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AIBU?

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Original poster

Considering not turning up for meeting, what would happen?

76 replies

SMJYellow · 13/12/2017 16:33

My current 'work' situation is a bit of a mess.

I 'work' for a neighbour. I was taken on as a childminder. One of their children has a disability and she eventually discovered about the carers benefit and looked into things. Basically she worked her way out from paying me a way, getting the benefit as an income for me.

I was happy for a long time but down through the years so much was chopped and changed. So much more jobs left on me with requests to do the laundry and cook the meals. Sometimes the hours were just absolutely and utterly insane and just quite simply not even finishing for days on end.

I was looking for work for the past while but no luck and I hope to resume in the new year.

A situation came about earlier in the year where the youngest child was diagnosed on the ASD spectrum. Are you following me so far? So they have two children now with disabilities.

Anyways the mother filled out a new carers form with my name and details for the youngest child. Got me to sign it and she sent it in. So it's for an additional carers payment.

What I read on the form made me sick to my stomach. She claimed that I was minding this child for 48 hours a week. Which is not true at all. The child goes to crèche 5 mornings a week and then there are alternative arrangements for after her morning crèche.

I felt pressurised in signing the form.

I forgot things really for a while. I just got on with it. There was no progress by the department at fulfilling the claim. Things are slow where I am in Ireland.

So anyways I called for a meeting with an inspector and to be honest it fills me with pure sickness and dread.

I don't want to lie but my neighbours are pushing me in this direction but this will be fraud as far as I can see because I'm not caring for the child for the amount of hours stated.

Everything is above board with the original set up and carers allowance and older child.

I'm thinking about cancelling but would anyone know what the department would do I was to cancel meeting. Would they cut off the original carers allowance. I got the carers payment as usual this week and I need it to come in as usual too for next week for the Christmas.

OP posts:
Original poster
SMJYellow · 13/12/2017 17:20

No money money for additional caring as been granted at all.

This is what the meeting is about I reckon, to progress on the claim that was sent in.

OP posts:
Toast3 · 13/12/2017 17:20

You need to be able to sleep at night so be honest... explain it to them like you have explained it to them... they can then deal with the facts and th decision will be theirs... you owe these users nothing....
I wish you all the best. It sounds like you have been sucked in...
Take back control. It will feel good ....

InsomniacAnonymous · 13/12/2017 17:20

"One of their children has a disability and she eventually discovered about the carers benefit and looked into things. Basically she worked her way out from paying me a way, getting the benefit as an income for me."

Is there a typo in the above please? I don't understand the second sentence.

InappropriateUsername · 13/12/2017 17:20

Is the kid at creche under the ECCE scheme? If so then creche will be claiming money from the state for said child under their ppsn so it is likely they are calling you in as an investigation

Original poster
SMJYellow · 13/12/2017 17:20

The claim for additional person that is ^^

OP posts:
Toast3 · 13/12/2017 17:21

Explained it is not them...

Knittedfairies · 13/12/2017 17:22

I think you ought to go to the meeting. I understand that you don't want to but you've got to put this right.

Original poster
SMJYellow · 13/12/2017 17:23

They must have been a typo there insomniac. She worked away out from paying me a wage getting the carers to be my income instead.

OP posts:
gabsdot · 13/12/2017 17:26

You need to man up and tell your employer that you're not willing to go through with this new application as it is not correct.
Do go to the meeting and be honest. And stop being taken advantage of. Work the hours you are paid for and then go home.
You've been a mug.
Good luck

SouthWestmom · 13/12/2017 17:35

Can you claim two lots? I thought you could only claim one lot of carers allowance regardless of the number of people you care for. (UK)

abualb · 13/12/2017 17:45

OP, you need to go along to this meeting (whoever it's with, it's unclear from your post). You will only make the situation worse by ignoring it - these types of investigations, no matter who is involved or what info they have right now, don't just go away if you ignore them.

Apart from anything i think it would be best if you consider your longer-term position here more carefully.

presumably there's a whole heap of issues you're storing up here, even if you are in Ireland? because in the UK at least, during your time 'working' for this woman, you should have been getting national insurance contributions, proper taxation, holiday pay, potentially sickness leave, and such... you haven't been working in a normal job from the sound of it, and your 'employer' hasn't been acting like an employer, presumably to her great benefit and to your disadvantage.

if you were in the UK, this would mean that you'd potentially have to look at a NI insurance gap of however many years you've been working for her, and potentially might not even get access to government support if you haven't paid 'in' officially if your employment ends.

OP, i can't stress enough how much you need to sort this out, for your own sake - but from two sides: first, to work with the investigation in terms of any fraudulent activity, but second, to protect your own rights and financial interest.

it sounds like the chickens are coming home to roost finally, and they will come in the end - make sure you're on the right side of that fight!

ringle · 13/12/2017 17:49

Oh I get it. Your neighbours (employers) are pressuring you to go to the meeting and say that what they put on the form is true?

And you've got a very bad feeling about that? That it won't end well?

And you're thinking about maybe not going to the meeting?

Is that right?

Cindie943811A · 13/12/2017 17:50

I’d be entirely honest while disclaiming knowledge of how the system works. Looks to me as though a lot of what you do is not strictly caring for the child. Carers allowance is unlikely to be a substitute for child minding if this is only to enable mother to work. Just answer all the questions and let the officials sort out the situation. You have not benefitted from any possible fraud because you had agreed to act as a child minder paid by your neighbour. Where she got her funding from wasn’t material to you and was arranged after you took the job.
Good luck

notapizzaeater · 13/12/2017 17:52

Are you getting paid minimum wage for your job ? You’re not a childminder if you only work for them in their home

ringle · 13/12/2017 17:52

I'm a solicitor and I strongly suggest you go and see the Citizen's Advice Bureau (Irish equivalent).

What you need to do right now is turn up and stick to the facts. What you are doing is interpreting what has happened (and you don't know the law).

Stick To The Facts. "I arrive at 8am on a Monday, I take Child A to creche X from 9.30 to 12.30. There is a rota for carers to stay and help. I do this twice monthly and also if there is a special event on at creche. I then take child X home and do A,B,C"

Like that. Just the facts.

ringle · 13/12/2017 17:54

"I’d be entirely honest while disclaiming knowledge of how the system works"

Yes - this. At the moment you are tangling yourself up by arguing a position. Instead just say what you do.

curryforbreakfast · 13/12/2017 17:54

I’d be entirely honest while disclaiming knowledge of how the system works

That wouldn't be at all honest though, would it? She knows how it works, and she signed a fraudulent form anyway.

Going and sticking to the facts is the only thing to do. But that will have to include the fact that she colluded in attempted fraud.

ringle · 13/12/2017 17:55

No Curry, that is not a fact. That is an accusation. Stop giving her crap advice.

ringle · 13/12/2017 17:56

apologies- that was ver grumpy.

LovingLola · 13/12/2017 18:00

Are you getting the rate of €209 per week? How many hours are you working per week? Do you keep an accurate record of the hours you are actually working for the exploitative scumbags?

curryforbreakfast · 13/12/2017 18:01

No, its a fact. She clearly says it herself in the OP. Try reading it.

StabbyBitchTheEvilWitch · 13/12/2017 18:06

You were told last time on your thread in nannies you are being exploiting by doing a nanny job for carers benefits.

Go to the meeting tell the truth & quit this job!

ringle · 13/12/2017 18:09
Original poster
SMJYellow · 13/12/2017 18:19

I wasn't going to go to the meeting but then, I decided I would go due to the advice given here. Reading the replies I will be honest with hours I'm doing with the child.

I wasn't going to say anything to the parents mother but then I read a reply here telling me to tell them I told the mother and I honest to god I want to cry and get sick.

I thought maybe she would change her mind considering since filling in the forms the child attends more of the crèche. But no, she is still continuing down the route of getting me to do this and she has stressed to me over and over, not to tell them of the child going to the afternoon crèche.

I just feel sick with what is happening.

OP posts:
Original poster
SMJYellow · 13/12/2017 18:20

Stabbywork and I can't just quit and walk out and be left with no money/income. I was looking for work with no luck.

OP posts: