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Original poster

Should I report my cousin's benefit fraud?

613 replies

GreatAmberSnake · 20/02/2025 09:35

Hi everyone - I'm having a bit of a moral dilemma and looking to get everyone's opinions.

My M34 cousin doesn't work, he claims PIP. I'm not that familiar with how it works but he says he's on the highest level available, and there's even talk of him getting given a car. He openly boasts at every opportunity about the extreme exaggerations and outright lies he put on his PIP application, and calls me and other members of the family idiots for working when we could just get our money from PIP like he does.

If they investigated him they would easily find that some of his lies don't add up. I believe he genuinely does have depression and anxiety, but he has no physical issues. He said he put things like his partner needs to dress him in the morning (he split from his partner a couple of years ago), needs to wear velcro shoes as he can't tie laces etc. A home visit would show up some of his lies, and a call to the school (he's a weekend Dad but sometimes picks up/drops off his sons) or the Police (he's been arrested for drug offences a couple of times) would be further proof.

The main thing stopping me from reporting him is his depression. He has attempted suicide on at least one occasion, and I fear that a potential prison sentence for fraud could send him into a spiral. Even if no-one found out it was me, I really don't want that on my conscience.

If he didn't boast all the time I would just ignore it, it's not like it affects me directly, but it just winds me up every time he goes on about. Grrrr!! I do try to minimise contact with him but sometimes it's easier said than done. If he gets this car I think he'll become even more unbearable 😡

Help! What would you do?

OP posts:
Flipflop223 · 24/02/2025 20:55

scanni · 24/02/2025 19:30

@Flipflop223

It’s not difficult to turn it on for pip - I’ve seen people do it before.

Can you tell me how they did it? Specifically how they managed to evidence it? I could benefit greatly from your advice

If you are claiming for fibro or mental health as an example, it’s impossible to be challenged on it. Theres no evidence that can disprove it. Obviously there are genuine cases. These benefit frauds just lay it on thick and lie. It’s totally disgusting.

sarah419 · 24/02/2025 20:32

what do YOU gain out of it?!!! its either the money goes to him or to some MP’s steak lunch expense or gas bill. i don’t know your cousin but i would much rather my taxes go to him than making the rich richer.

LurkerForLife · 24/02/2025 20:27

I have nothing of value to add but I completely empathise as my 21 year old brother does the exact same, completely and utterly enabled by my mother. It sucks!

welshmercury · 24/02/2025 20:06

It’s not acceptable to be making false claims. How do you know he tried to commit suicide? Is it just something he told you as could be lies?

does a partner live with him to do all this care?

my step brother is paraplegic, has cerebral palsy and struggles to get by as the system is so complicated. He literally can’t dress or bathe and relies on carers. His dad is now ageing and can’t take care of him properly anymore yet trying to get support and money to pay for carers is so hard.

he could just be dumped in a home but wants to stay in own home as long as possible and then your cousin is making a mockery of it.

maybe prison would be a good thing for mental health with the amount of support they can access in there that have enormous waiting lists on the outside.

ZoeDavoMCR · 24/02/2025 19:56

Personally I wouldn’t bother, my husband has relatives doing similar things and I’m just grateful I’m not that pathetic to pretend I’m disabled in order to avoid working. A job offers so much more than just an income and I find long time unemployed scroungers to lack so much in their miserable, boring lives that I couldn’t care less what they’re doing. Imagine being that much of a lazy loser

CosyLemur · 24/02/2025 19:54

It's virtually impossible to do a false claim! The process isn't just filling in a form it's also phonecalls assessment visits etc. I know people think it's easy but honestly it's not, you have to give details of people professionals they can talk to etc

Jaehee · 24/02/2025 19:36

Wildflowers99 · 22/02/2025 20:16

That sounds incredibly difficult and I sympathise, but I think you’re an example of how mental health issues really aren’t as straightforward as ‘if they could just have X therapy they would be fine and able to work’.

Ultimately we can’t throw hundreds of millions, or even billions, of pounds at therapy which has a high chance of not working. It really isn’t the same as a fixable physical health issue.

Show quote history

What about physical health issues that aren't 'fixable'? What do you propose should happen to children born with disabilities that will make it impossible for them to ever work? What should happen to people who are paralysed? What about the ones with Parkinson's or Huntington's or Alzheimer's disease? People with Duchenne's? The terminally ill? Should they not get disability benefits either? Should we not treat them because it won't help them get back to work? Should we just do away with them?

scanni · 24/02/2025 19:30

@Flipflop223

It’s not difficult to turn it on for pip - I’ve seen people do it before.

Can you tell me how they did it? Specifically how they managed to evidence it? I could benefit greatly from your advice

CheekyRaven · 24/02/2025 19:09

Report him. 100%

Willwetalk · 24/02/2025 19:08

Agix · 20/02/2025 09:57

Fed up of people saying PIP is difficult to claim. It's NOT.

It is only difficult to claim if you're not prepared to lie.You will be scrutinised and the assessors will try to catch you out when you're being honest, and often succeed in twisting your words and putting you off claiming because you're unwell and can't be dealing with this bullshit.

People who are prepared to lie and continue lying and fighting decisions that go against them will quite easily get PIP. Because they're happy to keep lying and scoring the points.

You do need medical evidence, but most medical evidence for mental health conditions is all about what you have reported to your doctor. Your doctor can only write down what you say your symptoms are. Your doctor doesn't live with you and has to believe you when you say you're so depressed you need help to get dressed. So that's what will go on your official reports and "medical evidence".

If you're prepared to lie, and make a part time job of claiming PIP by tracking which lies you have told your medical professionals and the PIP assessors, it is NOT hard to get PIP. You just need to learn the points system, and lie to your doctors and specialists and on the PIP form. These people also have people to lie for them, friends or family, pretending to have to provide care.

If you have genuine struggles, which you are genuinely trying to recover from and work towards getting better from, the PIP assessors will zero in on the bits where you seem capable and independent. You'll feel like shite spending so much time and energy on trying to claim this benefit and going through assesaments. You'll feel embarrassed and ashamed of how badly your health effects you, you'll struggle to talk about it. And you won't get PIP and will stop trying.

Not so with people who lie and make a job of it. They have all the time and energy in the world to keep going until they get the benefit.

The assessment process is easy for liars, who actually have the health to battle through the system, and very difficult for people genuinely unwell and trying to live life who don't have it in them to fight it.

Edited

Some people get PIP without lying.

Flipflop223 · 24/02/2025 19:08

GreatAmberSnake · 20/02/2025 09:35

Hi everyone - I'm having a bit of a moral dilemma and looking to get everyone's opinions.

My M34 cousin doesn't work, he claims PIP. I'm not that familiar with how it works but he says he's on the highest level available, and there's even talk of him getting given a car. He openly boasts at every opportunity about the extreme exaggerations and outright lies he put on his PIP application, and calls me and other members of the family idiots for working when we could just get our money from PIP like he does.

If they investigated him they would easily find that some of his lies don't add up. I believe he genuinely does have depression and anxiety, but he has no physical issues. He said he put things like his partner needs to dress him in the morning (he split from his partner a couple of years ago), needs to wear velcro shoes as he can't tie laces etc. A home visit would show up some of his lies, and a call to the school (he's a weekend Dad but sometimes picks up/drops off his sons) or the Police (he's been arrested for drug offences a couple of times) would be further proof.

The main thing stopping me from reporting him is his depression. He has attempted suicide on at least one occasion, and I fear that a potential prison sentence for fraud could send him into a spiral. Even if no-one found out it was me, I really don't want that on my conscience.

If he didn't boast all the time I would just ignore it, it's not like it affects me directly, but it just winds me up every time he goes on about. Grrrr!! I do try to minimise contact with him but sometimes it's easier said than done. If he gets this car I think he'll become even more unbearable 😡

Help! What would you do?

100%. Hate benefit scroungers. It’s not difficult to turn it on for pip - I’ve seen people do it before.

BobbyBiscuits · 24/02/2025 19:01

@Throwawaygh if he definitely is cheating then yeah, you're not wrong. I personally wouldn't want to get that deeply involved though, just in case I didn't really know how things affect them behind closed doors. But yeah, this particular character does sound like a right chancer. And idiotic too for bragging to all and sundry about it.

scanni · 24/02/2025 18:48

@Horserider5678

It’s about time they took mental
health out of PIP!

Tell us you are ignorant without telling us you are ignorant

Horserider5678 · 24/02/2025 18:43

Cattery · 20/02/2025 10:08

So he’s suffering with his mental health and you’re jealous? That’s how you’re coming across. Leave the poor bloke alone

It’s about time they took mental
health out of PIP! I’ve a friend with multiple medical conditions and even being a wheelchair user she had to go to tribunal! This is a potential fraud which as a tax payer I resent, perhaps you’re so defensive because you’re claiming fraudulently?

Hotflushesandchilblains · 24/02/2025 18:42

Our economy is sinking under the weight of people like this. And it does not do any favours to the people rightfully claiming benefits when liars like this are playing the system. Report.

Throwawaygh · 24/02/2025 18:14

BobbyBiscuits · 20/02/2025 10:15

I wouldn't personally. It would totally fuck his life up. Unless he'd done something really horrible to you. You can get a high rate without any physical disabilities. I would if he was abusive or had robbed me or something though.

He is robbing you though. If he’s claiming benefits he’s not entitled to, he’s robbing from society. There’s people in genuine need who can’t get help, pensioners who’ve lost benefits because the government can’t balance the books whilst this chancer brags about playing the system. He deserves to have his life fucked up.

Noodles1234 · 24/02/2025 18:10

A elder friend of mine is medically unfit to work, she would love it and does not (yet) qualify for this.

i find it incredibly sad and disappointing people claim fraudulently. I would honestly feel torn and can see why you have paused, I am guessing he may brag to mask his true sadness. Still though, it’s wrong and you would not be wrong to contact and advise the truth.

Lurkingonmn · 24/02/2025 17:59

I think you should report him. I don't think he'd be boasting about it if he was genuine.

SandieWooz · 24/02/2025 17:54

People like him really annoy me. He could be in for a rude awakening though, as the Government have announced today they are cutting back on PIP payments and people will be investigated. Report him if you wish, he’s fraudulently claiming taxpayers money.

LBFseBrom · 23/02/2025 16:36

I agree with CleverButScatty and K90, above. 100%!

K90 · 23/02/2025 12:09

DO NOT REPORT HIM !!! He almost certainly will do prison time. He has children. Do you want that on your conscience. Sounds like you don’t like him much but think about your wider family. Stay out of it , not your business

CleverButScatty · 23/02/2025 10:28

GreatAmberSnake · 20/02/2025 09:35

Hi everyone - I'm having a bit of a moral dilemma and looking to get everyone's opinions.

My M34 cousin doesn't work, he claims PIP. I'm not that familiar with how it works but he says he's on the highest level available, and there's even talk of him getting given a car. He openly boasts at every opportunity about the extreme exaggerations and outright lies he put on his PIP application, and calls me and other members of the family idiots for working when we could just get our money from PIP like he does.

If they investigated him they would easily find that some of his lies don't add up. I believe he genuinely does have depression and anxiety, but he has no physical issues. He said he put things like his partner needs to dress him in the morning (he split from his partner a couple of years ago), needs to wear velcro shoes as he can't tie laces etc. A home visit would show up some of his lies, and a call to the school (he's a weekend Dad but sometimes picks up/drops off his sons) or the Police (he's been arrested for drug offences a couple of times) would be further proof.

The main thing stopping me from reporting him is his depression. He has attempted suicide on at least one occasion, and I fear that a potential prison sentence for fraud could send him into a spiral. Even if no-one found out it was me, I really don't want that on my conscience.

If he didn't boast all the time I would just ignore it, it's not like it affects me directly, but it just winds me up every time he goes on about. Grrrr!! I do try to minimise contact with him but sometimes it's easier said than done. If he gets this car I think he'll become even more unbearable 😡

Help! What would you do?

He has such severe depression he has attempted suicide... It sounds like he is genuinely very affected by his condition. Are you sure he isn't trying to 'save face' by joking that he exaggerated on the claim rather than admitting that his mental health is utterly debilitating?
Sadly there is still a lot of stigma (especially for men) around this.
Same with saying others are mugs for going to work, perhaps he would love to have it together enough to work? As a single bloke on PIP and presumably universal credit, he'll only be getting enough to just about survive. Again, maybe a case of saving face rather than admitting his life is in an utterly shit place?
Edited for typo.

bakebeans · 23/02/2025 10:24

PandoraSox · 23/02/2025 10:22

Oh no. You thought my post was irrelevant and pathetic?

That has ruined my whole day.

I am crushed.

Crushed!

Show quote history

Amazing! 🤩

PandoraSox · 23/02/2025 10:22

bakebeans · 23/02/2025 10:19

about benefit bashing? I did. I just thought it it was Irrelevant and pathetic 🤣

Show quote history

Oh no. You thought my post was irrelevant and pathetic?

That has ruined my whole day.

I am crushed.

Crushed!

bakebeans · 23/02/2025 10:19

PandoraSox · 23/02/2025 10:17

And you clearly haven't read my post of 10:05 😅

Show quote history

about benefit bashing? I did. I just thought it it was Irrelevant and pathetic 🤣