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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In thinking that this is benefit fraud?

143 replies

Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 16:38

Hi I'll try and keep it short, but my friend, I say friend but she doesn't feel like one at the minute. Basically her and her partner are constantly splitting up an then getting back together, they have three children together and I've had a feeling for some time that they've been fiddling the system. Anyway they both own a house together but she moved out a year ago into smaller rented accommodation, he moved back to his fathers house and they got someone in to rent their house.

My fronds was getting a substantial amount in housing benefit and has now been offered a council house which she moves into next week. The amount of HB will cover all of her rent, the tenant will be paying their mortgage and her "ex" is living completely rent free at his fathers!

Now correct me if I'm wrong but I didn't think people were entitled to claim housing benefit on a rented property if they already owned a property? But one of our mutual friends has said that you can if you can prove your house is in negative equity therefore you are unable to sell, does anyone know if this is right?

I'm only asking as I think she is taking the absolute pee! She is very much still in a relationship with the father of her children, she still sees him everyday plus they go on family holidays and days out yet they conveniently live apart.They have been on and off for over 10 years and she has always been out for what se can get when it comes to benefits, ie credibly spacing her children apart so she didn't have to come off income support and I believe what they're doing is completely wrong, an I don't know how much longer I can continue to be around her without saying something x

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 28/02/2015 18:34

It sounds unbelievable Sunny.

Surely HB will stop after a while - with the expectation being that you will sell your asset so that HB is not paid indefinitely during the years you are living in a council house and are being paid rent on your own property?

Bair · 28/02/2015 18:35

I agree with TheSuper that it's a crime. But I will never report anyone for benefit fraud until they change the system. SIL deserves a bloody good hiding for what she's doing. She's a compulsive liar and a pain in the arse to boot.

But what if I'm wrong. I haven't seen her bank account, I go off her stupid brags and what I see? I know she's doing it, but I have no proof iyswim.

Until they change the system so that you get your benefits until they has been a fair investigation and the outcome decided I'll never dob anyone in on the chance I'm wrong and I leave them and their kids with nothing over rumour.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 28/02/2015 18:36

I'm still slightly baffled by the increasingly unconvincing claim that the OP is apparently a friend to this woman.

Whatever her other rights and wrongdoings, the 'friend' should probably find herself better mates. That's not saying 'do nothing', by the way. I'm saying the nasty little comments and choice of phrases from the OP are a little jarring alongside her stake on the moral and ethical high ground.

Bair · 28/02/2015 18:37

I bet loads of people get LOADS of HB to pay for properties they own. But they're Landlords not Tenants, so it's cool that their mortgage is paid off by the state. Totes.

Sparrowlegs248 · 28/02/2015 18:38

Sirchenjin HB depends on your income and savings. So, if you are either renting council or private, and they (HB) have accepted that you own a property, they will assess your claim accordingly. If your income changes, or circumstances change, then it will affect your HB. Maybe you start work or something and are no longer entitled to full HB. As I said, someone this week has sold one of two houses she has owned while renting privately on full HB, she has been on HB for 6 - 7 years. She didn't really makes any money from the sale but finally got an offer that covered mortgage and costs.

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 18:38

At the moment we claim child benefit, Dla and child tax credits, not that this is in anyway relevant as we claim them legally! My youngest son is 6 and in year one at school but when he was 2 he was diagnosed with autism/add, I worked full time but nursery were unable to manage him so I quit my job to be a full time Sahm and said goodbye to my career. I stopped at home for 3 years until he was half way through reception and I finally went back to work last year. Prior to our son being diagnosed we got zero tax credits, zero child benefit etc and we managed on our own, it's only now we qualify for help, but i shouldn't need to tell you that I'd hand our tax credits back in a heartbeat if it meant my son didn't have to suffer his condition, hopefully that answers your question!

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 18:39

" nasty little comments and choice of phrases from the OP "
yes exactly she has already told me I have no 'dignity or morals' just because I disagreed with her. She just sounds spiteful.

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 18:40

and OP I do not believe for a minute you do not claim CB

Sparrowlegs248 · 28/02/2015 18:42

As far as I am aware, there is no time limit as such, it is all dependant on income etc. This is quite an unusual scenario we are talking about though and I wouldn't , IRL, attempt an answer off the top of my head.

CupidStuntSurvivor · 28/02/2015 18:44

I get you're annoyed that she was lying to you about her relationship status. Fair play really. But she has no obligation where benefits are concerned to live with the father of her children, even if they are still together. And because they don't live together, his income is irrelevant to her benefits claim.

And if what PPs have said (about it sometimes being above board to claim housing benefit on rented property as a home owner) is right, she may well be doing nothing wrong.

She may well be 'milking the system' but it's not necessarily fraudulent.

ghostspirit · 28/02/2015 18:47

if i was on the fiddle i would not be telling anyone anything... why would someone cry on shoulders about how hard it is to be a single mum. if on fiddle less you say the better. people only know what you choose to tell them

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 18:51

"You do not believe" Sunny? I have already stated that we do claim child benefit but prior to 2011 we did not. I worked full time in advertising and my husband works in computing programming, we brought in modest salaries that meant we were just over to threshold for any help. But why am I even explaining myself to you, a complete stranger.....? Believe what you like.

OP posts:
DixieNormas · 28/02/2015 18:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 18:53

"But why am I even explaining myself to you, a complete stranger.....?"
why are you telling me, a complete stranger, that I have no "dignity or morals" then?
just wtf

JaquelineHyde · 28/02/2015 18:56

I legally own a home with my ex husband that is currently rented out.

I currently receive HB.

Knock yourselves out on that one.

Feminine · 28/02/2015 18:56

Why did you ask a "bunch of strangers" then?
Confused

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 18:59

That's the thing though, up until now he's been really clever about it. Between myself, family members and mutual friends she has told us all different things and she has started tripping herself up. She slags off her "ex" but then last year they went on a two week holiday to Majorca together and are going to centre parcs for a week at Easter. But she says they are "doing it for children" it's a load of bollocks.

OP posts:
DixieNormas · 28/02/2015 19:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 19:02

How proud you must be!

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 19:02

"it's a load of bollocks."
you should have used that for the thread title

JaquelineHyde · 28/02/2015 19:05

Was your 'how proud you must be' comment aimed at me Cbeebies?

If so could you explain your dig so I can reply appropriately, or would you rather make sweeping judgements on the little information you have?

CupidStuntSurvivor · 28/02/2015 19:07

Think it might have been for you Jaqueline. Sadly for the OP however, she doesn't decide on how the system works. That does seem to be what she's pissy about. Doesn't agree with the rules and her mate lied to her.

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 19:07

I'm fully aware it wasn't means tested until 2013, we didn't claim it because we didn't need it, believe what you will but that's the top as bottom of it. Maybe it was a little ignorant of me but at the time I was very proud, and didn't want to rely on benefits of any sort. I've come down to earth obviously since my ds was diagnosed, and I'm happy to receive whatever we are entitled to but like I've already said, we claim legally and above board so it is totally irrelevant to my original post.

OP posts:
JaquelineHyde · 28/02/2015 19:09

I think it was meant for me also Cupid. Which is just grand as it shows the OP up to be exactly the kind of person she is.

DixieNormas · 28/02/2015 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.