I have been assisting a client on IB, who works every other week and earns £25 for that week. Does the 26 week period include the weeks when he doesn't work??

Many thanks.

I would say yes, it does. The rules say that you have to work less than an average of 16 hours per week, don't they? Therefore if you work zero hours in some weeks it lowers your average, but it seem to me that you don't stop counting towards the 26 weeks.

Is the real question whether the permited work rules allow earnings to be averaged in the normal way - because if they did he would come under the permitted work lower limit over the work cycle of two weeks and there would be no 26 week restriction.

Just a thought!

Best wishes,

Sue