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Original poster

How to actually get authorities to take action on benefit frauds

354 replies

Hattieandcake · 23/01/2026 21:49

Examples reported and nothing done -

  • someone taking cash in hand for dogs - evidence sent online of cash only sales and also including social media showing lifestyle and purchase
  • someone who is lying that they are single having a partner living at their government address with ring footage available that they live their permanently - also taking cash in hand jobs - evident on footage
  • someone putting their SAHM wife on payroll to reduce income claimed - no work done for the business

These are only 2 of many and nothing is done, I am sick to death of it.

OP posts:
Happyjoe · 24/01/2026 09:17

Cat1202 · 24/01/2026 08:58

They do take it seriously, I know someone who has just been caught claiming everything whilst partner lives with her. They’re down by over £2k a month, oh well that’s a shame, not! Should’ve been honest and not live beyond your means

Is this how much difference it is? Wow! My next door neighbour with a kid has a partner (the dad) living with her but he isn't listed on the property. The council are aware and don't care, weirdly. So is they committing fraud?

BlakeCarrington · 24/01/2026 09:15

DeftWasp · 24/01/2026 09:09

As a tradesman myself you do realise there is nothing illegal in taking cash or preferring cash. What is illegal is the non declaration of that cash, and you have no evidence at all that the person is not declaring it - so no one will do anything - dog walker asked for cash, so what!

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Great. In that case these cash in hand tradesman have nothing to fear if their accounts are checked if someone reports them.

ACIGC · 24/01/2026 09:12

Itsmetheflamingo · 23/01/2026 21:59

For all the ITS ALL OUR BUSINESS ones you do realise it’s fine to get paid in cash? Imagine emailing HMRC to tell them a dog walker is being paid by cash with CASH INVOICES and EVIDENCE OF LIFESTYLE ON INSTA

and that these could be currently under investigating, or already investigated and OP would never know?

I know a dog walker who rakes in around £80k a year gross. I'm sure HMRC would be pretty interested in someone not paying tax on an income like that.

Itsmetheflamingo · 24/01/2026 09:11

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 24/01/2026 09:05

TBH councils are generally pretty hot on deprivation of assets, when it comes to care home fees.

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I’m glad to hear but the number of pensioners visibly, actively, and worst of all, socially acceptably getting rid of their assets now in anticipation of future care seems to indicate the intent is prevalent even if they don’t always get away with it.

Not to mention how onerous it is for the council to get access back to those assets once they’ve been deprived

DeftWasp · 24/01/2026 09:09

Hattieandcake · 23/01/2026 21:49

Examples reported and nothing done -

  • someone taking cash in hand for dogs - evidence sent online of cash only sales and also including social media showing lifestyle and purchase
  • someone who is lying that they are single having a partner living at their government address with ring footage available that they live their permanently - also taking cash in hand jobs - evident on footage
  • someone putting their SAHM wife on payroll to reduce income claimed - no work done for the business

These are only 2 of many and nothing is done, I am sick to death of it.

As a tradesman myself you do realise there is nothing illegal in taking cash or preferring cash. What is illegal is the non declaration of that cash, and you have no evidence at all that the person is not declaring it - so no one will do anything - dog walker asked for cash, so what!

BlakeCarrington · 24/01/2026 09:07

IstillloveKingThistle · 24/01/2026 08:51

I’ve not read through the thread and I’m sure this has been said already but what exactly has this got to do with you?

I wish that all I had to worry about was worrying and poking my nose into other peoples business. Not that doing this kind of shit is my thing, because it isn’t .

Seriously, butt the fuck out.

We’re all paying for it and payments to genuine claimants are being squeezed as a result. It’s everybody’s business. So no, we won’t butt the fuck out thanks all the same.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 24/01/2026 09:05

Itsmetheflamingo · 24/01/2026 08:05

I feel more like I’m robbed to keep old people who deprived the state of their assets in care homes than I am by fraudulent benefit claims

there are more unclaimed benefits than the estimated value of benefit Fraud.

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TBH councils are generally pretty hot on deprivation of assets, when it comes to care home fees.

BlakeCarrington · 24/01/2026 09:04

Bloody hell, it’s like a benefit fraud support group on here.

We’re all paying for this, and genuine claimants are also suffering as people turn a blind eye to the dishonesty.

I don’t blame you at all for being pissed off at them OP. We all should be.

Reassurancells · 24/01/2026 09:01

Have you made sure you’re complying with the law with how your ring doorbell works? Where you have it viewing and what areas you have blanked off?

ThatWasMyLastFatFreeFrush · 24/01/2026 09:00

You don't get updated on reports, so they might actually be doing something.

Cat1202 · 24/01/2026 08:58

They do take it seriously, I know someone who has just been caught claiming everything whilst partner lives with her. They’re down by over £2k a month, oh well that’s a shame, not! Should’ve been honest and not live beyond your means

IsItSnowing · 24/01/2026 08:56

OonaStubbs · 23/01/2026 21:56

Benefits fraud is everyone's business.

Agreed.

Itsmetheflamingo · 24/01/2026 08:55

UninitendedShark · 24/01/2026 08:54

Do you take the same approach to companies who aggressively tax dodge? Nothing from Amazon, Starbucks, Meta et al?

Thing is tax avoidance may (or may not) be immoral, but it isn’t illegal. Benefit fraud and tax evasion both are. They’re not comparable.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 24/01/2026 08:55

Do you get this het up over billionaire tax evaders.

Itsmetheflamingo · 24/01/2026 08:55

IstillloveKingThistle · 24/01/2026 08:54

What??

Actually they have lives. And worries and stresses that concern them and their families - not how Mrs Jones up the fucking road gets her money and what she does with it.

You’re talking shit.

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It’s such a lazy, immature response to a discussion. I just ignore it

UninitendedShark · 24/01/2026 08:54

Do you take the same approach to companies who aggressively tax dodge? Nothing from Amazon, Starbucks, Meta et al?

IstillloveKingThistle · 24/01/2026 08:54

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 24/01/2026 08:23

I often think they’re probably on the fiddle themselves.

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What??

Actually they have lives. And worries and stresses that concern them and their families - not how Mrs Jones up the fucking road gets her money and what she does with it.

You’re talking shit.

IstillloveKingThistle · 24/01/2026 08:51

I’ve not read through the thread and I’m sure this has been said already but what exactly has this got to do with you?

I wish that all I had to worry about was worrying and poking my nose into other peoples business. Not that doing this kind of shit is my thing, because it isn’t .

Seriously, butt the fuck out.

Itsmetheflamingo · 24/01/2026 08:48

Kimura · 24/01/2026 08:22

Somebody going on three foreign cruises a year is clearly not 'doing a bit of cash in hand work on the side to make ends meet'.

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How do you pay for a cruise in cash?

BeLimeTiger · 24/01/2026 08:47

ChefsKisser · 23/01/2026 22:02

Benefits fraud is so rife it’s ridiculous. I see loads of people claiming fraudulently in my line of work. I wouldn’t bother reporting and it’s not appropriate but it is frustrating as someone on a crap salary seeing it day in day out.

Yeah me too, especially couples living together who pretend they’re not. Either one person is registered living with their mum or there is an empty property paid for by housing benefit. I don’t report it as its not expected in my job role

365RubyRed · 24/01/2026 08:31

Yet another benefits bashing thread, complete with the usual ‘my cousin’s wife’s neighbour drives a Mercedes and goes on several luxury holidays a year’ shite that is always trotted out on these mean spirited threads.

Lemonsandlime87 · 24/01/2026 08:28

FFS OP get a grip. You sound pathetic tbh.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 24/01/2026 08:23

Pumpkinmagic · 23/01/2026 22:29

Anyone who thinks it is no one else’s business has to be quite thick

I often think they’re probably on the fiddle themselves.

Kimura · 24/01/2026 08:22

Skybunnee · 24/01/2026 08:05

I think there's levels. I wouldn't feel animosity towards someone doing a bit of cash in hand work on the side to make ends meet.

One mans bit of cash in hand is another’s 3 foreign cruises a year (local casual gardener). Ridiculous to assume nontaxed income is pin money. Its 20% more than taxpayers income to start with

Somebody going on three foreign cruises a year is clearly not 'doing a bit of cash in hand work on the side to make ends meet'.

Bushmillsbabe · 24/01/2026 08:20

How do you know the SAHM isn't doing admin for the business? My mum did for my Dads business. Because she couldn't work in a formal job due to my brothers complex support needs, but on his good days she could do some admin bits for my Dad. If the government supported them better with a suitable education placement she could have got a 'proper job'. But they didn't, so she couldn't.