Mumsnet Talk

My DH has imparted some information to me which I now wish he hadn't because I now have some internal conflict issues going on.
He's worked with on and off with this guy (sub-contractors) for a couple of years and have become good friends. He lives with his girlfriend of 12 years and they have 3 kids, 11, 6 and 1. Last week DH tells me that his GF is on full lone parent benefits- they haven't declared that that they live together, and yet this bloke is on a decent (although not great) wage.
DH doesn't want to do anything because he's a friend. I feel I'm in a awkward position. Could you tell me what you would do in this position?

Report it without a second thought. Its illegal and its bloody wrong. I do not pay a fortune in taxes for criminals to do as they wish.

I bet they can afford things you can't, and now you know why.

I would call. I'm sorry but when I worked for tax credits my neighbour wasn't claiming for her live in boyfriend. Grr it makes me so angry.

The country is on its knees financially, some seriously hard up families are having there benefits cut to the new capped rate and then there's cheeky feckers like this.

I would call!! I would always call on benefit fraud!! Claiming for something you're not entitled to is disgusting. I know other people say its none of your business but it is. Of course it is. And for you not to call you're condoning everyone who does it.

Don't tell you DP you've done it but make that call!!

you should grass BUT , how likely is it will come back to you?

ie DH comes home saying "fuck mat has been done for benefit fraud, his wife might go to prison, did you grass them"

as much as I love the taxpayer,m you dont want to fuck over your marriage for it

so my suggestion, put a note in diary to grass them in 6 months time!!!!!

If you see someone doing something illegal (and you agree that it is morally wrong to do it) and you can report them with no personal repercussions then why wouldn't you?

Easy - I would report them, no problem at all. It's no better than theft.

And no, I'm not a knee-jerk benefits basher. I am a huge advocate of the welfare state - it's a truly vital social safety net which is there for all of us if we need it because none of us know what life is going to throw at us.

I would like to see some people getting MORE, not less e.g. those with life-limiting disabilities, etc. But people who claim fraudulently are thieves pure and simple - they are stealing from the tax payer and from genuine claimants.

Report them and do so with a clear conscience.

Whilst I agree with above posters - it is fundamentaly wrong I would stop and think of the consequences if you were to report it and it was correct and they were prosecuted/sent to prison.

Just some food for thought - it would be very very tough on that family.

I don't condone what they are doing for one second. Just urge to think of the consequences?

Just a little reality check - Benefit fraudsters are hardly ever sent to prison.

How do I know?? I used to work in Benefit fraud (Housing Benefits, for Local Authority). I've seen people found to be claiming £50k+ not sent to prison.

Absolutely not BU. BU if you don't report it. It's theft, pure and simple. Please do report it. ASAP. This sort of thing should be stopped.

Thanks for your replies. I feel strongly I should report it so it stops, but its a huge worry that prosecutions or prison might be involved.

Report it. For all the reasons Rhinestone gave.

That is their worry OP, not yours. If you can't do the time... and all that.

Ah, Buggerlugs, thats very reassuring. Nothing to stop me then.

The consequences aren't the OPs problem. The family in question know they shouldn't be getting that money.

The benefits system is great, but when some people are getting their benefits cut why should others be taking what they're not entitled to?

What pisses me off with this sort of thing is why should the general public even need to report this sort of stuff.

Surely anyone with half a brain at the Benefits Agency can work out that if she is having more children with the same father, then she is taking the piss..

Why do they not do random house calls and actually check up on these people???

it would be very tough on that family Oh yes compared to what they're getting now of course but seriously you can't expect them to get away with that just because otherwise they'll be on the breadline.

The woman won't get sent to prison. They very rarely do that but then again if she does good. It will be her that has to explain it to her children why and her children will blame her. She is responsible for the theft then she will have to live with the punishment.

The poor children aren't doing anything wrong and they would be the ones to suffer.

I would let them know that you know what they are doing is wrong and if they don't stop you will report it. Give them a chance to stop and save the taxpayer having to pay to look into it.

They are wrong, but there are other ways to go about it.

<gets popcorn>

But if he is working full time, then they wont suffer.. will they? They will just have to get by on what he earns, just like the rest of us do.

moneyworries - the only person who should be concerned about the impact of their actions on the family is the people committing fraud - the person who draws attention of the relevant authorities is not to blame the friend and his oh are

Even if they came clean now, someone would have to wade back through all their records and claims money so it wouldnt make a difference. Its likely she is getting:

Child Benefit
Income Support
Child Tax Credits
Housing Benefit (if in rented)
Council Tax Benefit
Free school meals
Free perscriptions (possibly?)

Probably at least worth £1000 a month depending on the amount of rent she claims. I wouldnt have a moments doubt.

<sits next to Misty>

how's it going misty, got many ticked off the bingo card yet?

squeaky you'd think wouldn't you?

DH used to say he was astounded as some of the things he saw.

Ms Jones is a single parent with 4 children. All children have the surname Smith.

She is claiming housing benefit as lone parent benefit.

The name of the LL?

Mr Smith.

OH FFS! I do not care get a life, get a hobby, get someone else to give a shit, this is boring and monotonous, come on MN HQ get your finger out stop these threads they are so very damaging AND ONLY GO ROUND IN CIRCLES. OP just do it ok just phone the number and get on with your life, you do not need our permission to be a toadying busybody who plainly feels the need for smug self satisfaction by asking stupid pointless questions AGAIN!

DNA tests to prove your LL is not your relative, now that's an interesting turn...