Is what I did illegal (work/job)? How to apply for job?

I worked for my uncle who needed assistance because of his illness (he's fine now) under some government care-taking employers. My dad signed me up for it and I thought I was going to be doing some work. Well my uncle always says I shouldn't work, so my dad the work for me. Even though I have offered to work numerous amounts of times, my uncle wants my dad to do it. So the paycheck ended up going to me even though I didn't do anything. I didn't think this was right so after a year, I told them I wanna quit. 4 years later, at 22, I'm having a hard time finding a job. I have been looking for a part time job since I was 20, as my first REAL job. But do to my inexperience it's pretty hard. I was thinking about putting my previous "employer" down. Technically it was a real employed by the government... But I don't know, what do you guys think?