Would you report someone for benefit fraud?

[Halycon]

Hypothetical question, I’m not in this situation.

Just curious:

Report them, they deserve everything coming

or

Don’t be a grass?

I work in fraud so I do it quite regularly as part of my job.

Totally.

I know quite a few people who I could report. Never would, though.

Dunno, feels almost like a betrayal of the people? Us V them, kinda thing. We don't grass on our fellows.

No I wouldn't, when I worked as a social worker benefit fraud is happening in every household, you'd never say anything because you don't want to make things worse for families who are already struggling

How would people know she had £20K in savings? Would they even know she was on UC?

There is only one person who knows my rough bank balance, and I also know theirs, apart from that I don't talk about my income or savings with anyone.

Because she claimed that she had no idea the £20K mattered. So she wouldn’t have had the motivation to hide it.

Lots of people are quite open about their finances with their family, and maybe even friends. Or people mention an inheritance to someone.

I would want to. They are taking money which should go to people who really do need and deserve it.
However I'd probably not do it in the end as I'd feel I should keep my nose out of it. Which is wrong really. It should be called out.

Never. I'm working class, from an area where the tories sold the social housing, closed the factories we worked in and shafted us. Then when we didn't have jobs they called us scroungers and scum.

I have a job. A good one. I claim nothing. But I know many a benefit "fraud". Everyone takes cash in hand to try and afford a birthday party, or a school trip or, sadly more frequently, just money to top up the leccy. There is no way that benefits equal a living wage. Benefits are bare minimum, and make for a miserable existence.

100% yes. Why wouldn't you? I would make them pay it back. With interest.

It depends what the fraud is, and if I knew for sure it was actually fraud. Someone claiming to live alone, but they don't? Yes, I would report. I have known a few people to get in trouble for it (it made the local papers).

A lot of people use their own judgements as to what is fraud, when it really isn't. There is many an example on MN.. "my neighbour does not work, has a free car, goes on holidays.... should I report them?" crap.

With what money?

No, I haven't/wouldn't report someone for benefit fraud. It's not true that people fraudulently claim because they're struggling though. I'm sure most do, but some are just greedy and plain selfish. I know first hand.

My cousin (who openly talks about it in front of me) has claimed benefits as a single parent for at least 10 years. She's not single and has been with her partner for 7 years (youngest child's father) and prior to that was in a relationship with another man (eldest child's father)

She works 2 days a week and receives top ups from UC which amount to a full time wage. Partner works full time. They're taking home well over 3k a month. No child care costs as she only works PT and rent is very cheap (we live in the North and they live in social housing, pretty sure their rent is only £500). Both drive newish cars and go on holiday 2-3 times a year. Nobody checks. So yes, it is possible and not always because families are struggling 🤷🏼‍♀️

Does it piss me off if I think about it long enough? Of course it does. I work full time and don't earn anywhere near that much and I'm not entitled to any help. What do I do? Put it to back of my mind and try not to think about it. What else am I suppose to do, report my own family member...

It's fraud. End of. They need to pay it back. With any money they may get in the future, they should have to set up a standing order to pay it back, with so much a week/month.

This

What are "vile chavs"?

I've enough issues in my own life to get involved with someone else's.

Yes because if you know and don't report and it's found out, you're also in major trouble.

I wouldn't report but I'd judge them heavily.

Would it be right if I just pocketed money from the tills at my workplace? It's the same thing.

Nope. None of my business.

So many people assume the people they know are benefit frauds when they have no idea what's going on behind closed doors, nor do they have any right to. Being on benefits doesn't make your private life into public property.

How vile. Or do you report on millionaire tax dodgers and avoiders too?

Yeap if you are absolutely sure of your facts then most definitely report them. It's fraud and it's a crime and no I will not turn a blind eye.

With who? Who's going to 'get you into trouble' if you don't report it?

@iwentjasonwaterfalls some people do talk about it openly though, to friends/family 🤦‍♀️

I tell many of my friends that I'm doing great and loving life at home with no job. They probably think I'm a benefit fraud. It's a defence mechanism. Unless you're literally doing their accounts for them, you'll never know for certain.

No, I wouldn't.