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.

Funnily enough the person who is most vitriolic about me genuinely claiming defrauds benefits themselves.

I'd love to report them but as I've gone nc as they were such a twat I don't know for sure that they're still doing it. But they do, on and off.

I'd do it in a heartbeat. Because I know. But only in that situation. Because I'm 100% sure.

Apologies if someone's already said this (not Rtft) but tax credits can see what people earn anyway can't they? So no one could get away with (say for example) claiming to earn 10k but really earning 20k ? Unless self employed and hiding income somehow ie be doing cash in hand

Gulitladen Please be honest, you go into the lady in questions house for tea and biscuits and have a gossip whilst watching loose women.

hes given up his own place. As in, he moved in with her, properly. If he kept his own place, then that woudlnt be classed as living with her and ergo, i would not have reported her on that.

I do not know what he contributes to the household, you dont need to know that. I do know he lives there, she is claiming she is on her own. thats enough.

YouMakeMeHappy, don't tell me what I believe.

mwah, no i dont, i work. She works. neither of us are at home during the day time, because we work.

And, i dont watch shit like that anyway.

The person who says the thief will have their children taken into care has really shown them self up as an out and out liar.

What else do you suppose might happen if a lone parent gets sent to prison? Cos it will be the mother who gets punished, even if the man who has moved in is an abusive bully who won't contribute. He is allowed to live off the ill gotten gains with impunity, she gets prosecuted.

Her benefits wont necessarily be stopped by the way, somebody made a malicious allegation against me for benefit fraud, my money wasn't stopped - maybe because i wasn't actually doing anything wrong but some busy body with nowt better to do had other ideas.

joysmum sirchenjin woowooowl and OP I want to high five you all for having a real working moral compass well done, I'm glad some people have sense to report crimes. I would have reported her too OP.

This thread has made me mildly angry.... I wasn't going to bother posting as it's a fast moving thread, I think I'll be in the minority, oh and I'm an investigator (not HMRC/DWP) but I'm posting anyway

IF the OP (or anyone in this situation) is correct in her SUSPICIONS then I think you should report your suspicions of any type of fraud. I'm astounded at the number of people who have said they know of people cheating the system but sit there quietly. Why the fuck should people cheating the system get away with extra money from all you other people who need the money?? I don't think karma will bite me on the arse if I report someone for fraud. The whole point is that you have a suspicion, you report it. You don't need the full facts but you should have a reasonable idea of the story. The DWP/HMRC will review the case and if they think it's BS then i'm sure they'll can it. They're not going to take rash action based on one report without checking the background facts.

Now, if you're being spiteful I do think it's a different matter. Jealousy and spitefulness should never be rationale for being vindictive in these types of things especially if you have some spurious pieces of information.

OP only you know yourself if you did the right thing based on the info you have. If you've done it vindictively then yes, you should feel bad but if you genuinely think you had enough information to suspect fraud then I think it's the right thing to do.

Finally, I hope I never have to ask for help from the gov't for all the hoops you have to jump through, I don't get tax credits or anything else as I'm TTC and don't have any children but all those (potential) benefit cheats are making those of you who are genuine jump through hoops to get help - how is that fair?

Off my soapbox now - I don't mean to offend anyone and this isn't vindictively aimed at any poster either, it's just my overall opinion based on the thread

I don't understand peoples problem with reporting. If it's only that "grassing" is wrong then it's a flimsy reason IMO. and even if it is, surely thieving is worse! My husband paid 25k in tax one year, do you really think he doesn't have a right to be angry when people who pay nothing are trying to steal more than they get given? Is it fair to say it's none of his business?

I personally think informants should be paid when their info results in a conviction. Like with other crimes

Think of all the cuts to disabled peoples' benefits etc. If it wasn't for people like your aquaintance, they wouldn't have to cut other benefits. You have just helped give back to those who actually need and deserve the money.

The DWP/HMRC will review the case and if they think it's BS then i'm sure they'll call it. They're not going to take rash action based on one report without checking the background facts.

That's where you are so very wrong. They do take rash action based on one report. Benefits are usually stopped UNTIL you are proven to be innocent which could take months. They stopped mine after a "friend" fell out with me and I very nearly lost my home as a result oh and I knew it was her without a doubt.

You have just helped give back to those who actually need and deserve the money.

LOL.

Same old story isn't it? Nothing is done about the rich people who rob us blind, but if a poor person who is paid far below a living amount, takes a tiny bit more than they should, we're supposed to snitch on them Stasi style.

PatJen

You are unbelievable! Would you tell a robber that you know where his booty is hidden and you are going to tell the Police? So he can hide it some where else?

Housing benefit is almost always stopped until the claimant has proven themselves innocent. They work on a guilty until proven otherwise basis.

I'm not sure about tax credits.

OP knows that this woman she barely knows receives HB.

Blimey you sound very jealous of your "friend" op.

I actually think it's disgusting, it's none of your business what she's doing.

She will know it's you, how will you face her now? and to think she asked you for help! its laughable.
Hope you asks you outright and hope you can be honest enough to admit what you've done!

Think of all the cuts to disabled peoples' benefits etc. If it wasn't for people like your aquaintance, they wouldn't have to cut other benefits. You have just helped give back to those who actually need and deserve the money.

Erm, no. Not really, I'm afraid.

2011/12 figures:

Unclaimed benefits approx £12bn
Benefits overpaid/underpaid by the govt approx £6bn
Benefit fraud approx £2bn
Oh, and tax avoidance and evasion? £32bn

I'm not suggesting benefit fraud is right or justifiable. But what benefit fraud actually costs this country is a pittance, comparatively. Benefits to disabled people are not being cut due to the cost of fraudulent claims.

OP already feels bad. Surely that means she didn't do it out of spite or jealousy, she did it because she thought it was the right thing?

She posted for confirmation that she did the right thing. Not to be congratulated

Yes, don't you SEE? If all those dastardly benefit cheats stopped being so dastardly, the government would increase our benefits!

What else do you suppose might happen if a lone parent gets sent to prison?

If they commit a crime which is punishable by a prison sentence then perhaps they should have considered the children beforehand. Or is it only those with partners and/or no children who should be locked up?

YouMake she doesn't feel bad at all. The supposed guilt she felt magically disappeared two pages in.

Can we say 'goady'?

And to those who wouldn't 'grass' on friends and family for committing a crime, where do you draw the line? Presumably you wouldn't mind if your home was burgled and the burglar could have been caught but their friends wouldn't grass?

She doesn't feel bad though. She's said so.