I have solar panels which generate less than £20 income a week. When i had the system installed 5 years ago I believed that income of under £20 was disregarded for Employment Support Allowance purposes. I phoned to check last year and have gone through 13 months of hell (whilst seriously il)l, mandatory reconsiderations, several demands for all the income back and numerous mistakes and cover ups from DWP.
The best arguement they came back with was, you're not employed so we wont disregard the first £20.
My arguement is, when i had boarders i wasnt employed either, I provided a room, for which they paid rent regularly but ESA disregarded the first £20+. They also disregard allowable expenses i believe.
Now, I paid for solar panels, I generate electricity, which i sell to the utility co whom i have a contract with and they pay me regularly for the service. The income ive had only covers the £4,300 i paid for installing it. Unfortunately it broke down at xmas and i cant afford to fix it.
They are trying to say it has more in common with income fom an investment such as stocks and shares which to me is a selfish investment and benefits noone but the account holder....as opposed to working, renting a room or selling electricity to the grid, (which is putting something back into society) and the first 2 of which disregard the first £20!
I need to take this to a tribunal but dont have any legal precedents or caselaw to back it up. Citizens advice, Welfare rights and the local advocacy charity say they dont want to deal with it and the only 2 law firms within 20 miles wont either. I have sevious health problems and desperately neen help with this. Is there anyone out there who can help or point me in the right direction?