Esa and selling things

Confuseddot

Hi,

I am currently in the wrag group income based esa. I have taken up sewing(patchwork and quilting) as a hobby to try and get my brain working again and to try and get me out the house.

I have made myself a yoga mat bag and a few people including the instructor have commented on it and asked if I would make them one and they would pay me. Now material is quite expensive and I have no money otherwise I would have no issues just making them some bags etc.

Just wondering if I do charge for the bags will it be classed as income etc don't want to do anything wrong this is all new to me.

thanks

rogerblack

Selling personal possessions is allowed.
Technically - possessions are part of your capital.
Selling them does not result in income - but simply changes the from one form of capital to another.

However - this is not the case if you have specifically made the bag for sale.
In this case, if you do it without reporting it - in the worst case they may find that you're fit for work.
However - there is a scheme setup to allow work like this - it's permitted work.
You are able to keep all the money you make, as long as either you earn under £20/week, or earn under £95/week (there are other rules about this higher limit that mean you can't work more than 16h, or for more than one year unless you're in the support group)

Phone them up and ask for a permitted work form.

Confuseddot

Thanks so much roger v v helpful

Horseunderwater

rogerblack wrote: »

Selling personal possessions is allowed.
Technically - possessions are part of your capital.
Selling them does not result in income - but simply changes the from one form of capital to another.

However - this is not the case if you have specifically made the bag for sale.
In this case, if you do it without reporting it - in the worst case they may find that you're fit for work.
However - there is a scheme setup to allow work like this - it's permitted work.
You are able to keep all the money you make, as long as either you earn under £20/week, or earn under £95/week (there are other rules about this higher limit that mean you can't work more than 16h, or for more than one year unless you're in the support group)

Phone them up and ask for a permitted work form.

Now £99.50 as of Oct last year as it is based on 16 hours Nat Min Wage rounded up to nearest whole 50p. Will shortly go up to £101.00? As NMW will be £6.31 in October.
Form is PW1

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Is there a market for such bags? Self employment opportunity beckons! From small acorns....

nannytone_2

selling personal possesions is allowed.
but making things to sell would be income

rogerblack

Horseunderwater wrote: »

Now £99.50 as of Oct last year as it is based on 16 hours Nat Min Wage rounded up to nearest whole 50p. Will shortly go up to £101.00? As NMW will be £6.31 in October.
Form is PW1

As I understand it - no.
The amounts of all benefits tend to change in a lump - in april.
So - it may go up next april.