Sister committing benefit fraud

[Namechange1987]

I'll start by saying I work in benefits - the fraud department. My job is to investigate people like my sister. She has been on benefits for 2 years since her DD was born, she has worked on and off - she never admitted this to me but I know through several other people she's been doing cash in hand work. (Never told benefits before of course though)

Anyway - 4 months ago she moved her new partner in, he works full time earning around 26k, she is refusing to tell benefit organisations and is continuing to get full rent, majority of council tax, income support ect.

I have constantly said to her 'you have until 1st august' ect to tell them, she hasn't and says she won't as 'why shouldn't I get benefits I don't go to work' no, she has never paid tax but she is 'entitled to do this'

Would I be unreasonable to write in to benefits pretending to be her and letting them no he has moved in? I really don't want to report her for fraud as it may look like I've helped her to do this..

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I can't stand her booking holidays, buying a new car ect with money supposed to help people who genuinely need it. It makes me sick.

AIBU? Should I just keep my nose out of it?

[TheExMotherInLaw]

How's it going, OP?

[BeckerLleytonNever]

Well done OP. I claim disability benefits, they could be stopped at any time if I don't score enough points or someone ticking boxes decides I'm fit for work when I'm not. It's people like your sister that gives people like me a bad name and it pisses me off. What also pisses me off is this "myob" attitude you see on here a lot. No wonder so many who commit benefit fraud don't get caught.

^^ this.

[helenthemadexy]

your sister must know that potentially she is risking you loosing your job and your family's income with her actions, she knows what you do, and is showing you and your family no consideration. So why on earth should you consider her? report her, I know this will be easier said than done, and don't feel bad about it

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

Personally I would like to see more done to make biological parents pay for their own children rather than relying on the state or step-parent to step into the breach and forcing the parent who has taken on the lion's share of responsibility (by being the parent who stays and raises the child) to rely on an unrelated person or criminalise themselves. It's also a recipe for domestic and child abuse.

Well said. Great strides could be taken by implementing a tax-linked system (similar to the system used for student loan repayments( but I won't hold my breath. There's not much political will.

Meanwhile, I do think the OP is displaying huge hypocrisy.

[Atenco]

Oh very well said PoundingTheStreets

[CrapBag]

Well done OP. I claim disability benefits, they could be stopped at any time if I don't score enough points or someone ticking boxes decides I'm fit for work when I'm not. It's people like your sister that gives people like me a bad name and it pisses me off. What also pisses me off is this "myob" attitude you see on here a lot. No wonder so many who commit benefit fraud don't get caught.

I know a family member is working cash in hand whilst claiming. Unfortunately I don't know enough information otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to report.

[dancerchancer]

Why would the op lose her job for not reporting it. Nobody would know she knows. I would put it out of my head completely. It might be wrong what's she's doing but there's no way in a million years I'd report my sister, . The government didn't take it serious when the MPs were at it, so why should we.

[Shutthatdoor]

Just keep out of it.

Right ok and that would lead to the OP losing her own job, as she, you know, works for the DWP investigating fraud

[hotbutterysandwich]

You have to report her. It's part of the civil service code you are bound to. If you choose not to and she ever gets caught you will be investigated.

[ReginaBlitz]

Just keep out of it. And for the poster that reported their own sister seriously wtf!

[NumbBlaseCold]

Hopefully she will be sensible but I wonder if she thought that you being in your job meant she was 'safe' as in a family member of yours wouldn't be investigated or you'd giev her a heads up.

She is very very selfish, you could lose your job if you hide your head.

My friend is a teacher and was incensed when he job was at risk because her ex had drugs (unknown to her) in the house.

[PoundingTheStreets]

Well done OP. A difficult situation for you, which you've tried your best to handle sensitively.

I have no idea if this applies to the OP's sister, and it's completely missing the point really, but I think this flags up a recurring issue I've observed regarding benefit fraud where single parents move in a new partner. In the eyes of the law, the new partner is considered to be jointly responsible for household expenses, including the children. Trouble is that a lot of new partners don't pay for half the children's costs, leaving the parent in a situation where he/she (but usually she since 90% of single parents are mothers) feels she has no choice but to continue claiming in order to have enough money to get by. And while it's all well and good saying that mothers shouldn't move in men who aren't willing to take on that responsibility, life is never that simple as we all know. Perhaps the lack of judgement on that issue is the same reason there is a lack of judgement about committing benefit fraud.

I think it's high time we overhauled our benefit and tax system to recognise that nearly half of all children are growing up without one of their biological parents and that a lot of parents are step-parents. Personally I would like to see more done to make biological parents pay for their own children rather than relying on the state or step-parent to step into the breach and forcing the parent who has taken on the lion's share of responsibility (by being the parent who stays and raises the child) to rely on an unrelated person or criminalise themselves. It's also a recipe for domestic and child abuse.

[WitchWay]

You must report her to protect yourself. Could you talk it over with your boss, even in just a hypothetical manner to start with?

[Billben]

I can't tell you what to do, but I Personally would be worried about your sister turning around and telling you that if you report her, she will report you for knowing about her situation for so long and not doing anything about it. Then you both will be in shit.

[BeckerLleytonNever]

And I cant believe someone who works in the fraud dept is allowing a fraudster to get away with it.

says a lot about the DWP eh?

[littledrummergirl]

Why is it ok for you to remain complicit in your sisters fraud- and your lack of action allowing her to continue makes you complicit- while investigating others for the same thing?

Double standards I think and maybe potential for a precedent, fraud prevention know about a fraud but decline to investigate.

[Caroline36]

OP you have absolutely done the right thing, it is your sister who is in the wrong. If it's any concelation I kind of know how you're feeling. My brother (who I no longer speak to) is committing long term benefit fraud with his partner. They have three small children between them and they concocted a plan that my brother would move out and go live with our grandad so that she could claim benefits as a single parent.

The laughable thing is that my brother works and not on a low wage either so they had enough to live fairly comfortable, they're just a pair of greedy bastards. It's caused a huge rift in the family because I decided to tell our parents about it all and although our parents believe that he's up to no good they refuse to take sides and all that so I decided to cut him out of my life completely, brother or not he's nothing but a selfish, greedy, entitled prat and I want nothing more to do with him.

[Atenco]

MrsLupo

You think my idea is extreme! When the alternatives are the the OP turns her sister in or risks getting fired?

[Stormtreader]

I find it confusing when people say things like "oh, I don't have it in me to do that to family", like its some lofty moral position. They are stealing. You're complicit.
I understand why people find the thought of revealing the crimes of family members to be unpleasant, but don't lie to yourself about allowing it to continue and try and frame it as some kind of moral highground, it really isn't. The OPs sister is choosing to put herself and her family at risk by her actions.

[MrsLupo]

In your position, I would either find another job or cut off contact with my sister

A bit extreme, no?

[Senpai]

Talk to your supervisor.

You gave her a chance and reminded her of the deadline. Is a family riot worth losing your job and possibly your career over?

I would think keeping your children fed would take precedent over a selfish sister.

[Atenco]

I still think cutting off contact with her and then using that as your reason for not reporting her is a good idea. It certainly seems stupid on her part to let you know that she is still claiming benefits.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

Search 'Concentrix' to see what the 'data checking' bulk trawl results in evilcherub. It's an eye-opener.

[PipeDownSmallFry]

Sorry not read all the posts as pages of them now.

Get upset at work, tell your boss about it and then leave it for them to sort out. Whether your sister works out that you were involved in her being found out or not doesn't really matter, she knows she's living on borrowed time.

[evilcherub]

Is it that easy to get away with? Surely the council or whoever must have some way of using data checking to find out if people are living alone etc? Otherwise there must be hundreds of thousands of people like her pretending to be single yet really living as a couple?