Ive Just shopped someone for benefit fraud, do I deserve to burn in hell.

[Gulitladen]

I feel quite bad.

This person is an acquaintance, She was a single parent for a few months, then she met someone who pretty much moved in, he was paying her bills for her and moved in properly earlier this year.

She has always worked full time with a salary of around 20k.

She seems to have an awful lot of money, and, as a single parent myself, I couldnt quite work it out. However, I have seen her tax credits renewal form as she didnt understand something and asked me to have a look for her, and shes claiming to be a lone parent, working 16.3 hours a week, earning 12k a year less than she actually is.

She is also claiming housing benefit as a single parent.

So, I have completed the DWP form and sent it off. I couldnt help it, it makes me see red.

But I now feel terrible.

Oh right. So she's now getting paid less and she didn't know why? Could that be because they have overpaid and are now recouping what was overpaid perhaps? So no need to report at all. And you only saw the bits she waved about - you didn't actually have a good look at it? Changing your story much?

OP, maybe if you understood anything about how the system works you wouldn't have just made an utter tit of yourself.

So you didn't get a close look at her form, she waved it about and somehow you got enough of a look to know with certainty that she was committing fraud?

OP could you explain that?

"In 2009-10, 253,708 cases of suspected benefit fraud were reported to the National Benefit Fraud Hotline of which 46,258 were referred to the Fraud Investigation Service for further action...

In 2009-10 8,198 cases were prosecuted for fraud against DWP benefits of which 7,040 received a criminal conviction."

• Employment Minister Chris Grayling, March 2011.

So the percentage of people actually convicted from the number reported is about 2.7%, if my maths is correct.

You'd better be sure OP, and that this isn't a result of some petty jealousy, because if your 'friend' isn't in that 2.7%, then you have royally fucked up her life and the life of her child.

This is why I would never, ever report someone, because nobody can ever possibly be that sure of someone else's private affairs.

To everyone on this thread whose life has been fucked up in this manner - you have my absolute sympathies, because quite frankly, the phrase 'there but for the Grace of God go I' comes to my mind, and should come to the mind of everyone living in this horrible Tory country.

Im not changing my story, I saw both forms for both years. The overpayment is from previous years. I looked at the whole thing, all pages.

I do understand how the system works as ive claimed tax credits as a lone parent myself for some 12 years.

usual, I know. I should stay away, i dont follow this at all, makes no sense.

Im being called names by someone who wouldnt even call the police if they saw a burglary, thats actually just nuts.

mwahmumx - what a shame you live such an insular life. I would help anyone who in need, regardless of whether or not I knew them - most people with a conscience don't turn the other cheek.

OP - yes, let HMRC deal with it. You've reported your concerns and suspicions, if she's done nothing wrong then there is nothing for her to worry about.

Agree with woowoo. You aren't cowardly OP, it would be cowardly to do nothing incase she found out it was you.

You'd be mad to tell her you did it if she is the thuggish type.

I don't mind admitting I reported out of jealousy. We get absolutely nothing in benefits, by the time our third child was born they removed our child benefit for all three children.

My husband works crazy hours, only took two days paternity and it does make me jealous to see other people having a nice life without the sacrifices we make.

I did feel satisfied/smug when the person I reported posted on Facebook that the bastard government had stopped their benefits.

I don't think I'm going to burn in hell, if anyone will, surely it would be the thief!?

Lalalaaaaaaa

You'll need to explain the crochet hook...

Awwwwwww.

What's with all the accusations of jealousy?

God forbid anyone should do anything simply because they know right from wrong.

You're right Usual, MN is the pits. Sickening how so many people would rather someone get away with the theft of thousands rather than see someone share valid suspicions with the authorities.

Thanks.

Im not sure why its the pits?

I still dont quite understand why Im getting so much hassle, when i havent done anything wrong?

I did feel satisfied/smug when the person I reported posted on Facebook that the bastard government had stopped their benefits.

Yeah, I always get a warm fuzzy feeling too when I find out someone has lost their income.

Do I deserve to burn in hell?

Yes.

No I don't!

YouMakeMeHappy was that post about the government stopping their benefits not too long after you made the complaint?

its the pits because watching a Burglar and doing nothing is seen as more moral than being a member of society.

Also you cannot under report your earnings to HMRC unless you are getting cash in hand, off the books. Jobs that pay like that don't tend to pay £20k a year.

I had to fight for my WTC because their system had me down as working below 16 hours, it took me ages to convince them I was changing my hours as of that day. They can see your income/tax etc on their system.

Just ignore all the arseholes on here as they make a habit of goading people who are rightly outraged about people screwing the system and stealing from taxpayers.

Their MO is to nitpick tiny holes in your most simple statements of fact and repeat and repeat in a variety of guises despite your attempting to clarify your statements again and again.

I've been on the receiving end so can see you are getting the same treatment.

Tell them to piss off and hide the thread! Worked for me

You have done something wrong though. You've reported someone for fraud through sheer spite.

HMRC will know how much she earns because they'll have the details of her P60.

I did feel satisfied/smug when the person I reported posted on Facebook that the bastard government had stopped their benefits.

Yeah, I always get a warm fuzzy feeling too when I find out someone has lost their income.

yes, their income that they werent entitled to as they were fraudulently claiming!

Clearly the OP is making the whole thing up. No one cheats the system ever and others NEVER find out

I haven't read the full thread, but i hope she finds out it was you OP, as if you grass on somebody, what is wrong with you?

Benefit fraud may be bad but i think being a rat is much worse.