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?

It's a dilemma I'm struggling with at the moment; individual in HA flat has a live-in partner who is earning decent money, however individual is claiming they're a single parent. What to do?

Who's being horrible by reporting people for falsely claiming benefits?

It IS our circus - because we're all paying taxes towards these. And if Johnny Boy down the road is earning £300 a day cash in hand and then claiming UC - he's costing us all money.

...report them. Its not rocket science.

www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud

Yes because scroungers are scum.

No. I don't care what other people do

Of course. I hate criminals.

You genuinely don't care that benefit fraud costs the government around £9billion each year - don't you think that money could be better spent in schools or wherever?

This

I wouldn't know unless it was a personal friend or family, maybe not even then; I have no idea about neighbours and am not nosy. Nobody asks me personal questions though it's fairly obvious I am a pensioner :).

I get what you are saying about it being our taxes contributing to benefits and rightly so because one never knows if we might need a bit of extra help one day. There are people who know how to work the system, the.y sometimes get into the local paper but most claimants are genuine.

There is no way I could grass someone up for something like that, it would really go against the grain. From what I have been told, people are allowed to earn some money without it affecting their benefit. You'd have to really watch and snoop to know exactly what they are doing and that's awful.

However some people are far too open about what they do and it's best to keep financial issues private.

I probably would. I have done so before, as the person in question was bragging about it and it really got my back up. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to report them after the conversation.

Absolutely I would, the benefits system is on its knees and I know of genuine cases where people who really need it can't get it.

It's fraud pure and simple!

Absolutely not, life is hard for so many. If you don't know the circumstances then stay out of it!

Unless it concerns someone's safety I go with the "what does this have to do with me?" method, if the answer is nothing I mind my own.

Yes.

There's less funding for schools and services as aresult of £9bn being fraudulently claimed
So it is to go with you and the taxes you're paying.

I have done once. A friend was claiming to be a single parent to 3 kids, all whilst planning her wedding. She received over £1200 per month for 18 months, got married and rang and told them they were back living together. Nothing ever came of it and she got away with £20k+ (tax free), so technically we paid for her wedding. I ended up not going as her own children weren't invited yet mine were! 😱😱 We drifted apart after that. I couldn't bare to look at her.

I agree. I also thing benefit cheats should be punished.

I'd LOVE to report M.Fr
Bad back my arse...apparently was dancing away at her daughters wedding without her walking stick that she "always needs".
But then both her daughters are layabouts and her sons are criminals so I don't really want the hassle of them.

I definitely would - I’m only recently in the system and it’s taken months. Perhaps if they hadn’t been dealing with thieves (because that’s what they are), people like me would have been dealt with quicker!

I would report someone who claimed to be living alone, but wasn't.
It is to do with me. I live alone (on UC). I would love the support I would get if my DP moved in with me (we would still need our own rooms though). we both struggle with life a lot.. but my UC would stop if he moved in with me (he is not on good money, but has savings over £16k).
So it does grate when other people don't care, and move a partner in anyway, and not declare it. They get the money and support, fraudulently.

No I wouldn’t.

a life time ago I claimed UC as a single parent, but my ‘partner’ at the time was living with us and claiming JSA at another address.
he was controlling, wouldn’t let me work and didn’t contribute at all to the household or child care. If I’d claimed joint id have been left with nothing.

you really don’t know what someone’s living situation is like, and you could be completely wrong.

I’m glad I’m not in that place anymore, but I’d never judge anyone

You really think the government is going to cut our taxes or invest in education the money from benefit fraud? yeah right.
when the government officials give back all the taxpayer money they are pocketing in expenses and treats then I maybe il believe it.

And how did that change your situation? its the system that's flawed. the fraud is just a symptom.

I struggle alone. The practical/emotional support from my DP would be highly beneficial to me if he moved in.... except he can't because I would be 100% financially dependent on him. Neither of us want that, and it is also really not recommended.
So it does upset me in a way to see people just defraud the system by having someone with with them. The only people I have known to be caught and prosecuted for benefit fraud has been saying they are single and living alone, when they are not. One even got married. She was caught because the DWP was looking at her FaceBook.

I am not sure how the system could change to help me. Benefits are means tested, so they will always take into account a live in partner's income... otherwise a SAHM could claim UC whilst her spouse earns a 6 figure income.

Yes, I pay taxes for these fuckers to steal from me and my family. Same with any other scammer or fraudster at any level I would.