Need help with a work dispute

[Cassar27]

Dear all,

im currently in the middle of a work dispute whilst on maternity leave.

I Need some insight into the what employers can and can't do in terms of benefits offered by them- in particular medical benefits.

in 2013 the company sent out a communication stating that we could receive a variety of benefits (ie medical, dental etc) and advised to log on and choose the benefit. I did not do this as I did not want the benefits at the time.

They have since submitted to HMRC that I am receiving it and my tax code has been significantly lower due to this.

My question is, if this is a non contractual benefit (therefore it's not within my contract terms) and I have not signed anything to authorise the medical benefit and deduction being made- can my company still go ahead and deduct it if only an email communication was sent out about it?

And what should I do as they are saying that I have already received the benefit so can't refund me what I've been taxed??

any advice will be much appreciated.

p.s. I was not aware I was receiving this benefit until I received a letter from the medical insurer with a username and password to log in and see what I could benefit from- this was received in end of July 14

[sean5302]

Re: Need help with a work dispute

Hello Cassar27. Welcome to LB.
It must be a significant benefit if HMRC have reduced your tax code by much.
You will appreciate that companies try to improve the well-being of their employees, giving a symbiotic benefit to themselves. Less absence, greater productivity and suchlike with happy, fit, healthy staff.
In doing so, they have large bargaining power with gyms, dentists, BUPA, PPP and all the rest, due to massive buying power.
HMRC takes a close interest in benefits in kind, as those perks are known.
If you actively sign out of any such BIK, you're not obliged to take them and you just need to convince HMRC of this. A letter from your employer is normally sufficient.
Please remember that UK plc is in debt to the tune of £1.6 trillion and HMRC is doing its very best to reduce this, as long as you're not called Amazon, Starbucks or whatever.