Thoughts on housing benefit fraud?

[fresiadd]

Would you report it?

Does it depend on who it is?

My dsd's mother is doing this basically, i was telling a friend about it and she was shocked that I am not reporting it. I explained that im not because of dsd.

I have always hated it when people abuse the system such as she is doing. Claiming full housing benefit, but driving an expensive car, living with partner who earns far higher than the average wage. Then there's the bragging, which is very tasteless imo.

Anyway, i have my opinion but i stay out of it, none of my business. But my friend was almost annoyed at me and felt very strongly.

What would you do?

Whilst we’re all outraged about benefit fraud

dropping a bomb into someone’s life is totally different

often wonder how many say they would but when it comes down to it actually would

How do you know she’s claiming full housing benefit?

I wouldn't make up regular bullshit on mumsnet. Was it your aunty last week? Fuck off.

Probably her auntie living in a 4 bed Council house all alone or her mates mate claiming the benefits as a single mum of 4 while living with a bloke who earns thousands a week.

Yawn.

I used to work with benefit claimants and had to report fraudulent activity whenever I had concerns about the validity of a claim.
I was given feedback about those I reported. Over the course of 15 years I only ever had 1 case actioned and that was part of the initial wave of widespread UC advance fraud which has cost the country millions through bad management of the benefit.
So no, I would not report this small fraud even if it was verifiably true.

Do you know what I'd do? I'd mind my own fucking business.

Are you really not allowed to do that? That seems very unfair. It might be a high threshold though?

If selling on Vinted a lot of people keep the balance, from what they've sold, to buy something else. I can't see why you'd get into trouble for that.

In real life, people don't generally talk a out what they're claiming and whether they're entitled to it or not, in my experience. Some people are embarrassed to be claiming anything at all, and those scamming the system fear being reported.

But your creative writing assignment is due next week I assume, OP? Back to school on Monday!

Funny how all these benefit cheats brag about their behaviour. And have posh cars.

You forgot the next door neighbour who goes rock climbing every day, but fakes being a wheelchair user to get disability benefits.

Please don't stress. I'm a parent/carer and have a vile ex husband and OW who reported me for fraud at every available opportunity despite the fact that I have a disabled child and couldn't work. My ex knew my eBay account and reported every sodding thing that I sold. I was called in and interviewed. It is absolutely fine to sell your own shit. You are not making a profit. I used the money to buy things for DS and could demonstrate every transaction. It's absolutely fine to do this!

I’m astonished by how many people who are supposedly committing large scale and very illegal benefit fraud are apparently spending all their time broadcasting all their financial arrangements to posters, posters’ friends, posters’ friends tennis partners, all the mums at the school gate, everyone in their street, the whole of Tesco and all over social media. I am old and have never had anyone tell me that they, or any of their friends, their friends’ tennis partners, a woman in Tesco or someone with eleventy billion Facebook friends are committing benefit fraud. And yet these threads appear here at least once a day 🤔

Whilst I also loathe benefit fraud, it is teeny tiny compared to tax fraud by the rich. You can't blame the state of the country on benefit fraud.

I’d ignore it, and head back to my Daily Mail journalism job on Monday thinking nothing of it…

Also never seen anyone claiming benefits and simultaneously driving in a flash car, going on expensive holidays, all on their partner salary, yet this seems to be a common occurrence…

I wonder if anyone gets into trouble for maliciously reporting their husbands ex for benefit fraud?

I suppose it might be considered harassment, especially if part of a pattern of behaviour.

There's been a few just lately.

The single mum with multiple side jobs a business n a brand new council house that wasn't quite built. What a load o shit n she was on benefits.

If the government introduced a Universal Basic Income they wouldn't have to police anyone and all this petty reporting could stop.

People could choose to live off the basic or top it up doing a job they love. Or go back to education. Employers would have to pay fair wages to attract employees. Care givers would have an income. Domestic abuse victims would have control of their own finances. Entrepreneurs could set up businesses.... and the Daily Fail would have to look for stories elsewhere.

It doesn’t really make sense if you committing fraud and enjoying the benefits of money and possibly a free home to go around bragging about it knowing full well that people love to gossip and will report you.

@Tamarindtree exactly. If I was defrauding the benefits system the last thing I'd do is go around telling every fucker in the area.

The biggest housing benefit frauds are unlawful subletting of social housing properties and landlords claiming benefit for non existent tenants. This is often part of organised crime and is massive compared to the odd single parent shacking up with some one. This is where resources should go in investigating fraud.

As you don't need to give a name, I don't think you can. But if you're constantly reported and found innocent, they'll put a note on your file.

(Been reported and the above is what I was told)