Daily mail 'exposing' benefit cheat

[EggnogChai]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4062732/Globetrotting-yoga-teacher-claims-15-000-year-housing-benefit-1million-Chelsea-flat.html

What the hell is wrong with them, they have no idea whether she is claiming fraudulently but have written an article as if the case is closed!

I also love the 'her 1 million Chelsea flat' to enrage the dmers who don't know that HB is only paid for rentals.

Obviously if she is found to be fraudulently claiming she should face the consequences but assessing self employed housing benefit is complicated so i doubt the twats at dm could do it.

And it's not a blanket 4 weeks outside GB there are different rules for different circumstances.

Rant over - Merry Christmas

(Name changed for obvious reasons)

[EggnogChai]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4062732/Globetrotting-yoga-teacher-claims-15-000-year-housing-benefit-1million-Chelsea-flat

[Babbas]

Are you the yoga teacher op????

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

If she's out the country more than in I don't think she's eligible and they definitely should investigate.

[ThisIsStartingToBoreMe]

Someone doesn't like her and has reported her. Probably an ex.

[witsender]

This sort of article ought to be illegal.

[Minesril]

Is it time for the 2-minutes hate already? But I've only just had breakfast!

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

And here was me thinking a £1m property in Chelsea would be a rabbit hutch.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

(Name changed for obvious reasons)

Why? Are you the yoga teacher?

If the circumstances are as described then no, I don't think she should be claiming housing benefit.

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

Looking at some council sites I think in most cases you can't claim any longer if out of the country for more than four weeks. Used to be 13 and is now 4
www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/news/2016/housing-benefit-to-stop-if-you’re-abroad-for-more-than-four-weeks.aspx

[BurningBridges]

ok, so she is renting a flat and claiming HB, but is working at the same time and taking trips abroad so it doesn't sound like she needs additional support from any benefits. I don't agree with DM either, but without dependent children you have to ask how she is eligible for benefits?

[Manumission]

Obvious reasons?

She'd have done better to keep quiet. Her claim might have stood but a position of "I couldn't get an emergency passport in Spain for four months" is a bit tricky. Why on earth did she feel the need to answer the DM's questions?

[FannyWisdom]

What they reported isn't really that exciting.
She may have overstayed and have to notify that she was out of the country longer.

Hate the game not the player.
even if she is flexible

[EggnogChai]

Lass the daily mail are pulling threads from here and reporting them. I had identifying information on my old name.

Tomorrow yes but she's self employed and travels for work, there's different rules for this.

[Manumission]

ok, so she is renting a flat and claiming HB, but is working at the same time and taking trips abroad so it doesn't sound like she needs additional support from any benefits.

Do what?

Can you show your workings out please?

You think working people can't claim HB?! Or just working people who travel for their work?

[UnmentionedElephantDildo]

It doesn''t say she owns the flat, it says she's registered at it.

And yes, there is, on the face of it, a breach of the rules or q very significant departure from the usual application of them.

Why this person has become the focus of the DM article is beyond me - someone must have tipped them off.

But it is, I think, completely right that cheating is made as difficult as possible and that actual cheats face opprobrium. The investigation into this woman has however not yet concluded. Poor choice to run it now when it would be just as newsworthy when the case against her was proved. Assuming of course that it will be proved. If it isn't, then this is a horrible thing to do to someone.

[EggnogChai]

Unmentioned I was talking about the headline which I quoted

[BillSykesDog]

It's one of the most notoriously slow news days of the year. It's a bit of a non-story and poorly reported, but I can't muster up masses of sympathy for her. Perhaps if she didn't want it splashing all over the paper she shouldn't have done it?

Despite what you read on Mumsnet the welfare system is there to help people who are going through hard times or need help just to provide a reasonable lifestyle. It's not there to provide luxury extras and people like this undermine the system for those in genuine need.

Given the lack of affordable housing and the amount of homeless people in London too, it's a bit much to be using HB to block a much needed affordable home while you live in another country too.

[Manumission]

Is yoga teaching well paid?

[BadKnee]

It is a hateful article but people read it because they perceive an injustice - which the story feeds.

[charlestrenet]

Most people on housing benefit are working. And actually that money is going to her landlord, not to her. And before any genius jumps in with "that's the same as a mortgage" it's really not because when you pay a mortgage you are paying off a loan on an asset you will eventually own. She doesn't see a bean of that money.