To be unsure if I should report Ex for possible benefit fraud?

[TooClassToGrass]

I am normally of the opinion that if you have reasonable grounds to suspect that someone is fiddling benefits for their own gain, then you should report them to the appropriate place. This time though, I'm not sure.

I don't see or speak to my ex, all essential communication (about our joint DC) is done via text or solicitors. It isn't ideal but it is what it is and is that way for good reason. He speaks to the DC once a week or so on the phone. Last week, eldest DC mentioned in passing something his father had said about needing to leave for work. I asked them a little more and they said he has been mentioning work for about 6 months or so and mentioned the type of place he was working and in which town, but no specifics. I know for a fact that ex is claiming unemployment benefit because of the amount of CSA I receive for our DC. The times of calls make it unlikely but not impossible that it is voluntary work he is leaving for at 8:30pm.

The reason I am wobbling about reporting him is that it wouldn't be the first time (or even the second. Once he got caught, another time he quit his cash in hand job and wasn't caught) and frankly, I'm a little worried that I'm going to start looking like a malicious, stalking ex. There is also the very real possibility that he isn't working at all and is just lying to the DC so it would be a waste of resources investigating.

I am doubting my own motives somewhat as well. Although I would report anyone in this situation if I believed it to be true, I can't help but admit that I would be delighted if he got caught, on a personal level, not just a general moral one. It would also mean that if he were proven to been fiddling benefits, he would lose the legal aid he is using to abuse me and the DC and the case would stop as frankly, it wouldn't be any fun if he had to pay for a spurious case himself.

From an outside perspective, and I appreciate that I haven't given the full facts, would it be my civic duty to report him and any fringe benefits (like the court case and associated hassle going away) are just a bonus, or am I too motivated by personal gain and being a big old unreasonable bitch?

Report him anonymously?

One way to look at it is the fact that he's paying less CSA because he's not working.....so not providing for your DC I think for your DC's sake you should report anonymously.

I'd report him. Even if you were motivated by personal gain, I don't think that's a bad thing if it benefits your DC too.

If you have a genuine reason to believe he is committing fraud and it is not motivated by gossip who cares what the fringe benefits to you are none of those will negate the genuine reasons.

Do it. And so what if you do sound like a stalker ex the vast majority of fraudulent dwp claims are found out because they are shopped by ex's or even current family members and friends as opposed to strangers or neighbours.

I would do it.

If it would stop him abusing you and your DC through the legal aid system then I would consider it, but make sure you are protected in this.

i.e. Is he abusive generally? Would he ever find out who reported him?

I would think twice though, about doing it for 'bitchy' reasons, you could get embroiled in something you don't need. Maybe wait and see.

if you really think he may be committing a crime, report him anonymously. You would do so for any other crime, wouldn't you?

benefit fraudsters mean deserving people get less.

Sure it isn't a workfare placement?

I'd do, and in fact am going to as soon as I have some more evidence.

Ex has just been.awarded. nil payment from CSA, apparently he doesn't work. His facebook business page says otherwise. So him and his gf are claiming.full benefits based on neither of them working, but he is working.

You can work and sign on.

He may not be committing fraud. You would need to find out more before reporting.

If it was me in your situation and taking everything you've said on face value (e.g. him being abusive to the point where you've had to go no direct contact), I'd report simply because it is the means to stop him making spurious legal claims against you.

I do think he has genuinely told the DC he is working. They mentioned it so casually in passing that I'm inclined to believe them. Whether he actually is working remains to be seen. I wouldn't put it past him to lie to them, it wouldn't be the first time.

I sincerely doubt it would be a workfare scheme with shifts starting at 9pm, especially as I think his family situation precludes him from being expected to do workfare.

Ex is generally abusive but is also a long way away so now more of an irritant than a threat. He would probably work out it was me who reported him, but there is little he can do about it. Tbh if he is so blasé about telling people he is working I doubt I am the only person who could potentially report him but I am the most likely to be blamed so eventually he is going to get reported and will blame me. At least by doing it myself I know that the hassle is coming I suppose.

I think I will ignore the personal connection and complications and just carry on as I would if I saw Wendy the waitress from the local cafe signing on then going to her shift and make the report. Thanks.

I need a Yoni would that not be a base rate £5 payment rather than a nil award?

Dunno. Officially he doesn't live with his gf, and I assume isn't signing on. I'm appealing it anyway with the CSA, and if he is living with her, then will be reporting possible fraud.

Could you report him not to DWP but to CSA instead? That way it is not about you punishing him, but you picking him up for not paying a fair amount of child support.

Perhaps this is totally impractical though, and/ or CSA would do nothing. I don't have personal experience of this. Poor you, having to tolerate this drop cick in your amd your children's lives :(

drop kick ....

Generally, I'd say report as those who defraud the system only make things worse for genuine claimants.

But before you do, remember all you have is hearsay from a child. Is there any way of discovering if this could be workfare rather than work, or some other approved work activity?

Nickname I know you can work a small amount of hours and still receive benefits in some circumstances, but what I know of his situation makes me think he is precluded from that and I think that that would affect the base rate CSA payment as well. He has also complained of not having a day off in 2 weeks apparently so I would imagine that takes him over the few hours a week allowed. However if it is legitimate, declared employment then the DWP will know about it and so I would assume would only look into any report if it mentioned him doing more hours than allowed.

Since benefits aren't stopped during an investigation, I don't think I feel bad about reporting it without being 100% certain as if it turns out to be nothing, he has suffered some minor inconvenience but no actual hardship and I'm happy with the idea that a few people may be slightly put out to help stop a larger number (relatively speaking) fleecing benefits they aren't entitled to and giving genuine claimants a bad name.

i need a yoni is it a variation you are applying for then?

I just applied for maintenance via CSA. They awarded a certain amount from when the claim was made until 2 weeks ago, which is when ex jacked his job in. Apparently it clashes with his social life!!! As he now has no income he's been assessed as nil payment from now on. But he's always posting on fb about how well his business is doing,.so he obv has some work!

Some info before/if you do this. The rules around admin fees for CSA are changing. If you are on an old and reasonable claim you might not want to change matters... if you need to get reassessed, and the reassessment is £100 a week for example, he will have to pay a 20% fee on top of what you are entitled to, and you will have to lose around 8% of it in 'admin fees', mainly as the new administration don't want to continue having the CSA in existence. Therefore he would pay £120 and you would get £92 - older claims are not affected. One of the more subtle ways the welfare reform changes are impacting families. IMHO if you are coping with the current arrangements and would be worse off under new ones regardless of the moral aspects (because it's hard to be moral when eeking out a tiny amount of maintenance anyway) you might want to think about it. Sorry if this offends other posters, just trying to give OP additional information.

Sorry just to clarify I'm not trying to persuade OP not to grass him up, just to think twice if not certain!

Also 16 hour rule finishes under Universal Credit changes.

And no family circs (if not main caregiver) prevent people from needing to do workfare.

And if he is lying he'd be liable for sanctions - in this case as it's potentially serious he could lose all benefit income for 13 weeks - including housing element of UC if he's on that. Sorry - will stop with the unasked for benefits advice now!

I think that you are right to be cautious. There is a horrible feature of benefits that actually necessitates fiddling. This is that if you are on benefits and say get work worth 160 a week. . you are stuck. You can tell.. and end up with 160 a week.. but if travel/fuel costs 30 a week you might be worse off, or you can not tell and be in a situation where you can eventually lift yourself out of benefits by taking on bits of extra work etc.

Not only this but reporting for fraud will a. damage your ex's chance of getting work that can lift him of the dole permanently. and b. mean that his current income will reduce to zero.. meaning he and you will have nothing to draw on.

talk to him yes.. but be aware that financially reporting this may not benefot the country the welfare bill you him you dcs or anyone else but will almost guarantee he will not get proper employment and will have no money.

Its a silly system that actively blocks routes out..but that is what we have. big companies bend the rules andbemefit by billions.