Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:27

BuffetTheDietSlayer · 15/04/2025 18:25

Are you ever going to explain your ableist comments?

How dare you accuse me of being an ableist, I am far from it

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:27

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:25

What’s the squeezed middle got to do with this?

The pp said I wouldn’t be bothered by the fraud and spending if I was wealthy. i was responding to that post.

OP posts:
Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:26

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:22

LMAO at you as the voice of “wealthy people.”

The OP has already pointed out how unfair it is FOR HER.

I can comment on whatever subject / topic on MN that I like, anyone can

Why are you so upset by this topic?

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:26

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:23

Don’t let facts get in the way of stupidity.

If you want to talk about stupidity, we could scroll on back to where I said she is claiming UC and the multiple, multiple posts from subsequent people going on and on and on about non means tested benefits.

OP posts:
ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:25

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:24

I think you are being silly.
The Tory’s are all rich as fuck and they would stamp all over welfare if they could.
The ones who really feel it are the ‘squeezed middle’.

What’s the squeezed middle got to do with this?

BuffetTheDietSlayer · 15/04/2025 18:25

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:24

Exactly, you would have to wonder.

Especially the ones who have become very riled up by the topic

Are you ever going to explain your ableist comments?

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:25

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:24

I think you are being silly.
The Tory’s are all rich as fuck and they would stamp all over welfare if they could.
The ones who really feel it are the ‘squeezed middle’.

Who mentioned politics?????? I have no idea why you’ve just posted that! Bizarre!

SirRaymondClench · 15/04/2025 18:25

Coffeeishot · 15/04/2025 16:42

Not at all,

You're tripping if you think it doesn't impact on the tax payer.

It also impacts on people who should be getting those benefits but aren't because of the cuts being made.

YANBU OP. MN seems full of posters defending those rinsing the system. Benefits are there to help those in need, not to provide a never ending lifestyle for those who can't be arsed. One has to wonder why those defend the benefit cheats..

BlessedBeTheGroot · 15/04/2025 18:25

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:22

If they are, they have income coming from elsewhere.
And if they are then they shouldn’t be on benefits

Well, yes. But you can work and claim too. There is permitted work with ESA, and work allowance with UC.
But someone can be on benefits and very frugal, and manage to have the nicer things too. Or someone else buys them. I am off on holiday next month. My mum is paying for it. From the outside, it looks like I am taking the piss. I really am not.

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:24

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:19

I’m pointing out that you sound incredibly envious, nosy, and silly.

It only gets to you because of your own life choices. If you were wealthy you wouldn’t give a shit.

I think you are being silly.
The Tory’s are all rich as fuck and they would stamp all over welfare if they could.
The ones who really feel it are the ‘squeezed middle’.

OP posts:
Notposting · 15/04/2025 18:24

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:22

If they are, they have income coming from elsewhere.
And if they are then they shouldn’t be on benefits

Except some benefits are not means tested, a fact which seems to have escaped some people.

pointythings · 15/04/2025 18:24

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:20

Is that a fact?
They stop benefits at the very initial stages without any proof of wrong doing?
You’re positive of that?

They have the power to do it when they start their investigations. And they use those powers. There is no 'innocent until proven guilty' here. So you had better be 'I have seen the bank statements and have recorded statements from the person and the mother' level certainty before you embark on this.

It has happened to friends of mine. Who were 100% genuine claimants and were found to be so. They went through almost a year of absolute hell. On your conscience be it - if you have one.

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:24

carrotycrumble · 15/04/2025 18:12

The OP has made it quite clear she’s not anti-benefits, she’s anti-fraud.

It’s depressing to read how many people on MN are perfectly happy for people to defraud tax payers. One wonders how many of these people are committing benefit fraud themselves. But hey, as long as they keep shouting ‘benefits bashing!’ a few hundred times, they can justify to themselves.

Exactly, you would have to wonder.

Especially the ones who have become very riled up by the topic

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:23

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:23

you seems to keep forgetting that not all benefits are means tested.

Don’t let facts get in the way of stupidity.

UnbeatenMum · 15/04/2025 18:23

If I had worked and bought a property, sold it for whatever reason and then became unable to work I would be pretty disappointed to lose all my savings. I'm not saying I would commit fraud, I certainly wouldn't, but I wonder if people have a bit more sympathy for 'hidden savings' fraud than hidden earnings or fraudulent claims?

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:23

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:22

If they are, they have income coming from elsewhere.
And if they are then they shouldn’t be on benefits

you seems to keep forgetting that not all benefits are means tested.

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:22

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:20

Actually no, you are incorrect, wealthy people do care that this sort of thing happens as well

LMAO at you as the voice of “wealthy people.”

The OP has already pointed out how unfair it is FOR HER.

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:22

BlessedBeTheGroot · 15/04/2025 18:20

No one on benefits is living the high life at the expense of the tax payer. Benefits simply do not pay enough.
If they are, they have income coming from elsewhere.

If they are, they have income coming from elsewhere.
And if they are then they shouldn’t be on benefits

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:21

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:19

No one has said it but it is heavily implied by a lot of the comments

such as ?

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:21

carrotycrumble · 15/04/2025 18:12

The OP has made it quite clear she’s not anti-benefits, she’s anti-fraud.

It’s depressing to read how many people on MN are perfectly happy for people to defraud tax payers. One wonders how many of these people are committing benefit fraud themselves. But hey, as long as they keep shouting ‘benefits bashing!’ a few hundred times, they can justify to themselves.

Quite the eye opener!! No wonder we have problems.

OP posts:
Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:20

Anothercoat · 15/04/2025 18:19

I’m pointing out that you sound incredibly envious, nosy, and silly.

It only gets to you because of your own life choices. If you were wealthy you wouldn’t give a shit.

Actually no, you are incorrect, wealthy people do care that this sort of thing happens as well

BlessedBeTheGroot · 15/04/2025 18:20

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:19

I mentioned those because when you see someone living a high £ lifestyle with multiple foreign holidays and expensive gym membership lifestyle, whilst knowing they are entirely funded by the tax payer, and are hiding their own money away to do that, it pisses you off.

No one on benefits is living the high life at the expense of the tax payer. Benefits simply do not pay enough.
If they are, they have income coming from elsewhere.

ClareClareClareClare · 15/04/2025 18:20

pointythings · 15/04/2025 18:19

Unless you have 100% rock solid proof, you should not report. Because it is likely that this person will have her benefits stopped, will get into debt, will build up the kind of arrears that can't easily be fixed even if she is found to have done nothing wrong and her benefits are reinstated.

If you want to risk doing that to someone who has done no wrong, you really need to reset your moral compass.

The tone of your OP, in which you go on about holidays and the gym, suggests that you are motivated more by envy than by a sense of justice.

Report if you have the certainty. By all means. But if you are wrong, I hope you will be supporting this woman in rebuilding her life, because you will be guilty of causing her significant devastation.

Is that a fact?
They stop benefits at the very initial stages without any proof of wrong doing?
You’re positive of that?

OP posts:
Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:19

ShanghaiDiva · 15/04/2025 18:19

no one on this thread has said benefit fraud is acceptable.

No one has said it but it is heavily implied by a lot of the comments

Notposting · 15/04/2025 18:19

Hastentoadd · 15/04/2025 18:15

I agree, there seems to be a hell of a lot of people on this thread that think benefit fraud is actually fine
People should always report possible fraud, ( not just benefit) it’s the only way of getting people to stop

Not one person has said benefit fraud is fine, have they?