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?

Totally agree with this.

Genuinely understand why you feel this way (I know someone who swindles their energy bills for instance and brags about it, which pisses me off no end), but also ask yourself, if you did report her, would you feel good about yourself?

Please get a life.

Nope, nothing to do with me, leave that to the officials to do their job.

I reported someone to their boss, I’m not going into details but it involved me and her agency unknowingly paying into her partner’s business account so she could claim benefits, I found out after we had done something very generous thinking that she was a struggling single mum. I left it to them to deal with but I think the person in question lost her job. I don’t think it went any further.

I wouldn't report them, no... Not my business. But if I got questioned by the authorities regarding the situation I would absolutely tell the truth.

Threads like this make me feel nauseous. The OP feigns concern and motivation to “do the right thing” when in fact they want encouragement to behave treacherously towards an apparent friend.

I wouldn't bother reporting. The small scale stuff isn't an issue - having a boyfriend isn't a big deal. If she gets caught that's her problem. As for hiding the money from the house - absolutely no way on earth will she get away with that one. She'll get caught sooner or later and more likely sooner. It's like with inheritances. These things are all recorded on systems somewhere, and the DWP has access to those systems and alerts in place. They know when people come into large amounts of money, and if they don't hear that from them, then the person will be hearing from the DWP!

I think you hate her. If that's the case then go ahead. However this is why I always say be extremely who you tell things to because people like the OP can come across as though they are the kindest gentlest souls but they're actually plotting your downfall. People like the OP outnumber the genuinely caring friends we have so be careful.

www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/crime/hurstpierpoint-couple-jailed-after-stealing-ps226k-of-benefits-3562446

She has a kid leave her alone. What happens if she goes to prison or its just bs and her benefits are stopped. Just call her out and say I don't think that impressive and someone will report you if you go about saying that. In times like this it be the last of my worries.

Agree with this. I'm fed up hearing people complain about 'the system' being broken yet they're happy to allow others to commit fraud.

I know a nurse on UC, who is a single mum and who takes unpaid leave every summer holiday from the NHS, gets paid a top up to her normal wage from UC and works privately on a side hustle doing beauty treatments to get cash in hand extra. I would not report because the system is set up in a way that allows this to happen, so the cash in hand is probably the only illegal bit.
She openly tells people. The NHS have a generous parental leave policy.

You DO want to get her into trouble. That's the whole point of this thread.

The Stasi would have loved you.

Really?? Is it any wonder genuine people that need the support of benefits get stung because of people ripping of the system!

YES OP this person needs reporting 🤬🤬🤬

Yep I agree. I would without a shadow of a doubt. I have no sympathy for people who commit benefit fraud and get caught out.

You hit the nail on the head!!

Agree with this 100%

I would hate her as well the greedy lazy cow! Then people wonder why the benefit system is strict!

I wouldn't get so wrapped up in this "I'm a tax payer" thing, it just sounds smug.
Your tax wont go down if you report this woman and potentially take her from her child who is wholly innocent.
Worry about tax evasion in this country, that costs us far more than the whole welfare system.

Absolutely.
Beware of the smiling assassin.

I wouldn't personally, no. A friend of mil went to prison for benefit fraud, I wouldn't want to be the one that started that ball rolling.

I would consider their actions dishonest and I would judge them accordingly but I wouldn't report them.

How people think the taxes are high because a few people are doing this is beyond me. We have more tax avoiding billionaires in the country than ever before with more people in poverty at the same time and people get their knickers in a twist over a Sarah who's taking an extra £20 a week 😂

People are situations where they can't turn on the heating this winter and that's because of the government with have in power right now.

If you were really this person's friend you would of called her out that's what friends do not plot on Mumsnet about dobbing her in right before Christmas when you know she's been doing it for 7 years so hardly going to be a slap on the wrists is it?

As someone who's grown up in the care system I would support that friend than risk her going to prison over being dumb and her innocent kids life being turned upside down.

You haven't even told her that you think it's wrong. This speaks volumes of you op than your friend..

You could report her but it doesn't sound like she's done it yet! Intending to commit fraud is not a crime as far as I know. It's not as if she could have been living off the money from the house all this time, it was tied up in the house.

Nah.

Get angry at the people at the top instead.