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.

If I felt strongly about it I'd have warned her first, at least. You just helped her with her form, then stabbed her in the back

So are you going to remain friends?

time to change your user name Guiltladen?

Everything patjen said.

But its not just the figure, is it. Its the working hours, the childcare costs, the lone parent when she isnt.

If it had been just one issue, i might not have done anything, but it was everything.

But OP that could the information that she gave for the first part of the tax year, before she reported a change of circumstances?

No more handbags or vodka for a few months then .....

Lol how does that work? How do you know the op isn't campaigning against tax havens as we speak?

Why does the seriousness of one situation detract from the seriousness of another? The acquaintance is doing something she shouldn't (it appears, someone more qualified will make that decision now) just because someone else is doing something worse she should get away with it? Really? So, by that yard stick, should petty theft go unreported until murder has been stopped?

I hate this 'shop a scrounger' culture.

How about you let the HRMC and DWP do their jobs? Benefit fraud is tiny compared to tax fraud/evasion.

Why didn't you question her about the information on the form? Seems a bit sneaky to say nothing and then run off to report her first chance you get, especially when she was a friend asking for your help.

And everything patjen said.

No, because it was her award for this next coming year that that information was on.

because it was so wrong, not just a little bit.

Her boyfriend moved in a long time ago, she should have reported it a long time ago and it shouldnt be that shes claiming as a lone parent for the coming year when he moved in and she was no longer a lone parent at the start of this year.

I'm not understanding how she is stealing from tax payers/genuine claimants?

Those posters don't honestly believe that if benefit fraud instantly disappeared those lovely, generous politicians would pass those savings down to normal folk like you or I do you?

You see a friend who felt that strongly would have at least asked her to explain herself first; you didn't even give her a chance to explain. What is more, if you were really not a coward, you would have said something along the lines of, 'If this does not stop, I'll report you'

You didn't even do that, did you?

The thing is OP it doesnt even matter, does it?

You were pissed off she had more money than you, and based on looking at a tax credit document and "knowing" how much she earns, you have reported her. Its done now.

Whether you are right or wrong about her circumstances, it doesnt matter, because its done.

And i think the reason you feel guilty is becuase you know that you cannot possibly know all the facts. And you know she will know its you.

And the strange logic of mumsnet never cease ,s to amaze me apparently its OK to claim benefits you are not entitled to because people who avoid tax are much worse great let's all do it if op is wrong than her neighbour will not lose out if op is right than she has stopped someone stealing off the public purse what exactly is wrong with that !?

I think, given where we are as a society, where our government don't feel the need to even be subtle about serving it's own best interests and punishing the needy and vulnerable, we as a people need to stick together.

Call me idealistic but that's the world I'd like to live in. Where someone is given the benefit of the doubt or a friendly warning, instead of maliciously informed upon by the person they thought of as a friend, and whom they went to for help.

I'm not saying what she's allegedly doing is alright. It's dishonest. But you are in no way a hero for doing what you did, imo. In your position I'd feel dirty.

I'm really interested to know if you plan on talking to her again, because she'll almost certainly know it was you who reported her.

Absolutely x2boys but imagine the stomping you'd get if you posted "I'm going to claim large amounts of benefits I'm not entitled to because those using tax havens are stealing more than I am"

Mumsnet is particularly funny some days!

Surely her and her boyfriend's full time wages would cover the bills?

Anyhow OP of course you did the right thing.

Benefits are not something people should just help themselves to because they think the rules don't apply to them. I am astounded at all the posts that have said you are a snitch, or that you should work on your own jealous feelings. WTF!

The tax burden in the UK is ridiculous, and subsiding benefit fraud and tax evasion and MPs fiddling expenses doesn't help.

It's threads like this that you just think, Jesus it would be easier to just scrap the benefits system for those who really don't need it. If you are fit and able enough to work, earn your keep like the majority of the country.

The welfare system should be a safety net not a way of life, like it is for some.

OP you've reported a crime, big deal. If she's found not guilty then that's that, if she is found guilty it's her own fault for lying.

if op is wrong than her neighbour will not lose out

It has been mentioned repeatedly, on this thread and previous ones about the same subject, that when it comes to alleged benefit fraud there is no such thing as innocent until proven guilty. Many people who have been maliciously reported have their benefits suspended despite having done nothing wrong. The DWP make it very clear that benefits can be suspended during any investigation.

This idea that if they've done nothing wrong they will have nothing to fear is perpetuated by people to try to justify reporting based on jealously, spite and often ignorance due to their knowledge of benefits coming from the Daily Mail. If you are going to be a snitch then do it, but don't be so disingenuous as to convince yourself it won't have done any harm.

But if the 'friend' has cheated the system, surely she bears the responsibility for any harm that comes to her family as a result?

I know quite a few people that claim to be living alone when they have a partner. It's it right? No, but as a SAHM with a really hard working partner I can see how people are tempted to do it.

I couldn't live with the worry of getting caught, so I don't.

Do I report these friends/acquaintances? Hell no, I'd feel utterly shit, and its none of my business.

Let the government agencies do it.

Wouldn't the HMRC catch her out if she's underreporting her income by that much?

You did the right thing OP. Those attacking you need their moral compasses checked.

As for the whataboutery of people bringing up tax avoidance, you do know you can be enraged by both don't you? You can find both tax avoidance AND benefit fraud immoral. It isn't an either/or.

And those who think it's a government versus the People issue, do you not understand that the government doesn't actually have any money? They take it FROM US - the People - and they redistribute it to those in need. If you are defrauding the system then you are betraying the People and the trust of the community. This idea that benefits cheating is a poke in the eye for the evil evil government is totally wrong headed.

And if she hasn't cheated the system, Beryl? It's amazing how many people claim to have inside knowledge into the finances of others. So and so must be cheating the system because they have a nice handbag, a boyfriend, a car. The false claims that no one will be harmed if they haven't done anything wrong just serve to encourage people to report others based on the most spurious of reasons, because they can justify it to themselves by pretending they won't do any damage. I'm simply saying that if you are going to report someone then own it.

I was wrongly accused of benefit fraud nearly 18 months ago. I was a confident person beforehand, I'm
Now too anxious to go to Tescos on my own and can't open my living room curtains because I'm so paranoid I'm being watched. It has literally transformed my life and I'm sinking deeper into depression.

I hope you are indeed correct OP and it's worth it.