The Housing Benefit Regulations 2006

SECTION 4 E+W+S Self-employed earners

Earnings of self-employed earners E+W+S

37.—(1) Subject to [F1 paragraphs (2) and (2A)], “earnings”, in the case of employment as a self-employed earner, means the gross income of the employmentF2 ....

(2) “Earnings” shall not include any payment to which paragraph [F3 26, 27 or 27A] of Schedule 5 refers (payments in respect of a person accommodated with the claimant under arrangements made by a local authority or voluntary organisation [F4 payments] made to the claimant by a health authority, local authority or voluntary organisation in respect of persons temporarily in the claimant's care) [F5 and any payments made to a claimant under section 73(1)(b) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (kinship care assistance)] nor shall it include any sports award.

[F6 (2A) Earnings shall also not include any payment made in accordance with section 26A of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (duty to provide continuing care)—

(a) to a claimant; or

(b) where paragraph (2B) applies, to another person (“A”) which A passes on to the claimant.

(2B) This paragraph applies only where A—

(a) was formerly in the claimant’s care;

(b) is aged 16 or over; and

(c) continues to live with the claimant.]

[F7 (3) This paragraph applies to—

(a) royalties or other sums paid as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright, design, patent or trade mark; or

(b) any payment in respect of any—

(i) book registered under the Public Lending Right Scheme 1982; or

(ii) work made under any international public lending right scheme that is analogous to the Public Lending Right Scheme 1982,

where the claimant is the first owner of the copyright, design, patent or trade mark, or an original contributor to the book or work concerned.]

[F8 (4) Where the claimant’s earnings consist of any items to which paragraph (3) applies, those earnings shall be taken into account over a period equal to such number of weeks as is equal to the number obtained (and any fraction shall be treated as a corresponding fraction of a week) by dividing the earnings by the amount of housing benefit which would be payable had the payment not been made plus an amount equal to the total of the sums which would fall to be disregarded from the payment under Schedule 4 (sums to be disregarded in the calculation of earnings) as appropriate in the claimant’s case.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 37(1) substituted (7.11.2017) by The Social Security and Child Support (Care Payments and Tenant Incentive Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/995), regs. 1, 12(2)(a)

F2 Words in reg. 37(1) omitted (31.10.2011) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2425), regs. 1(2), 19(4)

F3 Words in reg. 37(2) substituted (7.11.2017) by The Social Security and Child Support (Care Payments and Tenant Incentive Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/995), regs. 1, 5(2)(a)

F4 Words in reg. 37(2) substituted (7.11.2017) by The Social Security and Child Support (Care Payments and Tenant Incentive Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/995), regs. 1, 5(2)(b)

F5 Words in reg. 37(2) inserted (7.11.2017) by The Social Security and Child Support (Care Payments and Tenant Incentive Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/995), regs. 1, 5(2)(c)

F6 Reg. 37(2A)-(2B) inserted (7.11.2017) by The Social Security and Child Support (Care Payments and Tenant Incentive Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/995), regs. 1, 12(2)(b)

F7 Reg. 37(3) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(4) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/583), reg. 6(5)

F8 Reg. 37(4) added (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/698), reg. 6(3)

Calculation of net profit of self-employed earners E+W+S

38.—(1) For the purposes of regulation 30 (average weekly earnings of self-employed earners) the earnings of a claimant to be taken into account shall be—

(a) in the case of a self-employed earner who is engaged in employment on his own account, the net profit derived from that employment;

(b) M1 in the case of a self-employed earner whose employment is carried on in partnership or is that of a share fisherman within the meaning of the Social Security (Mariners' Benefits) Regulations 1975 , his share of the net profit derived from that employment, less—

(i) an amount in respect of income tax and of [F9 national insurance contributions] payable under the Act calculated in accordance with regulation 39 (deduction of tax and contributions for self-employed earners); and

(ii) one-half of the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (11) in respect of any qualifying premium.

(2) There shall be disregarded from a claimant's net profit, any sum, where applicable, specified in paragraphs 1 to 14 of Schedule 4.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) the net profit of the employment shall, except where paragraph (9) applies, be calculated by taking into account the earnings of the employment over the assessment period less—

(a) subject to paragraphs (5) to (7), any expenses wholly and exclusively incurred in that period for the purposes of that employment;

(b) an amount in respect of—

(i) income tax; and

(ii) [F10 national insurance contributions] payable under the Act,

calculated in accordance with regulation 39 (deduction of tax and contributions for self-employed earners); and

(c) one-half of the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (11) in respect of any qualifying premium.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b) the net profit of the employment shall be calculated by taking into account the earnings of the employment over the assessment period less, subject to paragraphs (5) to (7), any expenses wholly and exclusively incurred in that period for the purposes of the employment.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), no deduction shall be made under paragraph (3)(a) or (4), in respect of—

(a) any capital expenditure;

(b) the depreciation of any capital asset;

(c) any sum employed or intended to be employed in the setting up or expansion of the employment;

(d) any loss incurred before the beginning of the assessment period;

(e) the repayment of capital on any loan taken out for the purposes of the employment;

(f) any expenses incurred in providing business entertainment; and

(g) any debts, except bad debts proved to be such, but this sub-paragraph shall not apply to any expenses incurred in the recovery of a debt.

(6) A deduction shall be made under paragraph (3)(a) or (4) in respect of the repayment of capital on any loan used for—

(a) the replacement in the course of business of equipment or machinery; and

(b) the repair of an existing business asset except to the extent that any sum is payable under an insurance policy for its repair.

(7) The relevant authority shall refuse to make a deduction in respect of any expenses under paragraph (3)(a) or (4) where it is not satisfied given the nature and the amount of the expense that it has been reasonably incurred.

(8) For the avoidance of doubt—

(a) a deduction shall not be made under paragraph (3)(a) or (4) in respect of any sum unless it has been expended for the purposes of the business;

(b) a deduction shall be made thereunder in respect of—

(i) the excess of any value added tax paid over value added tax received in the assessment period;

(ii) any income expended in the repair of an existing business asset except to the extent that any sum is payable under an insurance policy for its repair;

(iii) any payment of interest on a loan taken out for the purposes of the employment.

(9) Where a claimant is engaged in employment as a child minder the net profit of the employment shall be one-third of the earnings of that employment, less—

(a) an amount in respect of—

(i) income tax; and

(ii) [F11 national insurance contributions] payable under the Act,

calculated in accordance with regulation 39 (deduction of tax and contributions for self-employed earners); and

(b) one-half of the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (11) in respect of any qualifying premium.

(10) For the avoidance of doubt where a claimant is engaged in employment as a self-employed earner and he is also engaged in one or more other employments as a self-employed or employed earner any loss incurred in any one of his employments shall not be offset against his earnings in any other of his employments.

(11) The amount in respect of any qualifying premium shall be calculated by multiplying the daily amount of the qualifying premium by the number equal to the number of days in the assessment period; and for the purposes of this regulation the daily amount of the qualifying premium shall be determined—

(a) where the qualifying premium is payable monthly, by multiplying the amount of the qualifying premium by 12 and dividing the product by 365;

(b) in any other case, by dividing the amount of the qualifying premium by the number equal to the number of days in the period to which the qualifying premium relates.

(12) In this regulation, “qualifying premium” means any premium which is payable periodically in respect of F12 ... a personal pension scheme and is so payable on or after the date of claim.

Textual Amendments

F9 Words in reg. 38(1)(b)(i) substituted (1.4.2014 for specified purposes, 7.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Housing Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/213), regs. 1(3), 3(4)(b)(i)

F10 Words in reg. 38(3)(b)(ii) substituted (1.4.2014 for specified purposes, 7.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Housing Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/213), regs. 1(3), 3(4)(b)(ii)

F11 Words in reg. 38(9)(a)(ii) substituted (1.4.2014 for specified purposes, 7.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Housing Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/213), regs. 1(3), 3(4)(b)(iii)

F12 Words in reg. 38(12) omitted (16.7.2007) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1749), regs. 1, 4(3)

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1975/529.

Deduction of tax and contributions of self-employed earners E+W+S

39.—(1) The amount to be deducted in respect of income tax under regulation 38(1)(b)(i), (3)(b)(i) or (9)(a)(i) (calculation of net profit of self-employed earners) shall be calculated on the basis of the amount of chargeable income and as if that income were assessable to income tax at F13 ... and the basic rate[F14 , or in the case of a Scottish taxpayer, the Scottish basic rate,] of tax applicable to the assessment period less only the [F15 personal reliefs to which the claimant is entitled under Chapters 2, 3 and 3A of Part 3 of the Income Tax Act 2007 as are] appropriate to his circumstances; but, if the assessment period is less than a year, the earnings to which the [F16 [F17 basic] rate[F18 , or the Scottish basic rate,]] of tax is to be applied and the amount of the personal [F19 reliefs] deductible under this paragraph shall be calculated on a pro rata basis.

(2) The amount to be deducted in respect of [F20 national insurance contributions] under regulation 38(1)(b)(i), (3)(b)(ii) or (9)(a)(ii) shall be the total of—

F21 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) the amount of Class 4 contributions (if any) which would be payable under section 15 of the Act (Class 4 contributions recoverable under the Income Tax Acts) at the percentage rate applicable to the assessment period on so much of the chargeable income as exceeds the lower limit but does not exceed the upper limit of profits and gains applicable for the tax year applicable to the assessment period; but if the assessment period is less than a year, those limits shall be reduced pro rata.

(3) In this regulation “chargeable income” means—

(a) except where sub-paragraph (b) applies, the earnings derived from the employment less any expenses deducted under paragraph (3)(a) or, as the case may be, (4) of regulation 38;

(b) in the case of employment as a child minder, one third of the earnings of that employment.

Textual Amendments

F13 Words in reg. 39(1) omitted (6.4.2009) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/583), regs. 1(2), 6(4)(a)

F14 Words in reg. 39(1) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Scottish Rate of Income Tax etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/233), regs. 1, 4(4)(a)

F15 Words in reg. 39(1) substituted (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Scottish Rate of Income Tax etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/233), regs. 1, 4(4)(b)

F16 Words in reg. 39(1) substituted (1.10.2007) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 5) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/2618), regs. 1(1), 11(6)

F17 Word in reg. 39(1) substituted (6.4.2009) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/583), regs. 1(2), 6(4)(b)

F18 Words in reg. 39(1) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Scottish Rate of Income Tax etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/233), regs. 1, 4(4)(c)

F19 Word in reg. 39(1) substituted (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Scottish Rate of Income Tax etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/233), regs. 1, 4(4)(d)

F20 Words in reg. 39(2) substituted (1.4.2014 for specified purposes, 7.4.2014 in so far as not already in force) by The Housing Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/213), regs. 1(3), 3(4)(c)

F21 Reg. 39(2)(a) omitted (6.4.2024) by virtue of The Social Security (Class 2 National Insurance Contributions) (Consequential Amendments and Savings) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/377), regs. 1(1), 8(11)(b) (with reg. 1(4))