WWYD in this childcare situation?!

[Greyoutkelly]

Name changed for this.

I have a DS who is six. A couple of months ago I found a nanny who agreed to pick him up after school for me. She asked me to pay her in cash. This was specifically her request, and she made it clear she would sort out her own tax etc.

I have used childminders in the past and would usually pay straight into their bank account, but didn't see paying cash was too much of an issue. I've since come to realise that by law, it is my responsible to pay her N.I contributions and whatever else. I genuinely had no idea and assumed it was the same situation as childminders. My income hasn't been the same since January due to an injury and will probably need to make a UC claim to help me out. How can I do this when I have no paperwork or even a contract from her to prove that I have been paying her?!

I feel really naïve about everything, but was wondering if would be fine to go down the self-employed childcare route? I really don't know what to do now.

WWYD in my situation?

Not only that but UC will only pay Ofsted Registered childcare, so not even an employed nanny who isn't ofsted registered.

Sounds like you need a childminder again, or get your nanny employed and registered

Oh crumbs! I forgot about that too...not good.

She's not really a nanny, though, is she? I mean, she might be a nanny, but she's not offering nanny services to you. She's more like a babysitter for a couple of hours after school. You won't be her only employer and she'll be genuinely self-employed. I don't see under these circumstances why you would pay her NI, pension etc. But of course you need a registered childminder if you want to claim UC.

Oops, meant to start new thread so will get this deleted, I'm sorry 🙈

Have reported & asked for it to be deleted, hope that's the right way to do it.

@Greyoutkelly I'm afraid I can't advise but I do hope you get it resolved. Finding the right childcare can be tricky to say the least!

does the school have an after school club you can use? You wouldn’t be able to claim for the last few months anyway, there is a time limit on universal credit, childcare has to be reported and paid for by you in advance then you have something like a month to submit proof.