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AIBU?

Sister committing benefit fraud

146 replies

Namechange1987 · 15/10/2015 13:00

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?

OP posts:

Report

PampersNotPampered · 15/10/2015 13:45

I think it's obvious she'll find out you were indeed the one who reported her, and I don't think you'd want that. You've advised her about her wrong doings, if she gets caught it's her own fault and you did advise her to seek to tell the truth and come clean.

You yourself would be comitting fraud by pretending to be your sister, which in itself is an offence, and quite a serious one.

I know she's in the wrong, and despite your duty of work, she's family. Personally, I'd never report a family member or close friend. It's nothing to do with me as its mixing personal life and work life into one.

ILiveAtTheBeach · 15/10/2015 13:46

I would leave this well alone. It's got Disaster written all over it. If you report her and she gets into deep water, it could effect your niece. She knows what she's doing is wrong. LEAVE IT ALONE.

BinToHellAndBack · 15/10/2015 13:47

Could you say to her that she's put you in a really difficult position and that you are now at risk of losing your job and career potential as a result of her actions. You have tried to be kind and meet her half way but she hasn't been at all considerate towards you in return.

Perhaps then say that you have arranged a meeting with your boss on x date to discuss the matter as you now have to protect your job, but that if she can inform the relevant people before then herself then it will reflect a lot better on her. You didn't want to do this as you love her, but she has forced your hand.

Have someone else there as a witness when you tell her, or do it by email and copy other family in (who already know) too.

Sounds like you would be immediately suspected if anyone reports her anonymously, so I'd get this over and done with way out in the open to minimise the family fallout.

Quornmakesmefart · 15/10/2015 13:47

OP without outing myself, I do know what the procedure is for somebody working in the Benefit Fraud Department - I'm really surprised you haven't ever been made aware of what you need to do TBH...

Basically you need to 'cover your arse' by informing your manager that you suspect a family member may be committing benefit fraud. They will be aware of what to do from that point - an investigation into the suspected person won't be launched on the basis of what you've said, but if somebody else does report them, you will have covered yourself.

Not surprisingly, this is something that comes up on a regular basis.

ghostspirit · 15/10/2015 13:51

i would keep out of it. karma will come if need be.

but i don't get that she did not tell you she was doing a bit of cash in hand here and there. you heard that from others. but you know that the bf works fall time and earns 26k. if she did not tell you about the cash in hand why would she then tell you about the bf and what he earns. then you said about them getting a new car/holidays.... im not sure what to make of it

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 15/10/2015 13:55

Pampers and I live at the beach...
I understand you have a different perspective.... BUT by not actinf there is a significant chance OP would lose her job...

Actually, as QUorn says... There must be a procedure for reporting in these cases.. You won't be the first this has happened to!

Janeymoo50 · 15/10/2015 13:58

Speak to a senior person at work for advice (obvs don't mention it is your sister at that point!). Have you a work handbook that clearly outlines your responsibilities etc in respect of informing on relatives/friends?

MagicalMrsMistoffelees · 15/10/2015 13:59

Why would your family be angry with you? If she's not entitled to these benefits then she shouldn't be claiming and receiving them! I can't believe they approve of what she's doing.

People are really, really struggling right now. It's a bad time to be poor. Benefits should go to those who need them.

cosytoaster · 15/10/2015 14:01

You can't win either way, so I think you should protect your own job and report her, what she's doing is wrong and illegal and you have already advised her to come clean. Do not write in pretending to be her as this could backfire on you.

Quornmakesmefart · 15/10/2015 14:05

OP - just to clarify - you do not need to report anybody if you do not want to. You also don't need to talk to anybody in your family about it. If you do want to anonymously report it, that's another matter for you to decide.

What you do need to do is protect your job. So talk to your manager, tell them what you suspect, then stop worrying about it

Brioche201 · 15/10/2015 14:05

Stay out of it.Your job is a red herring. Why on earth would you be assumed to know nything at all about a siblings finances? Most people don't.

specialsubject · 15/10/2015 14:08

tell your manager and ask for help.

amused that it is 'dob in' for this kind of thing. Do we 'dob in' burglars? Do we have ethical worries about this?

hope she gets all that is coming to her. She's evidently very stupid doing this and telling her sister who works in the benefit office fraud department!!

Keletubbie · 15/10/2015 14:11

I would dob her in. The longer it goes on, the worse it'll be when they want their money back.

Vixxfacee · 15/10/2015 14:11

This is your sister. Myob

Quornmakesmefart · 15/10/2015 14:13

Brioche it's not a red herring. And it's not unheard of for people who have been reported to try and drag other people into it - quite possibly a relative who works in that department - who could then lose their job.

OP will have a duty to declare her 'suspicions' about a relative for just that reason.

juneau · 15/10/2015 14:14

Bottom line OP - are you prepared to lose your job over this? Because when it comes to light that's what could happen. If the answer is 'hell no' then you need to report her for fraud. Either that, or start looking for a new job.

Rebecca2014 · 15/10/2015 14:15

Wow everyone telling op to shop in her own sister. Considering how tough the government is getting, you have no idea the harm you could bring to your sister if you did report her. It could tear your extended family apart, especially if she got into big trouble (jail)

I would keep my mouth shut and pretend you know nothing about it. She will get caught eventually, they always do but at least it wont be on your head.

Shutthatdoor · 15/10/2015 14:16

OP without outing myself, I do know what the procedure is for somebody working in the Benefit Fraud Department - I'm really surprised you haven't ever been made aware of what you need to do TBH...

Basically you need to 'cover your arse' by informing your manager that you suspect a family member may be committing benefit fraud. They will be aware of what to do from that point - an investigation into the suspected person won't be launched on the basis of what you've said, but if somebody else does report them, you will have covered yourself.

Not surprisingly, this is something that comes up on a regular basis.

OP you need to do ^ this

Savagebeauty · 15/10/2015 14:17

I would tell your boss.

Bubblesinthesummer · 15/10/2015 14:19

no idea the harm you could bring to your sister if you did report her. It could tear your extended family apart, especially if she got into big trouble (jail)

The OP has given her sis the chance to notify them herself, she basically laughed in the OPs face.

The OP could lose her job and be in trouble aswell as her sister when, and it will sooner or later, get found out.

Nottodaythankyouorever · 15/10/2015 14:21

This is your sister. Myob

Actually it is her business as it is her job.

goawayalready · 15/10/2015 14:21

rebecca2014

her sister will just have to rely on the boyfriends wages plus her cash in hand work then wont she

ffs she wont starve

the op might if she loses her job and IS NOT ENTITLED to benefits for awhile as it is her own fault she is out of work

i wonder how much help her sister/family would give her then

report it to your manager

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SnakesandKnives · 15/10/2015 14:21

I agree with specialsubject. It is clearly a tricky situation which should be what your manager is there to help with.

At the moment you have one person working hard in a job and one unfairly claiming benefits. If this does come out, you could end up with 2 people claiming. If you got fired for abetting a fraud, when you are working a position of trust, then it could make getting another job difficult.

I think your sister is being incredibly unfair, and if the rest of your family would side with her then that's really worrying. My guess is that her fraud would not actually be seen as seriously as your covering for her - it could be seen as abuse of position - and that would seem totally unfair on you as you don't want it to continue.

captaincake · 15/10/2015 14:22

rebecca does her sister realise the harm that she could cause the OP in causing her to lose her job? If the extended family is torn apart then it is the sister who caused it.

I would do what Quorn said. Tell your boss/report her.

ComeOnBabyS · 15/10/2015 14:23

Regardless of when they find out she will drag you down with her if you don't cover your arse now.

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