to be really annoyed that my friend fiddling her tax credits

[cedar12]

She is getting £600 per month tax credits which she shouldnt be getting. She is telling them that her children are living with her mum, but she is living with her husband. Her argument is that they really need the money they really skint and have huge debts(due to her hugely over spending).
She stays at her mums a couple of nights a week but doesnt live there. Finding this really hard to get my head around especially as one of my friends has just been made redundant and is really struggling. She is a good friend in lots of ways just wish she would take responsibility for her finances. What should I do?

You have two choices, report her or ignore it.

YANBU there are so many hard working people who are really hard up at the moment who muddle through on hand to mouth basis who pay tax and don't lie and cheat to get money they are not entitled to so why should she steal this money for herself.

YANBU. I find it hugely unfair that I am working so hard to subsidise people like this. She is stealing from everyone who pays taxes. This is fraud. I am skint at the moment, but I don't take food from the supermarket without paying for it with that justification. What she is doing is no different.

I'd report her - sorry, i couldn't be friends with someone like that.

I have known her since we have been at school. What would happen to her if I reported her? She has 3 kids

She'd be in a financial position same as the rest of us. A legal one. I suppose if she's been doing it for a long time she will be in a lot of s**t so perhaps you can tell her to stop claiming rather than report her, but kids or not why should she get something that she's not entitled to. Why would you be friends with someone like this?

She would have to manage without stealing as the vast majority of people do.

She has 50 grand worth of debt and still continues to spend, I think she has a real problem with spending. Has debts in her mums name I just want to shake her. She alway seem to just scrape by.

I didnt realise she was doing it until recently. Would she go to prison?

So she's claiming as a single parent when she's not then? How many children has she got?

she has 3

It depends on the extent of it as to whether she would go to prison, they may be kind if she has 3 dc on her own, but it does sound like she has a serious problem apart from this and as a friend dobbing her in might be the best thing you can do. Her debt is huge an unsupportable but there is no reason why we as honest taxpayers shuold be supporting her shopping habit. I don't spend loads of money like that becasue i don't have it and I don't steal it either.

ahh - was going to say that £600 doesn't add up for 3 children - but then it's just dawned on me that she must have a baby under 12 months old.

My friend does. She is a single mum, she and her DS live with her parents (for free) whilst she rents out her her. She is alwatys loaded, I turn down nights out, week ends away etc becuase I am skint (and don't have a live in baby sitter). Pisses me off, but I am not sure I can grass her up. Good friend and I am not sure I have enough detail.

BikeRun - what is it that your friend is doing wrong. If she's a LP (you don't mention a DH/DP?) she's entitled to claim tax credits for her DS even if she's living at her parents house.

Personally I don't think I would report her but I'm a bit of a wuss. She is committing fraud.

If she has that amount of debt and is still spending it will catch up with her. £600 a month isn't going to make much of a dent in it.

No wonder this country is broke, there woldbe a lot more money around for people who really need it if there weren't so many lying cheating s**ts out there.
i have friend with 5 kids whose DH works 7 days a week as a builder and they often have their phone/ electrics etc cut off because they can't pay the bills. He works really hard and she sometimes does cleaning etc. they declare very last penny they earn in spite of the fact that I'm sure most people would pocket the odd cash in hand and if in doubt always declare it even if not entirely necessary. Some weeks they have no money to pay the mortage, feed the family of buy new shoes for the DC. they always work hard and are really honest and never complain.
They would be much better off if they lied and cheated but they don't. Sorry it makes me so angry.

I doubt she would go to prison for a first offence. If she has claimed more than 2k it goes to court, if it is less than that they do not prosecute as it is not financially viable.

Baroque the OPs friend lives with her husband five days a week and her mother 2 days a week, but claims she is residing at her mothers full time to claim.

no - I was asking BikeRun about her friend

I'd report her. No doubt about it. Fraud is fraud.

I don't understand this at all.

She dosent have a baby 3 school aged kids its working tax credit I am sure it £600 she gets. Not sure if I can report her but maybe its the best thing for her.

Yes, it sounds like the best thing to do for your friend would be to report her and start an investigation. Even though, you're not quite sure how much she gets and what the situation really is. Still never mind eh?!

Good for you.

Oh sorry Baroque!