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?

lessons are you referring to the new 2012 system for child maintenance? If so, it's impprtant to note that this is v unlikely to be relevant to OP as it is currently only open to new claimants with 4 or more children on same claim. Fees have not yet been introduced.

UC is also not likely to be an issue as it is still in its pilot stage.

AuntieStella the way it was said means I don't doubt it for a second. The DC don't know the figures involved in the CSA claim (and nor should they, IMO) so have no clue whether their father is meant to be working or not. It was a throw away comment made by one DC then independently verified by another so I am as confident as I can be that they reported what was said to them accurately. As I said above, I cannot be certain of how true what was said, is, but I have to work on the assumption that it is.

lessons thanks for the info. I am on CS2 and it's a claim for less than 4 children, so likely to be at least the end of the year before CSA even start changing cases like mine over. Even when they do, the amount paid is so trifling that the loss from it would be measured in pence. There is no possible way I could be reliant on the insulting amount contributed so it's complete removal would barely register on my household budget tbh. I suppose it does make the fact that he is apparently bringing in untaxed extra income that bit more galling though. I appreciate the thought in giving me a heads up about the CSA changes. If it were a civilised amount it may have affected my decision so I thank you for pointing it out on the off chance.

Op to check any benefit info you are given you can go to the dwp's website and read that will give you actual current info

also you are clearly neither a dwp fraud investigator nor a detective so figuratively speaking pass the ball to those who are.