Daughter rant feeling quite raw

Savvy_Sue

terryw wrote: »

A difficult moral one to answer in your case. The amount involved is trivial, but yes (on a technicality) you should be declaring this to the tax and (if applicable) the benefit people. Where do we draw the line?

I can't help but feel that the situation for the OP's daughter is different. ESA and working for £50 a week in a business. Hmm.

Actually, I disagree re: tax: gifts in the UK are not subject to tax.

I partially agree re benefits. Not for oli: her mum pays her a small amount at irregular intervals after oli has helped out around the home in various ways, some of which will have incurred petrol costs. My mum does the same, to me and my sons. When Dad was alive the boys never left without a tenner pressed into their hands even though they were quite grown up: if any of them had ever been on benefits I don't think it would have been appropriate to declare that.

The OP's DD is receiving £50 per week. Every week. There's been an expectation in return that she will work in the OP's business - not help out around the home, not babysit or clean the whole house, but work in the OP's business.

I draw the line somewhere between every week and occasional, and somewhere between odd jobs around the house and helping out in a business.

oli LINE OP's DD - there may be a bit of space around that line, but they're definitely on different sides!!!

barba

duchy wrote: »

Well you may think it's "no big issue" however when the OP's daughter has her benefits sanctioned for breaking the law and the OP has the tax man investigating her...... I don't think the fact that you think "It's not really breaking the law" will be much consolation to them !

i'd say the chances of this happening are slim to none

unholyangel

paulineb wrote: »

I wouldn't expect to live in luxury, but some people on benefits do very very well, less likely to be single people with no kids though.

Some people on NMW get WTC as well, my brother works for a large gym chain and does 35 hours a week and the pay isn't great and until the WTC rules changed he did get WTC and some people on JSA depending on where they live in the UK don't get their entire rent paid. Particularly if they private rent in a location where housing is expensive

Ive worked full time, been on JSA and worked part time and I was always better of in full time work. I was worse off in part time work than I would have been on JSA because I had to pay rent and travel and I also didn't get my NI stamp paid

Also, in some areas there are little jobs. If I hadn't been self employed, then gone to work part time and then self employed Id still be on the dole now and I have a lot of work experience and professional qualifications.

Everyones experiences will be different. And depending on where people are in the UK, utility bills might vary, such as people in the north will probably use more heating than those in the south. Id always rather be in work, because for me signing on was a soul destroying experience and I found it difficult to live on JSA and my budgeting skills aren't poor, neither do I live an extravagant lifestyle.

WTC for single people/no kids/working 30+ hours a week is basically to bring them up to what they'd earn working 40 hours a week @ NMW.

Again, I wasnt speaking about everyone. I know from personal experience that there are people who want to work (as above, I ended up suffering from severe depression because I was unable to work). But I also know that there are people who play the system. That is a fact.

I dont think anyone resents paying for valid claimants.

And lets face it, those who cheat/abuse the system are effectively putting those like you and me under scrutiny when we fall on hard times and also deprive those genuine claimants. IMO benefit frauds get off way too lightly. Should be made to do volunteer work until they've repaid at least double what they've claimed.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

barba wrote: »

i'd say the chances of this happening are slim to none

Well that's ok then. Sorted. If you think it's slim to none; I'm sure everyone will breathe a huge sigh of relief.

duchy

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Well that's ok then. Sorted. If you think it's slim to none; I'm sure everyone will breathe a huge sigh of relief.

LOL Perhaps they would like to PM the OP their name and address and if they are wrong they can reimburse the OP for loss of benefit and fines ? No ? Thought not !

The big problem is that the £50 is Regular AND linked to working-somewhat different to a irregular gift of the odd tenner. DWP would unfortunately view it as "payment" as indeed the OP does .

Anyway the OP is now aware of the risk she is taking - so it's up to her what she does when and if her daughter returns home/goes back to helping in the business.