Permitted Work

LadyMorticia

Hello.

I'm currently on ESA in the support group and receive HRM and HRC DLA.

When I'm well enough I like to create scrapbooking kits/printables. They take me an age to do due to the nature of my disabilities, but I enjoy it and it's like a sort of therapy for me.

I've been looking into selling a few of them on Etsy and someone mentioned that this could come under the permitted work rules but I'm not sure exactly what this would entail? As it's not regular work and would only be a once a month/every two months thing and the whole premise of permitted work is really confusing me. Before I sign up, I want to do everything by the book, but I don't want the DWP to think that it means I can work, because it takes me a month or two to create anything.

Can anyone explain permitted work in layman terms to someone with bad brain fog, please?

ohreally

LadyMorticia wrote: »

When I'm well enough I like to create scrapbooking kits/printables. They take me an age to do due to the nature of my disabilities, but I enjoy it and it's like a sort of therapy for me.

Is this work, I'd describe it as a hobby?

mum2one

Its a hobby making them, but when you come to sell them it becomes work, that is where the grey area lies

from my understanding of permitted work, its being supervised whilst completing an activity x

rogerblack

LadyMorticia wrote: »

Can anyone explain permitted work in layman terms to someone with bad brain fog, please?

Selling items you are specifically creating for sale could almost certainly be called work under the definitions of ESA.

Exceptions might be if it's one or two pounds each time, as it may be 'negligible work'.

You need to be contact them.
If you are selling each item for under 20 pounds, then there is very little issue with doing this, and it will not affect ESA.

bloolagoon

Why don't you donate to charity for material price. That way you can enjoy your hobby without any business implications. Once you sell it becomes a world of records, tax codes and returns, insurance.

rogerblack

bloolagoon wrote: »

Why don't you donate to charity for material price. That way you can enjoy your hobby without any business implications. Once you sell it becomes a world of records, tax codes and returns, insurance.

Giving away things you've made that could be sold for profit, or doing work for no fee could be seen as deprivation of income, and count just as much as if you sold it if the DWP chooses to do so.

bloolagoon

rogerblack wrote: »

Giving away things you've made that could be sold for profit, or doing work for no fee could be seen as deprivation of income, and count just as much as if you sold it if the DWP chooses to do so.

So these cakes I'm baking for the school fair?


If OP wants to donate her items to charity it is not a business just like those who knit for Age Concern don't need to register as self employed. However, if she sells then she's becoming a business and then must take with it all that it entails. This includes consumer legislation, tax returns and other things.

rogerblack

bloolagoon wrote: »

So these cakes I'm baking for the school fair?

I am not stating what I believe to be the likely or reasonable case.
But what could be a decision by a DM who decides they want to find something, and the limits of the rules for that decision to be upheld at appeal.

What the DWP can choose to ignore, what they will usually ignore, and what they can take action on if they choose - are vastly different areas.

The rules in this area are very confusing, unclear, and often contradictory, but getting it wrong can lead to really bad consequences.

hippygran

My husband was put into the Limited Capability for Work group, and got more or less bullied into doing permitted work for a 12 month period. Under the permitted work, he was allowed to earn about £90 a week. The idea is that the person can move gradually into more full time/permanent work. Due to the nature of his disability, he could only manage one student at a time, and never even managed more than about £20 a month (not week!). He did enjoy doing the little he could manage, and at the end of the 12 months had to stop, even though he still had a client. 12 months later we have been told he could have carried on, since you are actually allowed to earn up to £20 a week, as long as you keep them informed. So maybe you could explore this option, if your earning will be lower than the £20 allowed. They did stress though the need to keep them fully informed, just in case someone else does it for you. He would have loved to have carried on with one client, had he not been mis-informed, but now it is too late, as his condition has worsened, plus he can't face the hassle of starting up again. Gool luck with your little venture, as it did actually do wonders for his self esteem, as it may well do for you too!