just phoned benefit fraud line to report my son's friend's mum.

[foogle]

I have sat on the info for ages and didn't do anything except get angrier and angrier.

For christmas son's friend got a pony, bmx bike, x box, ipod and family ski trip.

My son got a second hand lego set as that is all we could afford this year.

Son's friend gets free school meals and all school trips paid for.

We can't afford school dinners and scrimp and save for son to go on school trips.

Son's friend's dad lives with them and works but I know she claims benefits as a single mum.

She earns £25 an hour cash in hand at a racing stables.

She gets everything paid for, including housing benefit etc.

We can't afford ponies nor lessons yet she has 2 competition horses.

I never thought I 'd do this as she's a nice person but I've had enough.

There are investigators, crypes, look here
I used to be a benefits advisor, see. I have called them myself - to be fair usually defending people who were legitimate claimants, but sometimes giving evidence against people who were commiting fraud. It's 5 years ago, so my knowledge of individual benefits etc is not current - but I know they still investigate fraud, of course. Otherwise what would stop every single person claiming they were a permanently disabled young lone parent with 7 disabled dependent children under 16??? (Of course, if you are in that position, you should claim everything you are entitled to :))

A 'fraud team' also makes bloody good Channel 5 viewing at approx 8.30pm when you are wondering whether to watch secret hoarders or Westminster Health Inspectors. Some telly propaganda why dont you.

Which benefits is she claiming op??????????????????????????????????????????????

"Oh chinny reckon" Mary Whitehouse experience....how I miss that show!

Oh, and welcome to mn, foogle. I especially liked the bit about you being inspired to do it by a thread on here.

I am pleased that Jimmy Hill is being mentioned here. Jimmy is not referenced as much as I would like. Poor undervalued Jimmy.

Maybe the OP does not know the details of what she's claiming? I know some poeple who claim, I don't know the details.

But I have not followed the other thread (and don't want to - tooooo long!), so maybe I'm missing something here...

I don't understand how reporting fraud is benefit bashing? Surely it's protecting the legitimate claimants? Confused!

Billy first of all if the claimant is lucky she will be placed under full survalienc, you know the kind of thing cameras every where, being followed, having your privacy and dignity completely taken away from you. Being judged on an hourly basis on what you do, who you talk to, where you shop, what paper you read, etc. This level of watching could be applied to the DH,PIL, friends, and so on. In fact anyone that this woman comes in to contact with who appears to be on the fiddle as well. This intrusion could go on for weeks and months. sounds like the stables could be investigated as well?

All this watching will not be carried out trying to prove she is innocent but rather that she is guilty, so every action or interaction that could be seen as proof will be used to bolster the case. Erm a lot of the survalienc is carried out by private firms who need to justify the fee they charge as well. Now this is if she is lucky, as despite the odds if she is innocent then as you say she will have no further action to worry about.

However if she is unlucky the first thing she will know is that she will get a letter asking her to come in for an interview under cation, just like in a police case. She will be presented with only just enough evidence to allow her to be interviewed but not enough to refute. All benefits, apart from child benefit will be stopped, so no money at all, rent arrears, council tax arrears. She will be forced to try and either make claim for jsa, which if she gets it will be reduced as she is under investigation. It will take between 2 and six months to straighten out any "mistake" all the time housing costs, rent and council tax will be levied at the full rate. So just in case I am not being clear let me say that I have seen many "fraud" investigations that turn out to be baseless, turn families upside down and land them with housing debt that can get them evicted. Now if that is nothing to fear kindly tell me what is?

Well if the OP doesn't know how does she know that the friend is commiting fraud? And if she isn't sure she's risking the suspension of benefits to someone who might actually need them?

And yes, pony ipod etc doesn't sound like she needs them, but they could easily have been given by other relatives.

at Jimmy Hill post - I'd forgotten that saying!

If what the OP says is true, then good, shop away!

Can't stop laughing at Jimmy Hill post.

But I'm also waiting to hear what the proof is. Bragging about presents on Facebook isn't outing his mother for benefit fraud. If my ds could talk he might brag too but I can assure you all gifts were funded legitimately despite dp and I having £30 a week only for food etc.

Also you can work and claim benefits, so which benefits is she claiming and how do you know how many hours she works? Nothing wrong with being paid cash in hand either in itself.

Claiming as a single parent when she isn't one - you can keep that one. Would need more info to make a decision really.

There's a trend for people feeling jealous and bitter toward anyone and everyone on benefits at the moment that can make you jump to conclusions and not see reasonable explanations for things, but if you KNOW she's committing fraud then I guess that doesn't apply to you and well done op. I'd be wary of doing it myself tho I think.

So are the people who aren't happy with the OP saying people shouldn't report potential benefit scams in case the person may be genuine? I would have thought if you were genuine and squeaky clean you have not much to worry about.

I guess when I have seen fraud investigations, they usually start with paperwork - much MUCH paperwork. They check eg the children's certificates, the partners tax recrds etc. Often this is enough to show innocence / guilt. Then yes, they use surveillance - but if they suspect the things the OP suspects (undeclared earnings and partner living in) they look for that, not other things IYSWIM.

If they find evidence that suports the suspicion, they will interview her under caution because they have evidence that she may have comited a crime. Like any other suspect, she has the right to representation. If they find her guilty she can go to appeal.

The system is not perfect, and yes, is stressful if it gets to the appeal stage (which it would only do if they had found evidence of fraud) - but what else do you suggest the DWP do if someone reports fraud? Ignore it? Just ask the claimant? Of course they have to investigate! It is theft! The police sometimes have surveillance and interview innocent people too. And very occasionally they screw up. But it is better than no enforcement at all - and usually they catch the theives and free the innocent. But you would not suggest they should not invesigate as well, in case they distress people?

Some basic info on the investigation here

I don't see why benefit fraud shouldn't be reported.

But I would have to be really, really sure. Even if the OP is genuine, I'm not convinced they've got all the facts, just seen £25ph (probably misunderstood figures) + cash in hand (doesn't have to mean under the table) + great gifts (not necessarily from her) = benefit fraud.

That's not enough for me to be sure.

A lot of people report "benefit fraud" just to be malicious, or because they are jealous, despite having no real proof. It can be extremely distressing for the person under scrutiny, not to mention all those valuable hours wasted investigating them...and someone has to pay for that too.

I was refuting the oft stated line about people having "nothing to fear" You will know first hand that the targets lead culture of the DWP often places the fraud team in a position of acting first and ask questions later. Also I did not say any of the actions were unfair but consequences like housing arrears flow from being investigated no matter the result at the end of the day.

Great post ABirdintheHand

Nothing I can add to that really.

I agree by the way that acting maliciously in any scenario is wrong and spiteful. However, if a report is made due to a genuine belief that fraud is taking place then I think that is acceptable.