Will selling on ebay be taken seriously whilst on benefits?

cyberstar

I’m currently selling a lot of my junk from home everyday for over 2 months and earning more than I expect, about £50 - £60 a wk. I’m not making a business or anything just want to clear out the rubbish I have until its all gone and I still have loads to sell. But I’m also on benefits (JSA) as well. And I’m concerned that this isn’t allowed as my earnings are equivalent to having a part-time job. If not, will I get caught out? And how can they actually catch u out? Will I be checked up on? . I was thinking that if I leave all my funds in my paypal account I assume they wont know that I’m selling. But the only way they would know is the ebay fees being withdrawn from my bank statement. If I’m on benefits would ebay selling be taken seriously? If I keep quite and don’t report it, I just assume nothing will happen.

wigginsmum

You can pay your Ebay fees with your Paypal balance, without it needing to show up on your bank account. Just pay them before they're due for payment from your bank account.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I don't think selling things from around the house will affect JSA because you aren't operating a business. Selling your own items means that you are selling at a loss anyway.

shellsuit

So long as you are not buying goods to sell for a profit, it shouldn't be a problem.

cafenervosa_2

Yea selling personal items is ok. Buying to sell is a different story.

Contains_Mild_Peril

That's right, as others have said, selling your personal belongings is not "earning", even if it does make you as much money as a part-time job. I assume that, as razorbladekisses said, you're normally selling for less than you paid for the stuff in the first place, so there's no reason or anyone to question it. If the benefits agency has not asked you for bank statements then they're not checking them - they can't access them behind your back, I think they'd need a court order for that.