Housing Benefit

OhWow

If someone is claiming housing benefit on low income, does the money from their own things that they sell get taken into the housing benefit calculation? Does this mean they have to claim as self employed on zero hours?

I'm asking for a friend of my mother's and further information needed might take a while to answer.

Thanks.

tomtontom

Selling your own household possessions does not need to be declared as income. Selling items that have been purchased with the intention of resale must be declared.

specialboy

It depends on what they are selling and the value.

OhWow

It's bits from odd her loft. Books, clothes, ornaments. Total about £10 - £20 a week so far.

She was told that as she is selling her own things, she will have to claim as self employed on zero hours. Is that correct?

NYM

OhWow wrote: »

It's bits from odd her loft. Books, clothes, ornaments. Total about £10 - £20 a week so far.

She was told that as she is selling her own things, she will have to claim as self employed on zero hours. Is that correct?

Who told her ?

Horseunderwater

Not true. She is not self employed in that sense & neither is she on a zero hours contract. Selling off unwanted items bought years ago for personal use is fine. HMRC are only intersted if you buy stuff to use as stock & sell. So if you have unwanted books clothing & the like sitting in the loft or in cupboards then it is fine to get rid of it on Ebay. Or Amazon if you can get past their new account set up rules.

bloolagoon

However, eBay are claiming down on high volume sales and requesting people to register as a business if high volume. If she has to register as a business to sell even personal items then it puts her in a position if investigated.

OhWow

NYM wrote: »

Who told her ?

Housing Benefits at her local council. She was applying on low income and they said it had to be self employed as she sells her own things.

OhWow

bloolagoon wrote: »

However, eBay are claiming down on high volume sales and requesting people to register as a business if high volume. If she has to register as a business to sell even personal items then it puts her in a position if investigated.

She has been selling her own stuff at car boots and might use ebay and amazon as well, in the future.

OhWow

bloolagoon wrote: »

However, eBay are claiming down on high volume sales and requesting people to register as a business if high volume. If she has to register as a business to sell even personal items then it puts her in a position if investigated.

She is only, or rather is only trying to claim some housing benefits. No other benefits. She wanted to claim on low income and the housing benefits decision maker said it had to be self employed on zero hours as she was selling her own things. That doesn't sound correct to me. I want to go down there with her, but was hoping to go armed with some housing benefit rules.

NYM

OhWow wrote: »

Housing Benefits at her local council. She was applying on low income and they said it had to be self employed as she sells her own things.

Thousands of people make a bit of pocket money by selling their own stuff and it doesn't represent self employment.

Have a read of this link...it should give your friend some guidance on their position regarding trading.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/guidance/selling/income.htm