to disapprove of my friend

[Lilyannapollyanna]

My friend has a teenager who left school last year. Although her child is in college, she also has a job. But she hasn't declared that her DD works to child benefit - the job is cash in hand. I don't begrudge any kid earning a bit of money but isn't this fraud? She's always been one to voice opinions about people on benefits, even slagging off a family member once who sold things over the course of a month (their own possessions) because they were moving into a smaller house - basically saying they were on benefits and the money should have been declared.
AIBU to think that she's being a hypocrite? Tbh I think the main reason she's doing it is so that her ex's maintenance amount doesn't change due to the child earning money. It's not just a Saturday job either she works some evenings and days while not at college - plus extra during holidays.

Tbh, I'd be more concerned that if the DD is spending all her time working and earning a load, where is she fitting her revision & studying in to that? No good earning a few bob now, only to get shit grades and have it affect her entire career.
As for your friend looking down her nose at others on benefits, that's her problem.
Be a mate - ignore the double standards and ask if she's concerned about her DD having no time to study

I still wouldn't get involved or report her

Report her for what? Legally claiming CB for her daughter that is in college?!

I have a huge dislike for people who look down on benefit claimants especially when they haven't ever been in the circumstances to need them and just spend too much time watching those ridiculous programmes on Channel 4 so I think your friend is unreasonable for that but she's isn't doing anything wrong claim wise regardless of what her DD earns.

Would love to know what part time job her DD has to earn 5k though, I want it myself

Do you not believe us when we say that CB is a stand alone benefit paid to all parent(s) of a child still in most types of Further Education ?

here you go

I accepted I was wrong about fraud. I genuinely didn't know. I wasn't aware that cash in hand jobs were apparently legal for students though.

Fyi

An average of 12 hours PW of supervised study during term time is considered full time for CB

OP thought we would bash her friend say how awful she was and side with. know the facts first people you start calling someone out on their finances. You deserve every comment as you continue not to take on board what you been told and bash her.

She is working cash in hand. Her mum said its cash in hand.
And insults are not 'calling me out' but thanks for your input

There's a difference between 'cash in hand' and being paid your wages in cash though. The first is illegal, the 2nd goes through the company books and is declared but still not liable for tax and ni purposes because of the hours she works. Unless you know for certain that she doesn't get a payslip and the company aren't declaring it then you can't argue that point.

Ds collects a "pay packet" of cash each week.
Doesnt mean he is being paid "cash in hand"

She is working cash in hand. Her mum said its cash in hand.

She probably couldn't be bothered to explain tax thresholds because she knew you wouldn't understand!

The job is definitely cash in hand.

SHE ISN'T EARNING ENOUGH TO PAY TAX!!!!!! For the love of god, go away and find some other outlet for your nasty, ignorant indignation.

Oh for goodness sake the cash could be bought to her dd by unicorns and fairies it still nowt to do with child benefit

Also - if it is 'cash in hand' it's not the girl working illegally, it's the company who would be breaking the law.

cash in hand is dodgy though isnt it? i agree op your friend is a giant hypocrite if her dd cash in hand earnings arent being declared and she waxes lyrical about others not declaring stuff they are entitled to sell.

Id rather make a fool of myself than be so rude. Says the OP.

Don't worry, love. You're managing it admirably well.

The daughter of your "friend" (you don't sound much like friends to me) doesn't need to work cash in hand to avoid tax or loss of benefits. She's a full time student. It's very unlikely she's earning enough to impact on these things.

My daughter works very hard in her part time jobs while she's a full time student. She's at university so CB is not an issue any more. But she receives a grant as well as a loan because we are a 'low income family'. And you know, it's because I don't have much money to give her outside of the necessities, that she works hard to be able to afford new clothes/booze/nights out.

Young people working is a GOOD thing, right? Why would we want to discourage that? And you know, young people who don't have parents who can throw money at them are the most likely to work throughout the holidays. Let's not try to make their lives unnecessarily difficult.

Sounds like the OP has too much time on her hands. Have you considered getting a cash in hand job?

i hope you all feel better about yourselves for being judgmental and rude. I'm sure if I NC and started a thread about cash in hand jobs none of you would be saying it was okay

Fyi

The vast majority of benefit services use the phrase cash in hand to describe workers who are paid weekly in cash.

It is not for benefit purposes used to describe an offence

What was that you were saying about hypocrites, OP?

well you will never no will you