JSA - selling belongings and gifts

[Geronimo1]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before but I'm in a bit of a panic.

 

I am claiming JSA but due to several health issues, one of which is stress which is being exacerbated by being out of work and all that it entails, I have been advised to claim ESA by both my doctor and an adviser at the Job Centre. I have an appointment to discuss it on my next signing day.

 

However, today (or yesterday, as it is now), I received a letter from a Compliance Officer saying I had to go in the day before my signing day. As I was a little confused as to whether this was the same meeting that had been booked, I phoned the number on the letter.

 

I was told that it had nothing to do with the meeting on my signing day, that it was a financial issue related to my account and that it would not be discussed on the phone.

 

I cannot think what I have knowingly done wrong. I have been forced to sell some of my belongings to pay the bills because of the shortfall between my rent and housing benefit as well as keeping my car on the road (tax, insurance and MOT in a six week period), I would be totally stuck where I live (in the middle of nowhere) without my car. I used to have my own fiilmmaking business and reluctantly sold gear (including a pro video camera) worth about £2,000 over about a year and bought a cheaper camera with what was left.

 

The only other thing that sticks out having been through my bank statements is a cash I paid into my account after Christmas which was money that friends had given me knowing my financial situation for Christmas.

 

I was trembling after I spoke to the Compliance Officer but having looked at my bank statements I can't see anything I have done wrong.

 

Am I allowed to sell my belongings to keep my head above water? Should I have declared it? I did tell my adviser just under a year ago that I had been forced to sell the tools of my trade which I thought was somehow not on but she said nothing.

 

If I am sanctioned I will be truly screwed and I am sh*tting myself.

[renegadeimp]

You are worrying about "what if" scenarios. Normally these meetings are simply to clarify a few things on your forms.

[flumps1976]

Was the cash given to you by friends and family at Christmas a significant amount? e.g did it take you over e £3k amount that you needed to declare?

[Geronimo1]

No, it was 2 x £100. The most I have had in my account was just over £1,500 after I sold my camera for £1,125. The rest of the stuff I sold at different times.

[flumps1976]

Then I would say that it is to review your claim, people become worried when they hear.see the Compliane Team, but Compliance Officers are also know as review officers and select random cases to check entitlements as well as investigations.

[Geronimo1]

I just wanted to know if there was anything wrong in selling my belongings, really. To be honest, if I hadn't sold my belongings, I would not have been able to afford to live.

[estellyn]

I just wanted to know if there was anything wrong in selling my belongings, really. To be honest, if I hadn't sold my belongings, I would not have been able to afford to live.

 

Nope, you can sell your belongings, no problem with that. As long as you aren't buying things then selling on at a profit, then you're fine.