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AIBU?

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Original poster

To report this as benefit fraud

517 replies

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 15:08

A relative is claiming benefits, can’t work due to health but is one of those who is always complaining about something wrong with her but is always able to do the things she wants to do. Can holiday abroad, always down the gym, etc. When she was working she was always making complaints against employers- one of life’s victims.

She sold a property a couple of years ago and has squirrelled about £40k away through investments. I think has got her mother to do this for her.

I’m so fed up of seeing people like her take the piss. I 100% support a welfare system and it really pisses me off to see it abused like this. And meanwhile we are working our arses off and not able to afford the foreign travel and gym memberships.

I’m so tempted to report her secret savings to DWP.

OP posts:
greeenscreeen · 15/04/2025 18:46

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:45

I can’t say but I’m 100% positive.

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Surely the only way you could be "100% positive" is if she told you herself?

BlessedBeTheGroot · 15/04/2025 18:46

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:43

I never said she was too unwell to work.

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You said she "can't work due to health"

OoooopsUpsideYourHead · 15/04/2025 18:45

BlessedBeTheGroot · 15/04/2025 15:10

Why do you need to ask MN?

She has more savings than she is allowed, and that is against the rules.
Going on holiday and going to the gym isn't, and YABVU to bring that into it.

It seems they always have to ask MN 🙄

Original poster
ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:45

BlessedBeTheGroot · 15/04/2025 18:45

A person with nothing to hide would still have their money stopped for months whilst investigations were taking place.

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I don’t think that’s true.

OP posts:
Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:45

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:42

If my OP was “I think my cousin is pilfering funds from her job at the children’s home” I bet no one would have said mind your own business/you’ll make life hard for her etc

Edited

Exactly, in some people’s opinion all suspected fraud should be reported except of course benefit fraud

greeenscreeen · 15/04/2025 18:45

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:43

I never said she was too unwell to work.

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Your opening post literally says, "...can't work due to ill health..."

Original poster
ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:45

greeenscreeen · 15/04/2025 18:43

@ClareClareClareClare Out of interest (and apologies if I missed this) but how do you know she has £40,000? And how do you know it's been squirreled away somewhere?

I can’t say but I’m 100% positive.

OP posts:
BlessedBeTheGroot · 15/04/2025 18:45

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:43

Exactly, there is absolutely no harm in reporting suspicion of fraud,
An investigation will determine whether they are actually entitled and if they are all is well
A person with nothing to hide wouldn’t be worried

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A person with nothing to hide would still have their money stopped for months whilst investigations were taking place.

pointythings · 15/04/2025 18:45

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:36

Yes.
ther do this when people go in to care and money shifted out to children within the recent years. You can’t just make it disappear to avoid tax/becoming eligible for welfare, etc.

I imagine a few bums on this thread are nipping as they don’t seem to realise it and getting very defensive about it.

Maybe they are worried about someone “jealous little beak” revealing their fraud.

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And here's the traditional assumption that anyone suggesting that reporting benefit fraid without absolute certainty must be on benefits themselves and probably committing fraud too.

Sorry mate. Not claiming a penny. But I do know that comparison is the thief of joy, and your joy has gone fully walkies.

The fact that you don't even know what this person is claiming suggests that you are nowhere near having enough knowledge to report anything.

Blogswife · 15/04/2025 18:45

Yes, please do it . The benefits system is there to support vulnerable people during their hardest times
Now your relative has come into money she is no longer entitled to the support
I worked for years for an organisation that helps sick & disabled people to claim benefits and it’s so difficult sometimes for those who need them to be awarded . It absolutely stinks when someone else is stealing from the system . There is only so much to go around so she is effectively taking from those who most need the support
Hiding the money in someone else’s name is also fraud and she will get found out ( the DWP are not stupid - they know the tricks people try to pull off ) and hopefully she’ll then get book thrown at her ( rightly so ) .

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:44

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:41

If you actively argue against reporting fraud like some of the posts on here that’s quite questionable isn’t it?
not so much the people who have really discussed it, but the people who just pop up and say “mind your own business”.

Are people arguing against reporting fraud? I think many posters have said report your relative if you want to and wondered why you need anyone’s approval to do that.

Original poster
ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:43

Almost18 · 15/04/2025 18:42

I think you need to mind your own business. You are clearly just jealous you can't afford holidays and gym membership but bet you wouldn't actually like to swap and be too unwell to work.

I never said she was too unwell to work.

OP posts:
greeenscreeen · 15/04/2025 18:43

@ClareClareClareClare Out of interest (and apologies if I missed this) but how do you know she has £40,000? And how do you know it's been squirreled away somewhere?

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:43

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:41

If you actively argue against reporting fraud like some of the posts on here that’s quite questionable isn’t it?
not so much the people who have really discussed it, but the people who just pop up and say “mind your own business”.

Exactly, there is absolutely no harm in reporting suspicion of fraud,
An investigation will determine whether they are actually entitled and if they are all is well
A person with nothing to hide wouldn’t be worried

Original poster
ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:42

If my OP was “I think my cousin is pilfering funds from her job at the children’s home” I bet no one would have said mind your own business/you’ll make life hard for her etc

OP posts:
Almost18 · 15/04/2025 18:42

I think you need to mind your own business. You are clearly just jealous you can't afford holidays and gym membership but bet you wouldn't actually like to swap and be too unwell to work.

Morningsleepin · 15/04/2025 18:41

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 16:39

Yes it may well sound petty and vindictive. And I’ve not done anything for the reason that that is not my nature.
But i’m angry that someone can have £40k in savings and do nothing, whilst we work full time and have no savings because the cost of living is extortionate. It’s very upsetting actually. And she thinks it’s absolutely fine to do it, to essentially steal from other working people. And lots of people here also seem to think it’s ok, so that’s an interesting reflection of society at present isn’t it.

It must be so much fun to be sick. I think you would do better to find a job you enjoy.

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:41

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:39

No. Because the fraud only applies to the UC.
As you yourself have said multiple times.

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I don’t believe I have made any comment about universal credit…

Original poster
ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:41

If you actively argue against reporting fraud like some of the posts on here that’s quite questionable isn’t it?
not so much the people who have really discussed it, but the people who just pop up and say “mind your own business”.

OP posts:
ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:39

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:36

Yes.
ther do this when people go in to care and money shifted out to children within the recent years. You can’t just make it disappear to avoid tax/becoming eligible for welfare, etc.

I imagine a few bums on this thread are nipping as they don’t seem to realise it and getting very defensive about it.

Maybe they are worried about someone “jealous little beak” revealing their fraud.

Show quote history

So we have moved on from posters condoning benefit fraud to posters are now all on the fiddle themselves.

Notposting · 15/04/2025 18:39

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:36

Yes.
ther do this when people go in to care and money shifted out to children within the recent years. You can’t just make it disappear to avoid tax/becoming eligible for welfare, etc.

I imagine a few bums on this thread are nipping as they don’t seem to realise it and getting very defensive about it.

Maybe they are worried about someone “jealous little beak” revealing their fraud.

Show quote history

This is such a common tactic employed by benefit bashers on MN. Accuse anyone who challenges them of being benefit fraudsters.

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:39

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:38

I never said that a disabled person going to the gym or on holidays was suspicious behaviour which was what you accused me of saying

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See @BuffetTheDietSlayer post above this one.

TimeToMixItUp3 · 15/04/2025 18:39

She will have just listed it as repaying loads, everything can be excused. I wouldn't bother.

Original poster
ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:39

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:34

You don’t seem so sure of your facts now? I imagine with regard to fraudulent claims all of the information is relevant, no?

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No. Because the fraud only applies to the UC.
As you yourself have said multiple times.

OP posts:
Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:38

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:37

Nope, YOU said the gym was suspicious behaviour.

And you’ve just opined now that people on limited income, as apparently the disabled should and must be, shouldn’t be spending in coffee shops.

Ableism.

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I never said that a disabled person going to the gym or on holidays was suspicious behaviour which was what you accused me of saying

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