AIBU for considering lying about working an extra hour so i can claim WTC?

[Lowla]

Name change as i don't want to be forever frowned upon on here...

Job hunting is not going well. Almost everything requires me to be fully flexible, which is just not feasable due to childcare issues. Either that or i need to be able to work at 6am in the morning or up until 8pm at night, again, not feasible for childcare reasons.

An employer has just got back to me regarding an old application i made to her for cleaning.

It's only 15 hours but is the same shifts each week, thus making childcare easier.

However, i won't be able to afford childcare unless i work at least 16 hours and get WTC.

If i work 15 hours, i'll still need to claim IS and pay for transport, childcare from my benefit - and also only be allowed to keep £20 of my wages. This would just about cover the transport.

AIBU to lie about working an extra hour (employer has said there's no option to get an extra hour in this role) until u can find another cleaning job for an hour a week?

I probably already know the answer. But i'm desperate.

You would be very unreasonable to do that, as others have said and you have accepted, it's fraud. But don't give up hope!

That said, not being able to volunteer because you aren't fexible is a bit rubbish.

Sorry, saggar, not sure what FSM is?

I'm currently claiming income support.

There's already loads of self emplyed people in my area who are cleaners, ironers, godwalkers etc, so not sure i'd get any clients let alone one. But even if i don't get a client, could i still spend an hour 'advertising' my business/services and this would take me upto 16hrs even if i don't make a profit as such?

*dogwalkers - not godwalkers!

Although that's something my town hasn't got yet. might be a potential business venture after all.

Sorry Lowla - I know this is serious and I don't mean to make light of your situation - but 'Godwalker'

The thing is your asking of its ok to commit fraud.
Its not.
I think you dad is right about not putting you on his books, especially to help commit fraud.
Sorry its so shit, but in the long run it will end up in a much worse position.

Yes lowla that would.count.

Do that, you might be surprised. Someone on my local Facebook selling page started doing ironing in January and is now making full time money.

Its s shit position you're in you're not s bad person.

How about petsitting? Should be easy to chock up 52 hours a year doing that?

You'd only have to pop into people's houses and feed cats etc, so totally flexible.

I understand the temptation but it's wrong and you know it because you changed your username. If you get found out, you'll be up shit creek without a paddle. Please don't do this.

Be careful with things like petsitting and dog walking, you need insurance.

Double check the rules for 2013! It's supposed to eventually be at 24 hours for lone parents and 32 hours for joint claims.

Sorry. FSM - Free school meals.

What is "discusting" is some of the ridiculous black and white attitudes on this thread.

For the want on an hour, someone willing and able to work is unable to afford to do so. That is also pretty bloody bad if you ask me.

YANBU for considering this OP, I don't blame you. I would advise you not to do it though, in case you get caught.

What a depressing thread though.

why not work 16 hours for the same money they were prepared to pay for 15?

OP I really feel for you it sounds like you are really stuck and are trying to work out a legitimate way forward. I think you know you can't do this as it stands and aren't going to, so the benefit bashers are being unfair.

It would cost your dad to have you on his books as he would need to pay you NMW, he may pay a payroll accountant per employee etc, plus if HMRC visit he will be in trouble if you aren't a legit employee which would look unlikely at 1 hour per week. Is there any legitimate job you could do for him - half a day to a day a month would get you there, maybe filing or a deep clean of his office?

Maddening there is a good chance the work is NMW and if not there is a good chance the cleaning company wouldn't back OP up on any declaration etc in case they got themselves in trouble (if the factory has specified the hours in its contract, for example)

As From 6th April next year when the RTI system comes in, your employer will be telling HMRC how many hours you work - so the lies will be irrelevant.

AND
HMRC will be checking NMW through the RTI system so that low paid jobs will not be able to manipulate hours to get credits.

Can you have another meeting with your lone parent adviser at the job centre about jobs? If I worked 25-30 hrs a week in a school admin post I'd be better off than on IS. I'd also get working credit and a job grant, although that is going soon. I'd also get help with childcare costs and tax credits. Are there no school admin/ chef jobs out there you could apply for? You'd get school holidays and still be able to drop off and pick up your kids after school. These jobs are advertised for me through the council website where I live and there are lots that come up, even lunchtime supervisors.

I know all this as I'm applying at the moment and my adviser ran through lots of scenarios with me, to help me know where I'd stand and what help I'd get. So you don't necessarily have to apply for just a 16 hr job. You would still get help with childcare costs depending on the hours you worked and the salary. It all helps at the end of the day and who wants to stay at home forever on IS?

I live in Herts so perhaps there are more job opportunities here but I would still definitely have another meeting with your adviser and see what scenarios/ suggestions they have. I would lie about how many hours you worked. What if after a year they said you'd been over paid and you had to pay it all back?

WOULDN'T LIE. Not would.

You can't lie anyway, at some point you will have to give in previous payslips and sometimes even a letter from your employer. You will also need to give them a copy of your p60, this wont add up if you lie about the hours x

If you can get away with it without it being obvious on pay slips etc I'm sorry but I'd do it.

To all of those about to flame me, think on this, here we have someone willing to work, to not claim IS, FSM, but money in someone else's pocket through childcare and she is being ham stringed by one hour. This isn't benefit fraud, she's not claiming HB whilst not paying rent. She's not lying about not having a partner. She's lying about ONE hour.

I'm guessing a lot of you taking the moral highground have never been in any benefit claiming position.

It won't be popular, but honestly I'd do it.

Dontstep has made some good suggestions re working at a school. If you can't get the sort of job she's describing, might it be possible to get lunchtime cover job at school, alongside the cleaning at the factory?

Register as a childminder and look after a kid for one hour.

I don't know anyone who has been asked to prove their hours.

Pantone I believe there would be courses to go on etc to register as a childminder which would cost the OP money . Babysitting would be a better option but I don't know if work like that counts towards the 16 hours, anyone know? Two evenings a month could be enough if so.

You shouldn't lie no.

But it is ridiculous that someone is forced to remain on benefits for the sake of one hour.