Would you report a friend for benefit fraud?

They split up with their DH after years of infidelity and the DH moved out.
She is now claiming benefits as a single parent a year on but you suspect the xDH might be living there again.

He sounds unreliable and the relationship sounds shaky. Judging when relationships have ended/restarted is a bit ambiguous in benefits law. For obvious reasons, if you think about it.

This is a extract from the decision makers guide to give you an idea of how messy and subjective these things are:

All factors of their relationship have to be considered. The significance of each
factor can only be determined in the context of all of the factors with none being
decisive. There is more to the determination than the cold, observable facts. The
characteristics of the relationship may include1
 mutual love
 faithfulness
 public acknowledgement
 sexual relations2
 shared surname
 children
 endurance
 stability
 interdependence
 devotion

I personally find it very understandable for women to maintain their own income, if things are still a bit casual/unsure

But then my unpopular opinion is that benefits should be paid to individuals rather than couples anyway.

I've read too many financial abuse threads on here to have any faith in the idea that men can be relied on to support women and children.

No I wouldn’t. You don’t even know for certain! You say she’s disabled and so is her child so she clearly already has a lot to deal with without being reported by her “friend” who doesn’t even have any evidence. You sound cruel and a busy body.

You can claim uc if the stbexh is there as long as you have fully separated and live separate lives, so could be completely legitimate

The only time I would would be if someone was bragging about the money they had and if they were calling people who work mugs. I'd have to do it then.

I hope she finds out so she can find better friends.

With friends like you who needs enemies.

Keep your nose out of what doesn't concern you, you're unlikely to know the whole story.

Lol, as if the exact same thread hasn't been posted a hundred times.

No, because you only have a suspicion and no proof.
Having said that, I am always amazed at the number of posters saying they wouldn't report someone for benefit fraud. Benefit fraud is stealing from other people with genuine financial problems! Would you also turn a blind eye to someone stealing money in the street? I hope not! These posters should grow a backbone and report fraud instead of feeling morally superior by ignoring it!

Why do you suspect it? Someone maliciously reported me for the same thing when mine were little, it wasn't even vaguely true. I lost tax credits overnight, which I relied on for childcare etc, and had to spend hours and hours proving I was entitled to them, and they didn't back pay the months I was without.

You sound hideous OP.

Disability benefits aren’t means tested. If you mean UC leave her to it, he may have his own place and stop sometime, he may be visiting kids.

I don’t understand why people discuss their finances with one another. I use to claim tax benefit when I was younger, I never told anyone.

No because you don’t actually know what is going on.

If it were to be investigated she would have her money stopped while they looked into it purely on the word of a child.

If the friend said that she was cheating the system then yes.

I wouldn’t report her, and here’s why.

Having a disabled child means she may need extra help at home. Her partner might be there to support her because the child has additional needs.
Maybe living separately is what works best for their situation.

Also, if she’s disabled and her child is disabled, then she’s his carer. She’s probably receiving Carer’s Allowance, DLA/PIP. The money you’re seeing is likely from those entitlements — and her family is entitled to that support.

I would stop doing playdates — she likely thinks you’re a friend, but it seems like you have very little understanding of what their life is really like.

Yes, she technically shouldn’t be claiming as single if her partner is living there full-time. But there may be reasons why she’s doing that, and it’s not always black and white.

No...you are not her friend.

I want to watch please 💩👏👏👏

When my ex-husband and I were breaking up, he went to live with his parents.

He came over to my place every day after work and stayed until the dc were in bed.

Maybe it is something like that.
I would keep out of it.

Unless or until you have definitive proof of fraud, I would not get involved.

Not under those circumstances.

My ex calls round at mine most days (long story but my DD won’t go to his house after he got married to someone she met once, and moved her and her 15yr old son in) but he certainly doesn’t live here, and we are definitely not back together. We have been split 15yrs and we have been on 4-5 holidays together in that time. People on my social media who don’t know the whole story may think we are together as we go away together (well not anymore, when both single). I’d probably keep out of it, as you don’t have any evidence he is 100% back there all the time. If they are not living together then it’s fine, even if back together. Pretty sure there’s loads of people who do this, get back together but keep the money going for a while. Temping, but could get into big trouble.

If I KNEW benefit fraud was being committed then, yes, absolutely I would report. But your post is full of hearsay and speculation so, no keep your nose out and stop with the false accusations.

Not from just hearing from a child. I would if I had proof though, whoever it was, nothing to do with being horrible, it would be fraud and needs to be reported but in this case I wouldn't as you don't sound very sure and children can just say anything.

It's everyone's business who pays taxes if someone is ripping off benefits they're not entitled to. Only you can know if she is a cf who deserves to be reported.

No I wouldn’t.
Theres nothing in what you’ve said that is anywhere near definite, proof, or even likely!!
None of your business and you aren’t the stasi as pp has rightly stated!! Focus on your own life. I think it’s horrible of you tbh. X

Not in this case no and not because of any childish I'm not a snitch reasons. She sounds like she's in quite a vulnerable situation and I wonder if he's abusive. Having a disabled child is another strain.

But someone I knew worked for the council, had a husband with a lucrative job, drove a new BMW and was caught claiming housing benefit. She was extremely lucky not to be prosecuted and I think it would've been fine to dob her in. Some people absolutely deserve it. It's not a victimless crime because that money should be available to support the truly vulnerable not the entitled and greedy.

Also - you don’t know if he’s contributing anything at all to the household income. His wife may tolerate his presence for any number of reasons - help with DC, herself, loneliness, love - in spite of everything.

As a PP said - have a bloody heart!