To wonder if benefit fraud is rife

[sam71xxx]

Was at my mums house on Thursday. Post came and 2 bills for my brother were in it. He has lived with his girlfriend for 3 years since moving out of mums. His girlfriend was a single parent to 3 children, living in a HA house. She does not work. Brother works full time earning £38k a year.

I asked why my brothers post was still coming to mums and she said that he is still officially living at her house so they can afford to save for a house deposit! Girlfriend claims as a single parent.

I was gobsmaked! I told mum it was very wrong that low paid people like me and my husband paid taxes and didnt claim a penny in tax credits while others played the system and that I can only dream of saving for a house deposit on a £30k a year combined income! She then got very upset and asked me not to report them (which I won't)

This is the third person in 6 months I have heard of doing this kind of thing (claiming as single). I am beginning to think it is probably more normal than I thing and I am the mug for not claiming as a single parent (I would be much better off!)

Needs yes i understand, it is very confusing and i have for 18mnth thought i could be deemed as a couple but in all honesty thought if it comes to it surely they will understand what i am doing and why

I'm sorry I laboured the point it just seams an awful shame that you are missing out on valuable parenting support from an obviously committed co parent and your child/ren are missing out on that level of involvement from the other parent.

Nobody in there right mind would believe it was better for someone who wanted to work and could,not to. Or someone who had willing appropriate safe reliable caregiving from the childs other parent not to use it in favour of expensive paid child care. Because one of those parents is frightened of being considered as being in a relationship with someone she's obviously not.

We as a comunity are meant to encourage effective co parenting