Should I work off the books, taking care of an elderly relative?

Set yourself up as a business and pay your own taxes, SSI, etc and you can take deductions for expenses that you'd normally pay out of your own pocket. That way everything is legal so you'll actually make more money when you figure out the tax advantages of your "home office" and supplies and such.

Working for cash is always good, and you would not be paying into taxes or social security. If you report none of it you wouldn't have to pay any taxes on it. You also wouldn't accrue credits towards social security, but thats probably not a big deal.

Basically, the only time it would really affect you is for thingas that require proof of income - getting a credit card, taking out a loan, etc.

Be careful that you don't have more benfits at work than you think. Things like health insurance can be expensive on your own.

Hope this helps!

If you would have to quit your regular job then you would loose any retirement plan and you would no longer be paying into SS so that could effect your drawing SS when you get older and if you wanted to refi your house you couldn't use your earnings as part of the income to base to financing on