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?

[Sighing]

OP. You know he's moved in, but unless you use your position to access data on your sister (against the rules, yes?) Then it is purely by chance you'd know she hasn't advised of a change in situation. Once 'aware' you have that obligation. Follow the (fairly straightforward) procedure.

[GingerFoxInAT0phat]

So what if you didn't know she was still claiming? Would you still have got into trouble?
I don't get why it would be assumed you know her claiming status.

[ComposHatComesBack]

I'd just cock a deaf 'un and let your sister get on with it and run the risk of getting caught.

There should be no expectations that you should know the ins and outs of her finances. Until recently I was a student and my sister has no idea whether I've got in touch with the council to say my course has finished and I'm now eligible for council tax or not.

If it all comes to light you can say 'I had no idea' if questioned at work. Also in future I'd adopt a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy when it comes to family and friends.

[Anniegetyourgun]

Oh, we do love a good benefit fraud thread. I just hope the goat doesn't suffer.

[ComposHatComesBack]

I'm not saying that the op isn't 100% genuine... but I'd have thought 'what to do if you suspect a friend or family member' would be covered by the training and I'd imagine they didn't recommend committing fraud by pretending to be said family member.

[Namechange1987]

Thanks all for replies, I never said I didn't know what to do if I want to report her, I'm well aware of that. My dilemma was weather to report her. I have told her, still no reply from her though

[green18]

I hate your sister's behaviour. The whole entitlement thing. Definitely give her a deadline and then do it.

[Bunbaker]

"The OP has nothing to gain by reporting her sister but a hell of a lot to lose if she doesn't do it."

This .

How can anyone not agree with this?

[notapizzaeater]

You've given her a chance to redeem herself, if she chooses to ignore your text than it her own fault,

[WeAllHaveWings]

To be honest you are doing her a favour, if it is not found out for years she will have hundreds or thousands of benefit to pay back. But she wont see it that way. Good luck.

[BeckerLleytonNever]

REPORT!

FFS, Im a genuine claimant as Im a fulltime carer for my extremely disabled DC and have to fight tooth and nail for the slightest penny to help us. and with fucking government making even more bloody cuts to us.

(I was a fulltime working taxpayer/national insurance person before DC BTW).

It gets on my fucking tits that the feckers are blatantly getting away with BF and I don't care if it was any of my family, id fucking drop them in it.

[green18]

Well said becker !! If these abusers keep draining the system, the genuine claimants are left with nothing!

[SaucyJack]

Have you spoken to her partner about it?

He's just as guilty, morally speaking. Or if he isn't give him a chance to do the right thing. I assume he's failed to notify the relevant council tax/HMRC dept.s or it would have been picked up already.

Pisses me off when women move financially abusive or just plain stupid men in, and it's the children who suffer and only the woman who gets called for it and/or prosecuted.

[Atenco]

In your position, I would either find another job or cut off contact with my sister, so that I could claim that I didn't know anything about her life, but I could not shop a family member for such a minor crime.

[OurBlanche]

Right! So OP has to change her life to accommodate her sister's immoral and illegal behaviour!

Atenco, why wouldn't you say that OPs sister should simply sign off the benefits rather than cause so much trouble for a family member?

Weird how many people expect individual's who are behaving perfectly sensibly to upturn their lives in order not to hurt the feelings of people lacking morals.

[DarthVadersTailor]

Personally I don't think I could report a family member in this situation regardless of how I felt about BF, it's just not within my nature to grass up my own family though I would probably be the first to say "told you so" if/when it all goes tits up. However this situation wouldn't potentially affect my livelihood so certainly not going to judge the OP for reporting her, it's certainly not worth losing your job over it!!

However as a PP has said I doubt that it'd come to that as you're not expected to know the finite details of your sisters finances etc, I am pretty sure you could claim ignorance and bugger all would come of it.

Personally OP I'd leave it be, let the chips fall where they may. As a sister you've done your duty by warning her multiple times coming from an insiders position, if she chooses to ignore good advice and gets caught that's on her.

[Stormtreader]

You absolutely need to report it to your line manager, shes already told you she has no intention of telling them the truth, I really doubt she will hold back from shouting "It was NameChange that told you, wasnt it? She told me that she wouldnt dob me in!" "So youre saying she knew then?" "Oh yes, shes known for x years". Bye bye job.

[c4kedout]

Report her. I have 2 children, one severely disabled. I work 2 jobs (one during school hours and freelance stuff at the evenings/night). I cannot afford luxuries or holidays. I am struggling to keep a roof over our head. Makes me sick when I read such threads. I would not hesitate at all.

[specialsubject]

the idea of not 'grassing up' or 'dobbing in' family members is how this kind of thing gets perpetuated.

who wants to have an unpunished crook in the family?

[BigChocFrenzy]

The sister is stupid enough to refuse to stop after previous warnings, so she'll continue until she's found out.
She doesn't seem to give a damn about the OP, so I agree she'll probably drag her in out of spite, or in exchange for a lower penalty.

The OP would suffer a more serious criminal penalty anyway than her sister, since her job puts her in a position of trust.

It's not a "minor" crime, like shoplifting a few quid from a supermarket.
The cumulative amount may be in the thousands; it only gets more serious.

[Namechange1987]

In the past. 4 months all together over £4k has been claimed that shouldn't have been by her, that's not minor. These things add up - I would know. I just hope she makes the right decision by Monday so I don't have too

[Justyou]

Do they always follow up on reports? I know of one family who 100% fraudulently claim and it has been reported yet nothing has ever came of it.
The Dh claims pip due to being "unable to walk a step without severe pain" yet goes jogging daily ???

[kah22]

I don't know how close a family you are but by what you've written it does seem that you are. Here's a thought

Tell your family and your sister that in, say three weeks time, you are going to report her if she is still committing the fraud. You might even extend that to give her time to sort herself out. A little bit of negotiation goes a long way. Tell your family why you are taking this course of action. They should understand

On the assumption that she doesn't stop within an agreed time scale then talk to your supervisor or manager. Be warned, however, that if your supervisor decides to take affirmative action then there is no turning back

If you are friends with any of the rest of the team and you can trust them to keep a confidence then tell them the situation and ask them to approach the manager and tell the story without mentioning names and ask the managers advice that way. If they say 'do nothing' then do nothing.

[Shutthatdoor]

If you are friends with any of the rest of the team and you can trust them to keep a confidence then tell them the situation and ask them to approach the manager and tell the story without mentioning names and ask the managers advice that way. If they say 'do nothing' then do nothing.

I seriously doubt anyone in a benefits fraud team are going to say 'do nothing'

[StillFrankie]

I used to work in benefits and something similar happened. I informed my supervisor who dealt with it without anyone knowing it was me and I denied all knowledge.