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.

I'm suprised how many people seem to think this is ok. It's lying and fraudulent. There has to be a cut off somewhere. I'm not saying I agree with it but I certainly wouldn't commit a crime.

Takver
because the lower NI limit and the national minimum wage cross over at the 16 hour amount - its in the technical manuals bit on HMRC.
will find links for you shortly

sorry but the current nmw for an adult (21 and above) working 16 hours per week is not over the ammount that requires any tax or ni payments it is also under the lower earnings limit for smp ssp.

nmw is £6.08 you would have to be working 18 hours just to hit the lel (£107 pw)

Its a nightmare isn't it I'm in the exactly the same boat everything going round here also requires flexibility or involves really early starts or late finishes etc and as you say it is not practical for childcare. I have just taken on a job of 14hrs, I earn too much on those hours to claim any IS but also can't claim WTC which I would need to be eligible for help with either housing or childcare costs its a nightmare so I can't say I blame you for thinking about it, it is however fraud and if you do get caught not only will you end up having to pay it all back but you will very likely end up being taken to court and prosecuted and it really isn't worth the risk imo.

OK, thanks for that. I didn't think that 15 hours vs 16 per se made any difference - obviously for us since we're paying well above minimum wage then having someone doing more hours for the same money is no loss.

gobbledegook, I agree the 16 hours limit is crazy, why does it make sense that you only get help for childcare etc if you work more than that. Apart from the fact that it will lead to some people effectively forced to stay unemployed, surely it is better if someone works 14 hours a week with some support since they're then far more likely to get extra hours to add on to that in the future - always easier to get a job from a job etc.

yanbu

hope you can resolve this some how op

Hi again, everybody!

I'm sorry i've not been back to this post sooner.

Thank you so much for your advice. I honestly can't begin to explain how valuable it all was.

I have good news! I'm officially off income support and have set up my own cleaning business as self employed. I'm cuurently working 30 hours a week doing admin and gaining clients, and will go down to part - time in a few weeks once most of the marketing etc is done. This means i'm allowed to get working tax credits.

I'm so happy! I feel worthwhile again! I've spent weeks doing market research and devising a business plan etc, so i really think this will work out.

Thank you so much again, everyone, for suggesting the self-employment route. You've made me a very happy mummy.

Ah, that's great

There are plenty of people here who can offer advice re self-employment and whatnot (not me though, I'm a fuckwit).

Good luck :)