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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand this level of stupidity?

37 replies

Bogeyface · 13/09/2013 21:21

Why would you claim DLA for a dodgy reason (you have an issue but not as bad as you claim, as otherwise you wouldnt get the money) and then coach a sports team, or run a marathon or do a window cleaning round or labouring or hod carrying......

Why?

If you claim your bad back is so painful you cant dress yourself, why would you then do one of the above AND tell your team/colleagues/customers about your claim?

ANDDDDD why would you then be surprised that you got taken to court for fraud and blame the person/people that dobbed you in?

This has just happened to someone I know (not a friend, through an old job) and they seem to believe that it isnt their fault but the fault of the whistleblower!

If you are going to commit benefit fraud, at least try to be subtle about it!

OP posts:
Alisvolatpropiis · 13/09/2013 21:22
Hmm
headinhands · 13/09/2013 21:24

How do you know it's not as bad as they claim. And maybe it's not a physical problem or maybe it's intermittent?

MammaTJ · 13/09/2013 21:24

Tis stooopid, but I know someone who did the same and got caught!

Perhaps they could genuinely claim on the basis of the level of stoopid that they suffer!!

HalooJones · 13/09/2013 21:29

Most low level criminals are caught for exactly this reason, not being smart enough to keep schtum about their crimes.

NicknameIncomplete · 13/09/2013 23:09

Maybe their back is bad but not all day everyday.

I have an on going medical condition. I am able to work but somedays it is so bad that i cant get out of bed.

However if after an investigation was carried out & it was found that they were lying & claiming frauduently then it is their own fault not the person who grassed on them.

BrokenSunglasses · 13/09/2013 23:11

Why? Because they thought they could get away with it.

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 13/09/2013 23:12

If they were stupid enough to go telling people it's their ow fault.

If he's lying then he's responsible for all the other people with genuine disabilities struggling to get what they need to get by because no one believes them.

Shameful

HeffalumpTheFlump · 13/09/2013 23:24

Only on mn would there be an op like this and people jumping in to defend the person committing benefit fraud.

lougle · 13/09/2013 23:26

"HeffalumpTheFlump Fri 13-Sep-13 23:24:58

Only on mn would there be an op like this and people jumping in to defend the person committing benefit fraud."

I know, isn't it so refreshing that people on MN move past first impressions and look for sensible reasons why someone may have appeared to commit fraud but actually be entirely legitimate? Smile

OhDearNigel · 13/09/2013 23:27

I was just thinking the exact same thought heffalump. And was going to post but you did it so eloquently i shant bother !

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 13/09/2013 23:29

Was he break dancing on X factor too? Wink

OhDearNigel · 13/09/2013 23:30

I suspect that, had this person had some bobbydazzling reason to run a marathon while being to ill to work, they wouldn't have been found guilty of benefit fraud by a jury.

Or do people on here really believe that benefit cheats are simply a figment of the Daily Mail's fevered imagination ?

HeffalumpTheFlump · 13/09/2013 23:32

The states the person has claimed that their back is so bad that they cannot dress themselves. That is really quite extreme, and I can understand why they were taken to court because they were actually able to run marathons etc. I can't see how you can defend that!

HeffalumpTheFlump · 13/09/2013 23:33

*the op states

ItsaTIARA · 13/09/2013 23:33

I think there's a huge cultural divide between people who think that breaking the rules/stealing/cheating is a big deal and people who think that everybody does what they can get away with and disloyalty/grassing up a mate is the most unforgivable crime. If you're in group 2 and you assume that everyone else is in group 2 then eventually it's all going to go pear-shaped when you mix with people in group 1.

Original poster
Bogeyface · 14/09/2013 00:03

The person concerned really isnt as bad as they claim, and they have told people this.

Imagine having a sprained ankle but telling the DLA you broke your leg and will never walk normally again. Its that kind of level.

If you are going to do that then that is between you and your conscience, what gets me is the sheer stupidity of doing a very active and physical job AND telling the people you come into contact with about your lies!

OP posts:
sashh · 14/09/2013 07:34

How do you know it's not as bad as they claim. And maybe it's not a physical problem or maybe it's intermittent?

If it's not physical then you wouldn't claim on the physical part of the form and if it is intermittent you cannot claim, it has to be permanent.

Tee2072 · 14/09/2013 07:38

Yes I do love the MN benefit of the doubt!

When in fact, some people Are just stupid liars!

MammaTJ · 14/09/2013 08:08

Ha ha, well, the 'intermittent' disability that is ALWAYS miraculously better on Wednesday evenings and all day Saturday. Grin

I do know somone who has a genuine disability and it can appear that she is totally well at times. However she does not make plans, as she does not know until she wakes up what kind of day she is going to have!

cory · 14/09/2013 10:25

Genuine intermittent is actually shit: you can't make any plans and anyone who knows you is going to believe you're a liar.

Dd had intermittent pains for years: on some days so bad she had to be carried to the bathroom sobbing with pain, on other days allowing her to have ballet lessons. And in fact, the movements she did in ballet were very similar to the ones she did at the hospital as part of her physio.

But you couldn't take a job under those circumstances, you couldn't commit to anything like coaching somebody or taking part in an event.

We never had DLA and I'm glad of it because she could not have coped with the suspicions. Every doctor she saw told her she had to keep active whenever she had a good day, else she would deteriorate further. But you knew if she went out doing as she'd been told, she might as well have been carrying a large placard saying "Look at me: I'm a fraud". So psychologically it was very difficult and I'm glad we could manage financially without claiming benefits.

We still had all the costs of a fulltime disability though, as she had to have a wheelchair for the bad days, she had to have crutches, she had to pay for treatment. You can't just buy a little bit of a wheelchair or hire crutches by the hour.

I don't know how poor people cope with intermittent disabilities.

Not saying that the OP's acquaintance isn't a fraud though.

PolterGoose · 14/09/2013 10:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mrsjay · 14/09/2013 11:03

I agree with you if you are going to make a false claim and people do btw then at least dont run about a football field but people are boastful rather than stupid they like to flaunt the fact they are getting disability benefit and getting away with it,

mrsjay · 14/09/2013 11:04

I agree with you polter all is not it seems and I got DLA and worked but some folk just take the piss ,

Original poster
Bogeyface · 14/09/2013 14:35

I suppose it pisses me off more because my son has cerebal palsy and is really struggling to fnd sustainable work (he recently had a job but the company folded within a few weeks and he never got paid :( ), but he is always turned down for DLA. He cannot cook a meal unaided and needs help with some personal care, but still doesnt get it.

Then this wanker claims fraudulently and brags about it! I was so pleased when they got dobbed in, I didnt know enough about them to do it myself but I would have if I could.

And as for intermittent disabilities etc, yy they of course are a major issue for some, but if the claim had been genuine then they wouldnt have been found guilty would they?

OP posts:
Jolleigh · 14/09/2013 15:59

Completely with the OP on this one.

I've seen it happen about half a dozen times. To those of you citing 'intermittent conditions' - the nature if these is that they're unpredictable. It's obviously going to look completely fraudulent if a person claiming this makes a regular commitment that will need them at a set time several times a week. If people are convicted, it means their new medical report done for the trial isn't consistent with their claims.

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