If you knew someone was committing benefit fraud would you report them?

[Chloefairydust]

If you knew of someone who was committing benefit fraud, and had been for the past 7 years would you report them? Let’s say for example this person has been bragging about claiming benefits (I’m assuming child benefits and universal tax benefit, potentially benefits toward housing too) during this time and hasn’t declared assets that she has in that she actually owns a house she shared with her ex. She’s been bragging about seeing a solicitor who’s told her she’s owed a substantial amount of money from having her name on the mortgage while saying shes thinking of a way to claim the money from the house without alerting the benefits people (she also bragged about how she never payed a penny towards the bills or mortgage when she lived with said ex, she seemed quite smug by the thought of getting her hands on his hard earned cash🤨) … I was quite shocked and didn’t want to judge but it just didn’t seem morally right to me… If it makes any difference she’s not worked in about 6 years either with no interest in getting a job 😕

Is this benefit fraud? And what is the moral thing to do here? turn a blind eye and accept she’s claiming money she’s not entitled to? Or to report? I have never reported anyone for anything, and I try really hard not to judge other people, so I’m struggling morally with what’s the right thing to do now…

Would she be in lots of trouble or would she just get the benefits stopped? What would you do?

Fancy this country sending someone to prison for 7 years for benefit fraud when there are sexual predators and murderers out in half that time 🥴

I know I’m not sure I believe it, seems OTT…

Maybe it’s just an empty threat to deter people from benefits fraud…

My best friend had a really nasty ex and she only worked part time so got universal credit top ups, her ex maliciously reported her 4 times for fraud and it made her quite literally sick as every time until the last she was terrified they would stop her money and she would loose her house or not be able to feed her child it was really quite awful. Each time she was dragged into job centre and interviewed under caution and had to take bank statements in. They said to her on one occasion we know your partner(she didn’t have one) leaves the street at X time in X car with X registration and it was actually her bloody neighbour. After that they said they believed it was malicious and if anybody reports her again they will never look into it and that’s been 4 years now. I don’t agree with fraud at all but I can’t express enough the stress and upset it caused my friend

Surely though in your friends case she was actually innocent so it’s a different situation… her ex sounds like an ass hole though @Thatboymum

I’m surprised he didn’t get into trouble for wasting government time with false allegations! @Thatboymum

Although she knew she was innocent it was mentally draining for her as there is always the risk that despite being innocent money could be stopped for a period of time while investigating which made her so unwell it was so awful, he reported her anonymously on the gov website. Gave neighbours car and company van regs descriptions of the male neighbours it was crazy , they don’t know who’s reported you so can’t tell you but he took great pride in telling her it was him. I do not support fraud at all but I’d maybe consider what you will achieve by doing it and the effect it may cause her and her family, especially if she’s just talking shit and isn’t actually doing anything wrong

@TooBigForMyBoots
Exactly .
Nope OP, I wouldn't report her . Wasn't brought up that way and haven't brought my children up that way to klipe on one of ma own. Good on her , if she gets away with it. Put it this way ,she isn't doing harm to me or my family . Liz Truss and Co are the real crooks .

Obviously not. Who does that really?

Don't report her, talk to her and tell her if you feel It's dishonest. Sometimes the opinions of those close to us are a big driver to behaviour change.

Exactly this

I would report it if I was pretty sure it was fraud. Its sickening and its theft.

No. No way.
While the rich and powerful are literally laughing in our faces it would be inconceivable that I would do that.

I think what's more sickening is reporting someone when there is a chance they're innocent. With the rich doing us all over right now? You'd report someone and have them maybe even arrested and their DC taken into care if they've fraudulently claimed thousands? What do you think that'll do for their DC? Do you know the psychological impact of being separated from a main care giver?

And for what? When our own government do far worse

No way.

Yes I would report her, makes it worse that she is bragging about ir

to put what I wrote earlier into context.

would you waste time fixing a tiny drip leak in one side of a ship whilst there is a great big gapping hole on the other side.

because that's the difference between the 2.

You can hate that big companies and rich people use tax loopholes to avoid paying up AND ALSO hate people who knowingly defraud the benefits system. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

This!

@Chloefairydust I forgot the name of the benefit… I don’t know, never claimed them so it’s a bit of a grey area for me…

Yes, it is, nothing you have said in your opening post is benefit fraud. Even hiding money from a house sale (which hasn't happened yet) or having a boyfriend in her home isn't as open and shut as you seem to think it is.

You want to report her because she is winding you up bragging, how wound up will you be when you report her, and nothing happens?

I think I'd be more inclined to nowadays.

When they are talking of cutting benefits to those in genuine need because the benefits bill is so high I would my want that figure based on fraudulent claims as it affects those in genuine need.

I don't claim either and would like to think if I needed to I got an amount based on an honest figure.

Wouldn't want

OP, you say she’s been bragging about seeing a solicitor who’s told her she’s owed a substantial amount of money from having her name on the mortgage while saying shes thinking of a way to claim the money from the house without alerting the benefits people

and later, and from how she’s talking she’s intending on hiding the money she gets from the house and not alerting benefits people

It sounds like all she’s done is talk about the possibilities of not declaring any potential income she may or may not get from a house. She doesn’t appear to have actually done anything yet or even received any of this money. So what would you report her for? Having assets in a house doesn’t preclude you from claiming benefits.

@itsgettingweird the government will cut benefits because of ideology not fraudulent claims and frequently the people who need it most never receive it.

I'm not condoning fraud though historically official error, ill thought-out policies, systems and maladministration costs the DWP more than benefit fraud.

I would. I do not pay taxes to support assholes like her. Those who condone this are also willing to do it themselves.

I think it will actually be impossible to hide the money she receives for the house. How could she hide such a large sum? Is she receiving it cash in hand? Stashing it in a safe in her home? If not then I don’t believe that you should report her for something that she couldn’t possibly get away with.

Good on her , if she gets away with it. Put it this way ,she isn't doing harm to me or my family

I'm not sure if I would report anyone, haven't in the past. However I do think people who claim fraudulently damage those that are legitimately entitled.