I hope this is in the right board. Apologies if it isn’t.

So I have a telephone appointment with UC tomorrow. It’s a review/touch base call.
Last time I spoke to a person, I told them I was a tutor, which was true as I’d only just started escorting and didn’t plan for it to be my main income. However, in the months since, escorting as taken over and I now no longer tutor.

I am debating whether to just be honest and say what I do? I have an accountant and declare my income so it’s not a case of me worrying about hiding money.

My issue is that I live in a small town and if someone there told anyone, it wouldn’t be long before it got out. Only two other people I know have been told so it wouldn’t come from them. I’m also worried I might be treated differently. They’ve been really nice so far as they know I had to leave a relationship due to abuse and now a single parent. I’m aware people have varying opinions on this line of work but as both me and my child have health problems, it is pretty much the only job I’ve ever coped with. It is also the quickest way for me to get off UC which is the aim.

My issue if I don’t tell them is that my job Center are actually really helpful. I declare “room hire” for hotels and if I said I still tutor, they would suggest a company they work with who offers cheaper rooms( this was mentioned on my last call).

I did think about saying I am a massage therapist but I’m such a rubbish liar, I’d get caught out.

I’m looking for suggestions on whether to be honest or how to be a better liar in regards to job occupation😂.

My opinion is don't tell them you are an escort also why be on universal credit and have to answer to them? maybe you could just make up your earnings with camming? GL x

I’m in the process of looking at camming. It’s just where to start (and more importantly - what do I do!?).
 I would come off it but it’s been a god send the last few months when both me and my child were sick meaning I couldn’t work. On a good month, she only misses a week of nursery. On a bad, its two. I have someone who can help out on one of those days but not the whole week.

I could be wrong but I would not tell UC you're an escort. The popular image is we earn thousands a day every day and bath in champagne. It could draw special scrutiny. Be interesting to hear others experiences.

Telling them you escort may possibly draw in social services re your child's welfare. I'm no expert but please anyone correct me if I've missinterpreted other sw-mothers posts.

Why can't you remain a 'tutor' on paper? Why upset that applecart?

UC won't tell townspeople your work status.

I did type in “UC” into the search bar but it bought up every word with “Uc” in it.
The only issue is use of hotels. How do I explain that?

I don’t think UC will say anything but my advisor might. I used to work with a department who worked with this job Center.. let’s just say “client confidentially” wasn’t really a thing 😳.

Personally, I wouldn't tell them you're an escort, as previously mentioned, it could start a snowball affect of other departments becoming involved - Especially if you don't know what potential policies they have in place regarding safeguarding of children, UC payments, rental payments etc

I agree with others about not explaining that you escort. What do you say you do for a living to your accountant? Plenty of us submit tax returns without referring explicitly to 'escorting'.

Miranda x

At the time, I did a bit of writing so just said that. They’ve never mentioned anything but then again, I don’t put anything that screams “escort” like condoms.

Definitely stick with the tutor role. Although the DWP work coaches are predominantly temps on short contracts, and unless you're screaming this woman is running a drug cartel type alarm bells it'll be a simple call. The system is easy to navigate, and you can put your monthly earnings in at the end of each month and it'll automatically calculate your entitlement. They are directly linked with HMRC, so at the end of the tax year they'll be able to see you've been honest in your monthly declarations. The only paperwork they're likely to want to initially see is your rent contract or mortgage statement if you're claiming the housing element. I signed up for it during covid when I lost my civvie job to top up the job retention scheme income (I wasn't being a greedy pig, I just wasn't entitled to the SEISS as more than half my income was from my civvie job). When I've had slow escorting months or needed time off it's been a lifesaver. I think it's something like if you earn below £2900 per month it's worth registering for. If you're earning then they likely won't pester you to look for better paid work. It's people who solely rely on it and don't appear to want to work who they focus on. I know a couple of work coaches and they say the claims which raise suspicion are more for people from certain countries and those making claims on behalf of someone else. Keep any answers brief. They'll appreciate that too as they'll have targets to meet for how many calls they make.

Could you not factor in the hotel costs with your declarations? AP if you make £600 but hotel costs you £100, just declare £500? That's not screwing the system surely. I have a few different businesses and claim hotel costs back for conferences. I'm yet to hire a hotel for escorting/touring though.

Universal credit are much like inland revenue they want to see what goes in your bank from your self employed earnings and to take expenses off for your items required to work.

As long as you take a bank statement with you to your self employed universal credit meeting every 3 months showing what goes into your bank your assessment will be done on this amount.

The problem will be showing why you need hotels. I wouldn’t add the hotel part in as they will want a valid reason why you need to have a hotel. Or like you say change the job title to something like interior designer where you would travel to places for work.

They do not check websites or job titles they Check your individual tax number (UTR) and proof of earnings via your bank. They also ask to see last years tax return.