If you’ve been working from home you can claim £156 to cover expenses

If you’ve been working from home throughout the lockdown you could be eligible to claim money back to cover expenses.

The scheme sees what is being described as ‘essentially tax relief’ by the Mirror for anything to do with work, such as phone calls, gas and electricity. 

If you’ve been sent home by your employer and could not work elsewhere you could be eligible to apply – if you have chosen to work from home, you won’t be able to apply. 

Working from home had huge benefits for most people involved, from easier child care to something as simple as more time for housework, but for some, there were significant negatives such as increased electricity bills. 

The benefit enables you to claim an allowance of £6 a week tax-free. You will have to request the money through your payroll department or request it to be deducted from your taxable income. 

If you’ve been working from home since March you could be entitled to as much as £156.

Claims in-line with employers’ payment will not need to be justified for instance with receipts or evidence of expense, according to HMRC.

If you do a self-assessment form normally, you can claim as normal through your next application.

If you do not, you will need to complete a P87 form online (you will need your employer’s name and PAYE reference, which you can find on your payslip or P60), passport (if you have one) and your job title, or via post (you will also need your national insurance number).