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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:
Sparrowlegs248 · 28/02/2015 19:12

Do you think you will report her cbeebies ?

Thesuperswimmingdolphin · 28/02/2015 19:12

Hang on - the OP's behaviour isn't the subject of the thread. She isn't the one committing a crime.

Jacquelinehyde - I assume you plan to realise that asset as soon as possible to reduce your dependence on the state?

This is an interesting point isn't it, because you can't claim HB if you have more than £16,000 in savings.

DixieNormas · 28/02/2015 19:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 19:16

"the OP's behaviour isn't the subject of the thread"
yeh it kind of is though, she is coming over as really rather nasty and spiteful

JaquelineHyde · 28/02/2015 19:16

We don't know if anyone is committing a crime Thesuper!

I have no intention of realising any asset to reduce my dependence on the state.

I am claiming completely legally, my LA are fully aware of my ownership and the fact that it is rented out.

Once I have finished my masters I shall take up my profession and then cease to claim benefits. Until then I shall continue as I am.

Feminine · 28/02/2015 19:16

I'd like to know how you avoidedclaiming child benefit.

ghostspirit · 28/02/2015 19:16

jaqueline just said she gets it i should not have thought she has come on the thread to say shes on the fiddle. just shows things are not always as they seem.

Bair · 28/02/2015 19:17

This is an interesting point isn't it, because you can't claim HB if you have more than £16,000 in savings.

But you might be able to claim it if you have a shared property with an ex which you are unable to sell and is in negative equity and your ex is still living in, dependent on local authority criteria.

So husband and wife split. House worth 100k, mortage 120k. Selling leaves them with 20k debt and no house for anyone. Ex living in gives him a home, partner who has left the property claims HB so she has a home. Seems fair enough. Alternately, they could sell for a loss, have a huge debt, and both rent and claim HB?

Landlords on the other side, can have 10 properties with HB tenants in and have 10 mortgages paid by the state and benefit by having 10 mortgage free properties in 20 years.

CupidStuntSurvivor · 28/02/2015 19:18

Thesuper, Jaqueline's life plans are hardly any of your business. Or relevant for that matter Hmm.

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 19:20

Exactly Jaqueline why the hell should you receive housing benefit just because you separated from your partner? I assume that you are sitting on a considerable asset for the future so why in the meantime should you be housed and have that housing paid for by the state? I currently rent, and if my husband were to up and leave or god forbid pass away then I wouldn't claim housing benefit I'd have to go out and work more hours!

OP posts:
CupidStuntSurvivor · 28/02/2015 19:21

Cbeebies - there are loads of reasons why a person who claims HB can't sell an asset.

YNK · 28/02/2015 19:21

Erm.....

.....can I just remind people that there is no evidence the op's friend(I find it immoral that you describe her as such) has made any fraudulent claim!

Even the op admits she is ignorant of the benefit system!

BunnyFint · 28/02/2015 19:21

I'd too like to know how you avoided claiming child benefit.

JaquelineHyde · 28/02/2015 19:22

I shall explain now that I bought the house with my ex husband and when we separated I initially lived in the house and after 6 months HB was paid towards the interest on the mortgage.

When our divorce was finalised I gave up all rights to any of the equity in the property should it be sold and agreed to sign it over the my ex husband in full.

However, my ex husband is unable to hold the mortgage in his name alone and so he has rented it out. He gets the rent, I don't get a penny (I barely get a penny maintenance either if that makes you all feel better).

So yes I own a property that is generating an income. However, I do not see a penny of that income and certainly won't receive a penny when the property is sold, which I will probably force in the next few years.

I currently claim HB for a rented house whilst I am studying for my social work masters. Which will complete in the next few months, I hopefully then become employed and will n longer need any state support.

Is that any clearer or more acceptable to people?

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 19:22

How did I avoided it? I didn't fill out the claim forms, simple! At the time believe it or not we weren't in need f the £128/129 a month!

OP posts:
SunnyBaudelaire · 28/02/2015 19:24

" if my husband were to up and leave or god forbid pass away then I wouldn't claim housing benefit I'd have to go out and work more hours!"
aren't you the little heroine?

Momagain1 · 28/02/2015 19:25

She and her partner sound like a pair of liars. But where the lies begin and end, you can't really know. She has probably fed you a lot of half-truths about every aspect of the situation. there may well be fraud. But it might not be the fraud you think is so obvious. She sounds poisonous. time to dump her, I think, and concentrate on friends who don't make you into the suspicious and bitter person your post sounds like.

JaquelineHyde · 28/02/2015 19:25

Funny how quickly arrogant people can jump to ignorant assumptions and judgements when they don't hold all of the facts.

Quitelikely · 28/02/2015 19:27

Cbeebies mum

She has moved out because presumably she has told the council she cannot pay the mortgage on her own. This is entirely acceptable. If she receives Housing benefit from the council for her owned home, mortgage deeds will have been provided to prove that the landlords own the home. They will also have the landlords address. So they will have her details.

It is entirely legal to claim benefits as a single person if your husband does not live with you at all.

Feminine · 28/02/2015 19:27

To not need it, you must have been bringing in an exceptional salary.

I don't know why you'd be turning it down as a 'benefit' either?

Oh well...

Bair · 28/02/2015 19:28

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

Do you really think most people would claim if they didn't have to? Just because you're so fucking holy and only claimed when you needed to doesn't mean everyone else is a robbing bugger. 99.99% of people only claim benefits because they need to.

Jac's doing a degree in a subject which is hugely important, if (and I'm assuming from the degree being a social work masters) she goes into social work she'll be an asset to society. Do you want her to live in a fucking box while she studies?

EveBoswell · 28/02/2015 19:31

I would report it anonymously, giving all the info you have given us (write it all down before you make the call so you don't forget anything). Let the DWP do the inquiries.

Why should we taxpayers support people who amount to being nothing more than thieves?

Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 19:32

Quitelikely who are we talking about here? If you are referring to my friend then it shouldn't be acceptable. They may not love together but he sleeps at her house regularly, they holiday together and even drive each other's cars! This is not a separated couple, so why should the state pay like it is?

OP posts:
Original poster
Cbeebiesmum · 28/02/2015 19:33

I never said any of that but again, take it how you like.

OP posts:
CupidStuntSurvivor · 28/02/2015 19:34

Because they're still abiding by the rules of claiming the benefit.

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