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AIBU?

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Original poster

Sorry it's another cash in hand job one

62 replies

wheredoesitend · 29/07/2025 14:29

Not a bashing thread, just a miserable situation and want to know what could happen if it gets reported. (Yes one really is naively loose lipped about it all.)

A disabled friend's carer is topping up their carers allowance with an unskilled cash in hand job because it is all they can get.
Not stopping them providing 35 hrs+ care but affects when they can provide it. They sometimes skimp a couple of days then do a 10 hour blitz to catch up washing etc.

It's really obvious to others that friend is allowing the care to be arranged around the carers availability, not the actual care needs. (others are picking up the slack and turning a blind eye as they cant do 35+ hours of care needs)

Friend says it's still much better than having agency carers and any care was arranged round their needs too. (Got up at midday, put to bed in the afternoon, often poor care, didn't care, didn't come, no language at all, moldy washing etc)

The carer is not that good and cant easily get work. Has obvious MH problems.
The cash in hand job is made for them. It's flexible and low standards.
Not many hours but paying almost 3 times the CA earnings.

They didn't cope on UC and got sanctioned out. They want to work, but few want them. (normally get let go in days)
They get CA and PIP. Unlikely either would be affected if they could declare job.

But they cant (they did ask employer if they could be legal) and can't find anything else. They aren't rolling in it. Rent and CT debts mount up, then they sub let their room out to pay it off.

If the job was legal they'd pay around £550 a year tax and NI on total earnings as the carers allowance gets taxed too. (they'd be within CA rules)

I've tried to help both but don't see what can be done. So the AIBU is to do nothing about a sad comparatively low level fraud.?

But what I'd really like to get out of the thread is to know about:

What could or would happen to the carer if they get caught? (apart from a breakdown)

Could anything happen to friend for knowing and accommodating the carer's illegal job hours as the CA is awarded for her care? (apart from loosing carer)

OP posts:
Original poster
wheredoesitend · 29/07/2025 17:24

@queenMab99 I agree It isn't my concern currently.
A lot of my worry is selfish. If it gets reported and the results are what I think they could be, it will become my problem to pick up all the bits.
Both are adult but vulnerable. I don't want to explain my exact connection or responsibility to either but it's to both and I will also be badly affected.

OP posts:
queenMab99 · 29/07/2025 15:31

If your friend is being cared for, 35 hours a week, and is happy with the care being arranged around the carers other responsibilities, I think you should leave well alone. You have warned them of the risks, they are adults, it is not your concern.

Original poster
wheredoesitend · 29/07/2025 15:27

IF it could be legal I think the amount they'd be taxed on after the personal allowance is a bit under £2000 a year so I did the figure on that and added the NI.
But when they went to the employer they said no to paying them on the books, take it or leave it. So that idea became redundant.But that's where the figures came from.

OP posts:
Original poster
wheredoesitend · 29/07/2025 15:19

@ARichtGoodDram They are over by only four pounds per week, less than the expenses they have for consumables they have to buy to do the work.

I have been trying to help them to see if they could do what they are doing legally.

I took the idea it wouldn't change their CA on if they could be legal they could be self employed and legally offset those expenses and be at the right amount.

They talked to PIP about it theoretically, and got told if they where to get that level of work it would be encouraged not penalized.

OP posts:
Original poster
wheredoesitend · 29/07/2025 15:11

@Tartanboots I absolutely don't want to shop them! I'm terrified someone eventually will, because if I know this much many others will too.

I want to know what could happen to them because I'm trying to help both of them and think they are burying their heads in the sand about the carer getting caught and possibly getting my friend into trouble.

The carer seems to think this less frightening (or probably less likely) than being unable to cope with UC requirements.

I want them to recognize that even with low amounts of money involved it would still be seen as fraud and one maybe both, would be in trouble.
They think I'm catastrophising. Maybe I am.

OP posts:
ARichtGoodDram · 29/07/2025 15:09

If they'd pay tax on their job then it's likely their carers would be affected as you can only earn around £195 a week before it stops (and that's a bit under the tax allowance)

Tartanboots · 29/07/2025 15:06

So the cash in hand employer is not deducting tax or NI off the person's earnings? Is that not the responsibility of the employer.
The person is providing care so they are not falsely claiming carers allowance.
Not quite sure why you are so bothered, claiming UC would cost the taxpayer a lot more than £550 a year.
By all means shop them to HMRC though.

Original poster
wheredoesitend · 29/07/2025 14:54

@SerendipityJane That's absolutely not what this thread is about. It's a miserably sad situation for everyone.

The carer isn't getting 'something for nothing.' They are working hard as best as they can but very chaotically. They would love their job to be legal.

The friend paid taxes for years before they became disabled so I don't think you can say they are 'getting something for nothing' either.

I've put the total the carer isn't paying to show how small the fraud is and hope I've given enough details to show it isn't because they are trying to not pay tax and NI. They don't have a way to.

They are quite trapped by a lack of work and fear of UC systems and going downhill mentally again trying to make them work, after their previous experiences.

OP posts:
Original poster
wheredoesitend · 29/07/2025 14:46

They got sanctioned before they had the job as a carer (or the other one) but wont go back on it, say they can't cope.

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 29/07/2025 14:44

This reply has been deleted

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Mrsttcno1 · 29/07/2025 14:44

Agix · 29/07/2025 14:40

They'd have no way to get sanctioned on Universal Credit if they're claiming carers allowance. There's no work requirements. Nothing to get sanctioned over. So something is missing from this story.

Yep this. You don’t have the whole story here OP.

Agix · 29/07/2025 14:40

They'd have no way to get sanctioned on Universal Credit if they're claiming carers allowance. There's no work requirements. Nothing to get sanctioned over. So something is missing from this story.