[psarahm]

Hello,

I'm filling out my app to bring with us to our first classes coming up here, and I'm unsure of what to put about my job. I'm a provide childcare full time to a family with five children (two that are in school) that lives about a half hour from me, and work under the table. I'd like to continue to work and ideally foster a younger (under school age) child, and bring him or her with me to work. I think it could really benefit everyone and work out wonderfully I think we'll be okay getting approved with just my husband's income, but I'm worried as to whether or not this will play out as smoothly as i'm hoping. How do I explain this? I'm worried about the fact that I do work under the table... would I say that i'm a homemaker that 'volunteer' full time outside of the home? I really don't want to risk anything by lying, but feel like i'm kind of backed into a corner. If we took taxes out it would be hardly worth my time to even have the job, although the family I work for has told me that if I'd like to do that, we can. Does anyone have any advice???

[Withay]

The first rule of signing up for foster care is being 100% honest regarding everything from income to issues with the law to medical history.

Now, for the unsolicited advice. You really need to start having taxes, etc taken out of your childcare income. Working under the table is, as you know, unethical to say the least. I would definitely NOT say that you 'volunteer' full-time outside the home.

[crick]

Unethical or illegal activities can't be supported. You must claim that income.

Furthermore, our site doesn't promote illegal activities so please be careful in this discussion.

[psarahm]

Im sorry, yes I agree. The answer was pretty a pretty obvious one.

[psarahm]

AH, again I want to apologize. I just realized how awful this thread even sounded and you can delete it if you'd like mods. I was on the fence about claiming it, but now am sure I will.

[stevenstwin]

Now THAT issue has been solved, I think another thing you'll have to consider is if they will let you take a foster child into a home with other children. I think in my area that would be acceptable since you'd be there with them all the time, but other areas might have rules about that sort of thing - like a home check for the homeowners, or such. I'm not sure how it would work, so be sure to ask if there are any extra steps you'd have to go through. That said, I agree it's a pretty good situation - the child would have lots more of your attention than if you worked elsewhere and had to put HIM in daycare.

[bethy724]

I doubt you could bring a child to an illegal daycare situation. Children are in care because they need a lot of attention, they have a lot of appts ect. see if you can take the other 3-5 children with you to court, MD appts, WIC ect..

[psarahm]

an illegal daycare situation? what do you mean by that? Now i'm worried again! And yes, I've thought about appointments and everything else. My job is pretty flexible because my employer's job is flexible... and they live with grandparents on top of that.

I will look into these things. Thanks for raising these questions for me.

[ScrapMonkey]

Even if your are proving daycare legit, some areas (mine included) will not allow you to do daycare and foster. Make sure to know the rules in your area.

[Nevada Jen]

Before you decide whether the job is even worth it you might want to check with a tax professional. My husband owns a company where he makes about 5K a year. One year his dang job actually cost us money because his tiny bit of income put us in a higher tax bracket.

[stevenstwin]

Originally Posted by bethy724

I doubt you could bring a child to an illegal daycare situation. Children are in care because they need a lot of attention, they have a lot of appts ect. see if you can take the other 3-5 children with you to court, MD appts, WIC ect..

I'm not sure what you mean about it being illegal, as long as she declares her income! But lots of foster moms work, so I don't see why having a job (that she can even take her child to!) would be a negative.

[akg1229]

In most states you have to be legally licensed to care for more than 4 children and get payed... this includes your own children or foster children. Also some areas don'tallow you to foster and do daycare. I would check into all those state rules too.

[Sdirector]

My wife did home daycare for years. I always claimed her income in full. Of course, I claimed the business use of the home deductions that the law allowed as well. Usually, with all of the allowable expenses, there was very little, if any income to pay taxes on. One of her friends did this, and was bound and determined that you could not claim the expenses, and paid income on all of her income. I would tell her that the income has expenses in making it... it is not all profit, but someone in her family had told her that she could not claim expenses, so she didn't.

If you are not comfortable with this, it would be wise to consult a tax professional. Someone like an accountant.

[bethy724]

I used the term "illegal" because it is against the law to provide babysitting services without a daycare license for 3-5 children & on top of that not declare the income. There was another thread about how invasive the states are becoming with babysitting a neighbors child, never mind it being a full time, paid job. It was my understanding the home the op is watching 3-5 children in is not a licensed daycare, correct? I am a single working foster parent & one requirement is the children are in a licensed daycare (home daycare or facility) Perhaps the term "illegal" rubbed people the wrong way but if it is against the law (tax & childcare codes) I'm not sure how else to describe it.

[psarahm]

Hmmm, well i'm declaring it. I worked it out with the family and we came to an agreement on how we will do it. Thanks again for the advice.

As for daycare laws... from what I (and the mother) understand, it's anything over 6 children here. But I will raise this issue when we attend our classes and make sure that this is all legal. If not, I will work things out so that it is.