Reporting historic benefit fraud…

Agreed.

She gave you somewhere to live for nine years until you could afford to get somewhere on your own. Maybe you could have gone somewhere else and passed credit checks/deposits/the 'do I like you enough to have you in my house for an indefinite period?' check for a lodger for exactly the same money (although I doubt it or you'd have gone there instead), maybe not. Maybe you left exactly when she was ready for you to go or perhaps you outstayed your welcome by several years, maybe not.

In any case, there's absolutely nothing you could get into trouble for - although it could be quite embarrassing to have somebody turning up wanting to get a statement from you if you reported her for fraud and they then chose to take your report seriously and investigate this historical allegation - just like when abusive partners or exes report their ex girlfriend for fraud when they've refused to pay their way or leave, they have nothing to worry about, it's just the woman with the children who gets her income stopped and the criminal prosecution, never the person who committed the financial abuse.

So you can sleep easy without any need to poke a hornet's nest. Just block her and everything is sorted.

You didn’t sign any forms or gain financially. It’s her claim and her responsibility, you didn’t even know what she was claiming so how could you possibly be implicated.

It would be pretty difficult to prove who was living at a property six years ago regardless just on your say so, so even if you do fancy reporting her it’s doubtful to go anywhere anyway. Move on would be my advice.

Yes, you're right, OP.
You're headed for jail.

Why are some posters saying that the OP is the snidey one and just looking for an excuse to grass her ex mate up? Sounds like she is worried that she could get into trouble because her so called friend has made out it's her fault she had to claim as a single mother, it's the ex mate who sounds like a cunt here not the OP and yeah I would ring and question whether or not what she is saying is true. I know full well it's completely on the ex friend but it would be a shame for her threats to come back and bite her on her arse wouldn't it.

Oh and Don't report benefit fraud!!
Why would you do that? Move on

You'll be fine
She signed her benefit claim and your name isn't on it
She's just being spiteful.
She's not a friend and I would have nothing more to do with her

The most important thing I've ever learned, is when to walk the fuck away instead of causing yourself more hassle.

You don't have to do anything so don't do anything.

Edit: To clarify, nobody is actually investigating your former friend as things stand?

You’re not responsible for her benefit claims. Forget about it. Reporting it will only open up a can of worms.

Reply to the text saying that clearly you had no idea that was going on at the time. Then block her. Honestly as the others have said she'd have to prove eg using written emails or texts between the two of you that you were "in on it". If the dwp haven't investigated to date they won't now. Unless you say something. Just leave it and move on

Everyone has told you just how cruel it would be to report her because you've fallen out. There's some lines that you just don't cross. She didn't commit a crime against you, and you know just how heavy handed the punishments are for benefit fraudsters.

Leave her alone and move on.

Send her a text telling her that if it's true, you'll have no choice but to report her; but if it's not true & she texted it in the heat of the moment, she needs to let you know by text🤷‍♀️. Would that be of any help?

Just leave it. She’s not going to report herself and you shouldn’t. Apart from it being a mean revenge she’d know it was you.

Is it just me or is anyone else seeing the "look what you made me do", like some kind of narc, abusive, blame shifting crap.

They alone are the perpetrators of fraud. Regardless if you lived there, they were the benefit claimant, they ticked the box and signed their name claiming for their children. You weren't the parent, partner, cohabitee living as though married, you werent in a relationship with the claimant. Being a Lodger doesn't count in that scenario, if you had your own sleep space etc.

So she helped you out for a DECADE, and that’s how you want to repay her..??

Stop trying to play it off as genuine concern, and be honest with yourself that you’re actually being petty and spiteful, and want to cause issues for her…

Are you sure you're not the toxic one? First you didnt pay enough rent now you want to get her in trouble for doing what she had to do to pay her rent. You know full well you won't be inplicated

What do you want us to say? That the prison gates will soon be shutting behind you?

😂

If you want, you can tell the DWP the circumstances in which you were living there. I wouldn't start reporting them for fraud that may not have taken place.
She could easily be saying that just to be cruel or extract sympathy/money.
I personally would do nothing except block her.
You won't get in trouble for benefits fraud as it's nothing to do with your claim. If you even had one.
If she's doing something wrong it's her alone that will get in trouble. If they contact you to check anything just tell the truth.

This.

Block her and move on with your life. No reason at all to have anything to do with toxic people.