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Original poster

This IS benefit fraud isn’t it and we COULD be in trouble if we help?

48 replies

NotebookNearlyFull · 05/05/2021 11:33

NC for this

Family member wants to register as living at our address so that his girlfriend doesn’t lose her benefits but stay with her most of the time

I really don’t want to do it, I’m sure it can’t be allowed or everyone would do it. I also think we could find ourselves in trouble if we say he’s living here when he basically isn’t

Other family members have said I’m mean, it’ll be him and his GF if anyone who gets in trouble, we’d be doing nothing wrong, it’s no skin off our noses and we should do it. No one else has a spare room (all have youngish children) so that’s their excuse for saying we’re the only ones who can say he lives here

OP posts:
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep · 05/05/2021 11:35

No you shouldn't do that

lifeissweet · 05/05/2021 11:36

Whether you get in trouble or not is not really the point. It's morally the wrong thing to do.

I'm sorry you are under so much pressure for so many people. It must be a horrible position to be in, but I wouldn't be enabling this.

BrokenAmp · 05/05/2021 11:36

I wouldn’t do it just to be on the safe side. I would just trust your gut instinct with this and protect your household.
If other family members are so sure they can put him down as living at theirs!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
Thislittlefinger123 · 05/05/2021 11:36

How can you possibly be unreasonable for refusing to commit fraud (or at least being complicit in it). I'd want nothing to do with it. Not reporting a family member as it's not your business is one thing, but actively helping them defraud the system? Nope.

Hoppinggreen · 05/05/2021 11:37

It’s fraud and you shouldn’t get involved

BrokenAmp · 05/05/2021 11:37

Sorry-I should have read through to the bottom re room at families houses-still be a no from me

Lindy2 · 05/05/2021 11:38

You would be responsible for committing benefit fraud which is a criminal offence.

Do you really want to risk getting a criminal record just so someone else lines their own pockets with other tax payers money?

They are very wrong to even ask you. I'd say no and I'd actually even report them for trying to do it.

FoxyTheFox · 05/05/2021 11:41

If they were living together and not declaring it then that's their business and I wouldn't report them for it, that's for them to risk and for them to deal with the consequences if they do get caught. Asking me to collude in it by essentially providing him a fake address? Not happening and you would get in trouble if they were caught as you would have knowingly aided in deception.

Moondust001 · 05/05/2021 11:45

You would be an idiot agreeing. Never mind just the benefit fraud. What about the parking/ driving fines that end up at your house, the debt collectors, or whatever else he gets into? Anyone who thinks you are mean are welcome to let him register at their address. Since he actually won't be there anyway, what difference does not having a spare room make?

Pashazade · 05/05/2021 11:51

We refused to do this in a very similar situation, it's fraud and we wanted no part in it.

Original poster
NotebookNearlyFull · 05/05/2021 11:54

Thank you everyone for confirming what I thought. Moondust I tried that and got “well he could put some of his clothes and stuff in your spare room just in case”

Thankfully I have no problem at all sticking up for myself so I’ll quite happily tell him no

I agree with Foxy, doing it is one thing but expecting someone else to get involved is a different thing altogether

OP posts:
Nonmaquillee · 05/05/2021 11:54

Nope, never. It's fraud, and it's immoral.

They should never have asked you. And your other family members can .... off.

Viviennemary · 05/05/2021 11:55

Don't do it. You could be prosecuted.

RC1234 · 05/05/2021 11:57

If they were actually going to live with you that would be one thing but this is being entered into in bad faith. Quite apart from the benefit fraud aspect if you make a false declaration on the electoral register (something that is checked by credit agencies and government agencies when verifying someone's address) then yes you (and it will be you not them) could be in legal trouble and liable for a big fine.

Just say no. I know that it can be hard saying no to people like this but the sooner you start the easier your life will be as otherwise they will always be pushing against your boundaries.

Gingerkittykat · 05/05/2021 12:07

You would not be convicted with fraud, it would be the gf who is claiming the benefits who this would happen to and even the scumbag relative would not be prosecuted. The gf would be putting herself into a very vulnerable position if she lets this happen, but the men who get their gfs to claim benefits don't really care as they won't face the consequences.

If he stays with her most of the time where will he be staying when he is not with her? Where does he live just now?

He would also need to swap everything like DVLA, tax records, phone bill and credit card to your address since anything linked to the gfs address in his name could come back and bite him.

You need to say no to him.

Bluntness100 · 05/05/2021 12:09

What do you mean stay with her most of the time? As in how often is that? Will he actually be living there?

Viviennemary · 05/05/2021 12:19

And if you claim any kind of benefit yourself or council tax discount you could be in big trouble.

Original poster
NotebookNearlyFull · 05/05/2021 12:29

He would genuinely be here when not with her, probably when they have a row! Or when her kids get too loud for him

He currently lives in a completely different area, we don’t claim anything - both working

I’m definitely going to say no, I think it’s a bloody cheeky thing to ask! And if my Mum keeps on (she’s been the worst of all of them) I’ll tell her to say he sleeps on their sofa

OP posts:
EdwinPootsLovesArchaeology · 05/05/2021 12:30

If he stays with her most of the time where will he be staying when he is not with her? Where does he live just now?

Well, indeed.

So my answers to family members would be,

'Hell no, I don't need the stress.'

'If you're that bothered, let him say he's sofa-surfing at yours.'

Unless he's your son and he's 17 ...

EdwinPootsLovesArchaeology · 05/05/2021 12:30

Ah, x-posted.

LovingLivingLife · 05/05/2021 12:35

@Moondust001

You would be an idiot agreeing. Never mind just the benefit fraud. What about the parking/ driving fines that end up at your house, the debt collectors, or whatever else he gets into? Anyone who thinks you are mean are welcome to let him register at their address. Since he actually won't be there anyway, what difference does not having a spare room make?
Exactly this! If he doesn't live there then the lack of spare rooms is just an excuse
osbertthesyrianhamster · 05/05/2021 12:37

No. And you could get in serious trouble.

Babyroobs · 05/05/2021 12:46

It is fraud, they should claim as a couple, and you don't want him registered at your home because if you need to claim benefits it could cause problems. Tell him to tell the GF not to be greedy and make a joint claim like honest people do instead of defrauding the tax payer. Honestly the number of people doing this makes me rage.

Reinventinganna · 05/05/2021 12:50

A family member asked this of me. I said that I wanted no part in it.

Lyonesse2020 · 05/05/2021 12:51

Would he be so keen if you charged him rent for your spare room? Because surely, if you were to take a lodger, they would expect to pay for the privilege. Would that work to bring the debate to a close?

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