1st year of self employed you don't have to meet the MIF, so can work as little or as much as you'd like. But after that first year you need to be meeting the MIF each month, otherwise UC will simply use the MIF to work out your UC. So for example, my partner has to earn (after expenses) £1556 per month. IF he doesn't then UC use that figure to work out UC amount. If he earns say £2000 after expenses then UC use £2000 as the monthly income and the UC will be less that month.

We have to upload all expenses, fuel, tools, work wear, repairs to his van, maintenance to run the van, tax and ni paid. Anything work related. Are you VAT registered?

@Abii thank you. No not cat registered. This is really good info. Ty. The lower than MIF is a massive factor rn as I need to build up clients. Knowing I need to clear this and expenses is important goal to be aware of for next year. Also if I’m earning the same as child rn but have expenses is this going to take away from my UC personal payments 🤔 Am I going to work away my UC payments only to pay some toward nursery. Hmm Is £1556 the cost of your nursery?

No, the £1556 is the minimum income floor that my partner has to earn each month. Our nursery fees used to be £1200 per month, and UC would pay back 85% of that. Now that my twins get 30hrs free nursery, our bill has reduced alot. But as UC pay in arrears, you have to pay nursery fees yourself first, to then get UC to pay it back to you. How long have you been self employed? I'd definitely recommend booking an appointment with your work coach at the job centre. If your earning to basically pay for the business and childcare, you won't have any wage/profit so you won't be gainfully self employed in the job centres eyes because you aren't making enough money. This then may cause them to push you into finding employed work as well as self employed. If that makes sense. I hope it does! It is such a mind field.

I have a new commitments meeting on Saturday. I am going to throw all my final qs at them then. So my nursery fees will reach £500. My work is seasonal so it’s a struggle now but easy in the warmer wedding months. How will I know what my MIF is?

You won't need to know your MIF until you've been gainfully self-employed. But the job centre will tell you and give you booklets on all the information.

Ok thank you. I’ll request the booklets! This detail isn’t obvious online. I’ve seen a Reddit post talking about not being gainfully self employed but earning enough to achieve child care. I think while baby is young they are loose with gainfully self employed. I presume gainfully means making more than a certain amount maybe enough to cover ALL bills? Maybe less than but not enough to not need gov support? 😵‍💫

There isn't a minimum you need to earn to receive childcare costs, as long as you have some sort of income. If you live with your partner then you both have to be working. Gainfully self employed - is basically, that job is your only source of income and it's a business that provides a regular steady income.

Ok thank you thank you! I’m not gainfully - I still need to reinvest to get to the next level. I’m building it back up. I’m a sole trader selling my skill going into management. So I guess gainfully in the sole trader aspect but I won’t be taking the profits for actual wages it will go back in and some used to pay the nursery - I presume if I make more than UC then I’ll forfeit some of that income also. Unless they take expenses into account and bump up my UC to compensate for lower actual earnings. Or will the lead to not qualifying…?

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