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Benefit cheat - but family member - help?

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  • ALIBOBSY
    ALIBOBSY Posts: 4,527 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    If she was registered the other SIL could claim the childcare costs from tax credits, so the tax payer would stump up either way.

    How old is SIL1's kids as soon the age limit for being pushed back to work is being reduced, ie. if her youngest in age 7 she will be expected to sign on for work so the issue may sort itself out.
    ali x



    ali x
    "Overthinking every little thing
    Acknowledge the bell you cant unring"

  • nottslass_2
    nottslass_2 Posts: 1,765 Forumite
    Savvy_Sue wrote: »
    As long as she's not declaring the income, it's fraud.

    It may be that by the time she takes off expenses, she wouldn't be 'over the limit', BUT as far as the OP knows she's just not declaring it.

    I'm not aware that you can decide for yourself whether to declare extra income or not, based on whether it takes you over the limit for any particular benefit. My understanding was that you declared it, and they told you whether it would affect your benefit or not.

    I don't know if I would report or not, but I probably would keep dropping into conversation what happens when people ARE charged with benefit fraud, and that it's not nice.

    Perhaps the OP should advise her SIL to get advise in regard to the legality of a) childminding a relatives child (try ofstead) b) the percentages of any payment she receives that can be offset against expenses (inland revenue) c) the earnings disregard in relation to benefits (benefits agency)

    If what I strongly suspect is correct, she'll a) not loose out financially & b) be assured that its not a legal requirement to be a registered childminder to look after a Close relatives child

    Hopefully the SIL will then realise the error of her ways,declare her extra income,thus saving the tax payer thousands in fruitless prosecution costs ,and therefor be safe in the knowledge that she's doing nothing illegal !!!
  • ALIBOBSY wrote: »
    If she was registered the other SIL could claim the childcare costs from tax credits, so the tax payer would stump up either way.


    If she was registered she would have to take other peoples children aswell to be entitled to payment by tax credits. If she did not have other children Ofsted will not inspect her and so she would not become registered and not able to recieve tax credits.
    Also if other S-I-L was entitled to tax credits to help with childcare then surely she would already be using a registered childcarer, and not every one is entitled to tax credits to help with childcare, only a very small percentage of people make the grade!
    'we don't stop playing because we get old, we get old because we stop playing'


  • I don't the the op is jealous of sil1. She is just getting by on what she works very hard for and doesn't see why she shouldn't declare the extra £50 she is earning dishonestly. I really think she should be reported because it isn't fair on us hard working taxpayers, who pay for these people to sit around all day doing nothing taking handouts.

    Befpre you jump on me I was once a single mum on IS and found it very very hard, but I got myself out of that situation and certainly like my life better now.

    If you really want to report her, do it anonymously from a phonebox, but nothing might actually happen, because it will have to be proven. If the money isn't going in the bank it is untraceable, and it isn't a significant enough amount whereby she could buy flashy new things that would cause the dwp to be suspicious.

    HTH Tiger xx
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  • Eh, it's entirely possible that SIL2 would still give the £50 a week to SIL1 as a gift even if she wasn't looking after her child. Then it would be no-one's business but their own.
  • DKLS
    DKLS Posts: 13,461 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    *Louise* wrote: »
    ^^Sounds like the sort of person who needs reporting, I would have no qualms whatsoever about someone like that. :D

    Up to tuesday last week I was off the opinion of live and let live, until I heard the way I spoke to his wife at 2am, followed by him knocking her about. That I am not prepared to listen to.
    The moment I hear him raise a hand to her I will be on the phone.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Eh, it's entirely possible that SIL2 would still give the £50 a week to SIL1 as a gift even if she wasn't looking after her child. Then it would be no-one's business but their own.

    If she's on means-tested benefits, it is some else's business. The forms ask about any money you have coming in.

    I'm always surprised by the people who don't see cheating as a crime. If she was shoplifting, should that be ignored too?

    Living on benefits is very hard but this is a fit young woman whose child is going to school but who prefers to live off everyone else's taxes!

    It's probable that everything is done in cash so the authorities might not be able to take any action but it's a shame for the child that he's going to grow up with such a role model.
  • Ada_Doom
    Ada_Doom Posts: 243 Forumite
    I grew up in the mid 70's with my mum on benefits, but she also worked a few nights in a pub for a bit of cash in hand. My dad was a violent alcoholic and never gave my mum a penny for me or my two sisters after she left him. When i was about 5 my dad grassed my mum to the DSS for the extra work she was doing...

    What i can say is that even earning a bit extra life on benefits is not easy, and pretty grim when you have kids

    Ithink to grass your sil up would be really wrong and bitter thing to do...focus on your own life and let others get on with theirs.

    Ada
  • Sarahlou_2
    Sarahlou_2 Posts: 349 Forumite
    hi guys!

    Sorry I haven't been hiding, was out all day today. Gosh. never realised there was so much to it (the being able to declare so much etc.). I posted on here to get a general view so I really appreciate everybodys comments (well apart from the **** head who described me as obnoxious or something - can't be bothered to scroll back and check). And as for being jealous? I don't think so - I love my job, no longer need childcare (after many years and a big sacrifice)and have a beautiful, bright child. Sitting on my !!!! aint my style.

    My OH is very mad about the situation - he often falls out with his family over it. Would he shop them? I don't know.

    I wouldn't dream of encouraging her to become a child minder, christ almighty, it'd be child cruelty. But she loves sport and I've helped her look for related courses but she's no interest at all. It just seems such a shame.

    Maybe I let them get on with it, I dont know. But you're all fantastic thank you.
    Avon Representative October 2010: C16: £276 :T C17: £297 :j
  • Sarahlou_2
    Sarahlou_2 Posts: 349 Forumite
    couldn't have said it better. Why is it your business anyway? Living on benefits is tough. It's fine as long as your kids don't need new shoes or the sofa doesn't break. An extra £50 a week makes a huge difference at this income level. Give them a break!!!


    yeah god I am sooooo jealous. Wish I could get up at 9am, stratch my backside, feed my 4 year old son a tin of spaghetti for his breakfast (i kid you not)..sit and watch JK. Then when other SIL drops child off, plonk them infront of tv and play on facebook until 5pm. Oh and in between, feed both children food from the chip shop for their lunch. What a life eh!
    Avon Representative October 2010: C16: £276 :T C17: £297 :j
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