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Original poster

Universal credit

40 replies

Jojo1900 · 25/06/2025 12:50

Please can someone help me? I have autism and generally struggle with things, I realised last week that I had forgotten to update my savings on universal credit. I believe I will get a fine and need to pay it back. I’m more worried that when I send my bank statements in they will see that I have a private vinted account that I sell on. I do sell lots of my own things (hoarder / compulsive shopper). I’m worried what they will make of this? Also some payments from eBay but I mostly stopped using them a couple of years ago so those payments are very small. What if they don’t believe me that I’m selling my own stuff?! Can they access my vinted or eBay? I’m so scared, I can’t eat or sleep or function really, as I say I am diagnosed autistic and I can’t cope with this at all. Am I going to jail?

OP posts:
Swirlythingy2025 · 25/06/2025 15:07

5128gap · 25/06/2025 14:59

Its very very expensive to 'monitor every penny'. It would cost a lot more than it would save.

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thats what i wondered with the bank account and save a bit one week spend a bit the next week etc, so my thinking was as long as not self employed etc and always under 6k limit etc

Swirlythingy2025 · 25/06/2025 15:06

Glitchymn1 · 25/06/2025 14:43

Yes that’s right @Swirlythingy2025 keep accounts/records and declare it. Plus any outgoings, P&P etc.

what about if anyone gets a tax refund as its a one off and if it keeps it under the 6k but would be used for bills etc ?

5128gap · 25/06/2025 14:59

HoskinsChoice · 25/06/2025 13:29

Not specific to the OP, but we absolutely should be looking at vinted/eBay/youtube/influencer type accounts. There's so many side hustles these days, we should be monitoring every penny to ensure tax payers' money goes to those who actually need it, rather than those that have learned to work the system

Its very very expensive to 'monitor every penny'. It would cost a lot more than it would save.

XenoBitch · 25/06/2025 14:48

Swirlythingy2025 · 25/06/2025 14:27

fair points so if its a reguar income then you need to say etc

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Selling your own second hand stuff is not classed as earned income with UC.
It is only classed as income if you do it as a business... such as buying bundles of clothing and selling the bits individually etc.

Glitchymn1 · 25/06/2025 14:43

Yes that’s right @Swirlythingy2025 keep accounts/records and declare it. Plus any outgoings, P&P etc.

Swirlythingy2025 · 25/06/2025 14:27

Glitchymn1 · 25/06/2025 14:14

@Swirlythingy2025 I was thinking more of it in terms of an an income than OP’s savings. Some people state they’re self employed vinted /ebay seller.
£6k savings is fine yes.

fair points so if its a reguar income then you need to say etc

Glitchymn1 · 25/06/2025 14:14

@Swirlythingy2025 I was thinking more of it in terms of an an income than OP’s savings. Some people state they’re self employed vinted /ebay seller.
£6k savings is fine yes.

Swirlythingy2025 · 25/06/2025 13:32

Glitchymn1 · 25/06/2025 13:21

Of course you won’t go to jail. They’re very unlikely to question it (I’m a fraud manager local authority- work with DWP all the time).
As pp suggests if you are earning /trading and have done so for over a year you would need to declare it but I very much doubt it’ll affect your claim.
I certainly wouldn’t be interested in your income. They won’t be accessing your vinted or eBay.

for universial credit with a bank balance because its up and down etc i presumed as long as its under 6K then its within the limits ?

XenoBitch · 25/06/2025 13:30

If what you have in all your bank accounts, PayPal and Vinted is under £6k, then don't worry about it. You only have to report savings if it goes over that, and you are allowed to sell items you no longer want/need anymore. That is not classed as income.

HoskinsChoice · 25/06/2025 13:29

Not specific to the OP, but we absolutely should be looking at vinted/eBay/youtube/influencer type accounts. There's so many side hustles these days, we should be monitoring every penny to ensure tax payers' money goes to those who actually need it, rather than those that have learned to work the system

x2boys · 25/06/2025 13:27

You won't go to jail ,I think the best thing to do.is be open with them ,you might be asked to.pay an overpayment back ,but they shouldn't expect you to pay it back in a,lump sum

HoskinsChoice · 25/06/2025 13:23

That's irrelevant. It's still an income. John Lewis could claim the same - they own the stuff til they sell it. Don't worry though, they will take all of your income into consideration to ensure you're not claiming too much. We're all human, if you've made a mistake, they will find a way to ensure you pay it back at a reasonable rate.

Glitchymn1 · 25/06/2025 13:21

Of course you won’t go to jail. They’re very unlikely to question it (I’m a fraud manager local authority- work with DWP all the time).
As pp suggests if you are earning /trading and have done so for over a year you would need to declare it but I very much doubt it’ll affect your claim.
I certainly wouldn’t be interested in your income. They won’t be accessing your vinted or eBay.

Original poster
Jojo1900 · 25/06/2025 13:17

OnyourbarksGSG · 25/06/2025 13:12

Do you receive over £1000 a year on vinted and eBay? Baccarat if you do it doesn’t matter if you are selling your own things. It’s classed as a small bodies and you need to declare it.

Yes it probably is but it’s all my stuff

OP posts:
OnyourbarksGSG · 25/06/2025 13:12

Do you receive over £1000 a year on vinted and eBay? Baccarat if you do it doesn’t matter if you are selling your own things. It’s classed as a small bodies and you need to declare it.