Page 5 | Reported possible benefit fraud

snitchapparently · 2025-03-25T16:16:12+00:00

I suspect someone of claiming carers allowance fraudulently, and after bottling out several times, I just submitted a report. It’s likely to get back to me if something comes of this and I feel like the bad guy for doing it. Am I the bad guy?! Should I just not have said anything?! To claim you need to be providing 35 hours a week of care and also earn under a certain threshold and I’m fairly sure this person meets neither of those criteria. (If I’m wrong, of course, there will be no ill effect to the claim). Feel quite stressed.

Original poster

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:47

Hdjdb42 · 25/03/2025 17:45

When I claimed that, 9 months later a letter went to the person I'm caring for. They were informed and had to fill in a form. So for that reason I'd stay out of it.

Sorry, I’m not sure I understand? What letter and why?

OP posts:

Createausernam · 25/03/2025 17:47

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:39

Sorry, but you’re not in my head so you can’t make that claim at all. I’m here listening to the facts, but yours is not fact it’s just the way you want to twist it.

Yes, government do encourage this.

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Of course I can make that claim. And I stand by it 100%.

You've just said to someone "I can see that, it’s incredibly unfair of a system to do that to you."

How can you not know that that's what the system does to people?

It is simply not credible for you to claim that you don't know - the cruelty of the DWP is widely reported and has been for years.

So yes - you knew what you were doing, you wanted to hurt these people because you felt they were getting something they weren't entitled to you and oh boo hoo that's not fair on you.

Original poster

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:46

Bignanna · 25/03/2025 17:45

If the person reported by op is investigated and found to be innocent, then there isn’t a problem.

That was truly my thought. I see here others have not had that experience. I wasn’t trying to be evil, I was trying to be fair.

OP posts:

Hdjdb42 · 25/03/2025 17:45

When I claimed that, 9 months later a letter went to the person I'm caring for. They were informed and had to fill in a form. So for that reason I'd stay out of it.

Bignanna · 25/03/2025 17:45

If the person reported by op is investigated and found to be innocent, then there isn’t a problem.

Lavender14 · 25/03/2025 17:44

ACynicalDad · 25/03/2025 16:31

You did the right thing. The benefits bill needs shrinking, if we could get rid of those who shouldn’t be claiming then there would be less cuts for those that need the support.

@ACynicalDad those who claim incorrectly is an incredibly low percentage and are made out to be more than they are to create a red herring that distracts people from a capitalist government who doesn't want to be funding our most vulnerable.

Original poster

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:43

Createausernam · 25/03/2025 17:39

But you're in a position to ruin lives on the basis of nothing but your groundless suspicions, your fantasy assumptions, your seething jealousy, and your ideology.

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Probably a bit dramatic. They’re not groundless, there’s no fantasy involved from my point of view and there’s nothing to be jealous of with this person?

My intention was certainly not to ruin anyone’s lives, other people’s real experiences have been shocking to hear.

OP posts:

BobbyBiscuits · 25/03/2025 17:42

Carers allowance, fraudulently? It's about fifty quid a week isn't it? Not exactly a kings ransom. And how do you know it's fraudulent? You'd have to live with them to be sure.

Caring for people us a thankless task and millions more act in a caring role than receive said benefit. It doesn't anywhere near cover what the role requires in any meaningful manner.

So yeah, in my eyes you haven't done anything to be particularly admired. I'd imagine it's because you don't like someone and wish to make their lives more difficult. It certainly won't make yours any better by reporting them.

But it's done now. If I were you I'd think twice about poking your noses into others' affairs in future and focus on trying to make your own life better.

EmeraldRoulette · 25/03/2025 17:41

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:22

In what way do you believe it is assessed? It isn’t. They don’t call you in for assessment for AA, they don’t check anything. You write on the application why you think you need it, yes it needs to meet some “criteria” (but nothing like PIP etc) then they award it or don’t. No assessment.

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We got a call from DWP to say there was a conference call happening between hospital, GP and the rehab/respite mum went to in order to confirm or deny eligibility for Attendance Allowance. It took 6 months to come through.

you might know staff who agree it without checking but it isn't a norm, I think.

Oioisavaloy27 · 25/03/2025 17:41

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:29

I probably wouldn’t be, but I’m leaning towards admit.

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One would hope that now you have reported and you get confronted that you have the balls to admit it.

Hadjab · 25/03/2025 17:40

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 16:24

Yes I know how much a true carer does, but I don’t believe this is a carer situation. Person works full time, doesn’t spend all day caring for said person.

There will be no affect on their claim if somehow their full time job doesn’t actually earn that much money, which is unlikely.

But fair enough, general consensus is to allow people to claim money not entitled to, I shall keep that one in mind, thanks all for the consensus 😊

No, I don't think you really do. I held done a full time job and was carer to my husband when I got home, which meant being up half the night with him. Then getting up and doing it all again.

BTW - 35hrs of caring per week is 5hrs a day, 7 days a week. A full time worker coming home to care for their loved one can easily do this and more.

Trust me.

Itsabingthingfubing · 25/03/2025 17:40

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:22

In what way do you believe it is assessed? It isn’t. They don’t call you in for assessment for AA, they don’t check anything. You write on the application why you think you need it, yes it needs to meet some “criteria” (but nothing like PIP etc) then they award it or don’t. No assessment.

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What a load of bollocks! They do phone assessments in the same way they do for PIP.

lifeturnsonadime · 25/03/2025 17:40

SolarSaviour · 25/03/2025 17:32

Carers allowance does also pay a person's National Insurance contributions

Thank goodness for that.

It's mostly women who bare the burden for caring.

PrimitivePerson · 25/03/2025 17:39

Createausernam · 25/03/2025 17:35

Yes that WAS your intention - it really, really was. Unless you live in a fantasy world, constructed by people who do nothing but lie to you, how can you possibly not know how it works?

And no, we are NOT "literally encouraged" to do this.

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Well, the government can encourage me to snitch on people all it likes, I'll still never do it.

Createausernam · 25/03/2025 17:39

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:14

Not in a position to ask unfortunately.

But yes, AA is likely the easiest benefit to get as it’s not assessed whatsoever. Confirmed by staff who process it!

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But you're in a position to ruin lives on the basis of nothing but your groundless suspicions, your fantasy assumptions, your seething jealousy, and your ideology.

Original poster

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:39

Createausernam · 25/03/2025 17:35

Yes that WAS your intention - it really, really was. Unless you live in a fantasy world, constructed by people who do nothing but lie to you, how can you possibly not know how it works?

And no, we are NOT "literally encouraged" to do this.

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Sorry, but you’re not in my head so you can’t make that claim at all. I’m here listening to the facts, but yours is not fact it’s just the way you want to twist it.

Yes, government do encourage this.

OP posts:

Therealmetherealme · 25/03/2025 17:38

Not anyone can claim carers, the ‘cared for’ will most probably been assessed for PIP. Carers is also a taxable benefit so can have an impact on other benefits. It can be easy caring for someone over 35 hours, you don’t have to be with them all that time, phone calls to them, reminding to take medication, appointment making, shopping, food prep, admin, banking, washing, clothes shopping, paying bills, walking pets. It all counts. Much of it is invisible.

PinkLemonIceCream · 25/03/2025 17:38

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:30

Experience of people claiming and knowing people who process the claims. It may well say that but the reality is different.

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So, anecdotal then?

Original poster

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:37

Blemin · 25/03/2025 17:36

Thanks for listening.

I think what is missed here is that (most) people are not saying that it's wrong on its face to report suspected fraud. They are saying that it's wrong given the reality of the system that exists. If disabled people and carers were treated decently and fairly, and we could all rely on justice, then it wouldn't objectively be wrong to do it.

The problem is, the DWP isn't decent or fair or just. Given this sad fact, it's wrong to throw anyone to those wolves, unless you are absolutely completely sure, with incontrovertible evidence, that you are right.

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I can see that, it’s incredibly unfair of a system to do that to you. For government to encourage people to report, then use that as a weapon against an innocent person is awful. Sorry again.

OP posts:

Createausernam · 25/03/2025 17:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Blemin · 25/03/2025 17:36

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:28

I’m sorry. I really am. That’s so awful.

That was not my intention at all. We’re literally encouraged to do this, but it shouldn’t lead to constant speculation against you when you’ve done nothing wrong.

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Thanks for listening.

I think what is missed here is that (most) people are not saying that it's wrong on its face to report suspected fraud. They are saying that it's wrong given the reality of the system that exists. If disabled people and carers were treated decently and fairly, and we could all rely on justice, then it wouldn't objectively be wrong to do it.

The problem is, the DWP isn't decent or fair or just. Given this sad fact, it's wrong to throw anyone to those wolves, unless you are absolutely completely sure, with incontrovertible evidence, that you are right.

Original poster

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:36

I’ve taken on board what most of you have said here, I truly have. And I thank you for taking the time to comment guys. Particularly those who have had horror stories, I don’t think that’s ok at all. Sorry to those for what they went through.

OP posts:

Createausernam · 25/03/2025 17:35

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:28

I’m sorry. I really am. That’s so awful.

That was not my intention at all. We’re literally encouraged to do this, but it shouldn’t lead to constant speculation against you when you’ve done nothing wrong.

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Yes that WAS your intention - it really, really was. Unless you live in a fantasy world, constructed by people who do nothing but lie to you, how can you possibly not know how it works?

And no, we are NOT "literally encouraged" to do this.

PrimitivePerson · 25/03/2025 17:34

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 17:31

I guess I’m fed up of following the rules when people around me just do what they like.

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That's a really shitty justification. I'm incredibly bitter about getting no financial support during COVID, but I don't respond to that by making life worse for others on a vague hunch.

Living on benefits is horrible, and not the life of Riley some people think it is.

SolarSaviour · 25/03/2025 17:32

Carers allowance does also pay a person's National Insurance contributions