Benefits + Ebay ????

A question about : Benefits + Ebay ????

I am currently signed off work due to a health problem, so am on Incapacity Benefit, Income Support and Disability Living Allowance.

Over the last couple of years I have sold various bits and pieces, mostly used clothing, on Ebay.

Now I am on benefits is that still allowed? I am not running a business, just getting rid of stuff at a much lower price than I paid for it.

Does anybody know the answer please?

Best answers:

• I will move this to the benefits board as you are more likely to get an answer there.
• As far as I am aware it should be ok, as long as it is not massive amounts. someone on here will probably know the legal answer though.xxx
• Years ago I had an investigation into a claim because I had too much money going in an account in one month according to them, I sold a car and the money went straight back out to clear the finance. It was checked and found to be correct. Like I said to the investigating officer if they wanted to give me the money I had paid in installments and what was left on the car I would gladly give them what I sold the car for (less than half that amount) If it's something you own and selling it on, as long as not buying and selling for profit, then it's non of their business IMO.
• It shouldnt be a problem as you are simply liquidating some of your assests. As long as it doesnt take you over the savings limits or you dont get a taste for it and start buying to sell etc then it isnt a problem but of cause may get checked.
• When my benefit claim was up for review, I had to submit my current bank statements, on which were a few small deposits, from household nik naks and personal items I had sold on Ebay after having a clear-out of stuff I no longer needed.
  The benefit people queried the deposits, and my benefit was stopped until I proved where the money came from...I sent copies of the Ebay auction pages etc.
  My benefit was re-instated about 6 weeks later....
• Best way to get round that then is to open an ISA and have the money put in there.
• and how do you suggest they put the money into an ISA, its not something you can take Ј10 notes and pay it in, the money still has to go through a bank account.
• Ask for cheque and postal order payments only and put them in your ISA and pay ebay fees by cheque. Then they won't know where the money is going.
• Any money going into an ISA has to be a cheque payable to the company providing the ISA and they will not accept postal orders due to Money Laundering regulations.
• I've had my isa 4 years and have always paid my ebay cheques and postal orders into it which have been made payable to me. My boyfriend does this too.
• ah right a cash ISA at a building society where in fact you can pay in cash as well.
  However, you may not need to declare any income received from an ISA to the IR, you do however need to declare any savings you have to the Benefits Office if it is over the amounts stipulated by them.
• Yes only if it's over that amount. And what is that amount exactly?
• About 6 grand. They do have the ability to check if you have any ISA's
• I don't have 6 grand in my ISA and I'm interested to know just how they have the ability to check??
• I wouldn't know how they have the ability. I don't work for them. However when I was receiving IS, I had an ISA with Natwest. I was asked to attend the benefits office and explain why I had not informed them that I have an ISA.
  I'm glad they are allowed. Stops people screwing the system
• I had a query about £50,000 in my current acount, then a cheque for £49,970 going out when I applied for Council Tax Benefit. The £50,000 was a critical illness payout when I was diagnosed with MS. I paid off my mortgage, which was the other cheque, but I had to send the letter from the building society to prove that I had used the money for that, and hadn't just frittered it away to avoid paying Council Tax!
  It was fine in the end, they realised I was telling the truth, but they will query anything that looks "regular"