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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

..to ask if this is Benefit Fraud?

68 replies

Iloveidris · 04/01/2018 21:44

Long time poster, name changed for this.

In a nutshell, a male family member of mine has a 3 year old son with his girlfriend. She has her own house (council) and claims as a single parent as they split up for nearly a year.

They are now back together. Hes staying over hers quite a bit (4/5 nights a week), got clothes there and is hardly at his parents house anymore.

I said he would now have to declare that hes practically living there as shes claiming to be an unemployed single parent getting all the benefits and they could get into trouble.

He said he wont have to, as his job means he can work away at times (certain projects for say 3/4 weeks at a time) and he just comes home on weekends.

Surely, as I said to him, he can't earn 2k a month, be paying towards her bills etc, giving her money and all the while she gets housing benefit, income support, free prescriptions and so on? He says he can as long as hes not staying over more than 2 nights a week.

Don't want him or her to get into trouble, and at the same time, scam the system. Ive tried looking this up but no straight answers.

Is there anyone who can shed light on this?

OP posts:
Barbie222 · 04/01/2018 21:46

Best to myob here I think. Although I feel uncomfortable about fraud in family too.

CappuccinoCake · 04/01/2018 21:47

That doesn't sound right.

isitme88 · 04/01/2018 21:48

It's fraud. No doubt about it.

ghostyslovesheets · 04/01/2018 21:49

well it's not his main address and he's paying maintenance as he should so I don't think it's an issue

DemolitionLover · 04/01/2018 21:50

Butt out.

Whambarsarentasfizzyastheywere · 04/01/2018 21:50

If he is living elsewhere, has his bank, car etc registered at a different address and is paying digs there then it's not fraud.

They aren't living together, he stays over a lot but also sleeps elsewhere too. His contribution is maintenance for their dc.

Single parents are allowed to have relationships, even with their ex partners.

Frequency · 04/01/2018 21:51

It's got nothing at all to do with how many nights he stays there. If it did people whose OH worked away or were in the forces would be able to claim as single parents.

It is based on financial contributions. He could stay there 7 nights a week and not pay a penny towards the upkeep of the house or child and it wouldn't fraud or he could stay there 0 nights, pay for half of everything and it would be fraud. Although, you'd be hard pressed to argue that he wasn't contributing if he was there full time. Financial contributions don't just mean cash, it could mean chipping in towards grocery shopping or topping up her phone.

I'd still go with MYOB though. If they are committing fraud, they'll get caught out soon enough without your input.

Original poster
Iloveidris · 04/01/2018 21:51

Barbie, i am minding my own business. I only mentioned it to him. I just wanted him to have the full facts and he can make the decision himself.
It just doesn't sound legit. If it isnt, they both could be in court

OP posts:
Original poster
Iloveidris · 04/01/2018 21:52

Oh right so people cant look out for family members now?
Im not telling him what to do, I was just wondering if he has got his facts right

OP posts:
WalkingWolly · 04/01/2018 21:55

Seriously. MYOB.

Looking out for family members?! You’ve looked it up.

BattleCuntGalactica · 04/01/2018 21:57

If you were minding your own business, this thread wouldn't exist. I don't think you're looking out for him, I suspect it's her you don't like and want to drop her in it.

BumpKitty · 04/01/2018 21:58

It's a myth that there is a set number of nights that you are 'allowed' to live together. Whether a couple are living together is based on lots of different factors and whilst how often he stays there will be taken in to account it's not the only influence, if he is supporting the family and paying bills this will be highly relevant. From what you have described it does sound like they may be living together. Do you think they believe that they aren't committing fraud? If you don't want them to get in to trouble it would be worth letting them know there is no set amount of nights someone can stay over.

Lilonetwo · 04/01/2018 21:59

Surprised a few people have been telling you to mind your own business. As it's their tax paid money they are giving to this couple.

It doesn't hurt to contact the National benefit fraud people and tell them.
www.gov.uk/national-benefit-fraud-hotline

Your friend won't get in trouble if they aren't doing anything wrong...

Original poster
Iloveidris · 04/01/2018 21:59

So the consensus is mind my own business?
Though im not telling him what to do? Or have any intention of reporting them?

Ok Ill just let family members commit a crime they dont know theyre committing and watch them get fined and taken court...cos we can't watch out for them cos mumsnetters say MYOB Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
Iloveidris · 04/01/2018 22:02

Battle, your assumptions are wrong. If i didnt like her and wanted to grass her up, I wouldn't want to look into it and i would just report them. No questions asked.

Lil my thoughts exactly. The systems crumbling as it is without benefit fraud. My main concern is not wanting him to get in to trouble as he may have the wrong facts

OP posts:
QueenNefertitty · 04/01/2018 22:03

Isn't it the case though, that there's a rule that maintenance payments made even via an arrangement made outside of the CSA system, i.e. family based arrangements, do NOT impact on benefits?

this was a rule implemented, in order to stop children sliding into poverty.

see here : www.cmoptions.org/en/maintenance/benefits.asp

converseandjeans · 04/01/2018 22:04

Yes in my opinion it is fraud - he earns a good wage and gets to keep it to himself as the taxpayer are providing for his girlfriend and child. Morally it is wrong - however on here you will get told you are out of order to question it. It's just a good job most people don't do this!

Frequency · 04/01/2018 22:05

The system isn't crumbling because of benefit fraud. Fraud makes up a tiny, tiny amount of the benefits bill. Pensions make up vast majority of it.

The system is crumbling because it is being systematically destroyed by a political party whose main aim is to demonise the poor.

Original poster
Iloveidris · 04/01/2018 22:07

Converse, that was my thinking. So he lives in a house thats subsidized by taxpayers when he earns a decent wage, surely it cant be legal.
I just wanted to know the facts and then he can do whatever he wants to do

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 04/01/2018 22:10

If he's living there most of the time and paying towards bills why is she claiming as a single parent living alone. Yes I'd say that certainly could be classified as fraud. Though there isn't a rule as such re number of nights a 'guest' can stay.

movinonup · 04/01/2018 22:13

Do you know that he is contributing financially towards the running costs of the household?

Sevendown · 04/01/2018 22:13

The living together test is quite complicated and considers various factors such as whether they share finances, have sex, have a shared child, go shopping together, eat together, holiday together, are considered a couple by friends/family, have joint debts or finances, socialise together, etc.

It sounds like they would fail the test though.

lalalalyra · 04/01/2018 22:15

They've falled for the myth of believing it's allowed for a set number of nights per week. It's not.

If it isnt, they both could be in court

Actually they won't. He isn't actually doing anything illegal. She's the only one that would be breaking the law and committing any crimes so he wouldn't get in any trouble.

iamafraidofvirginiawolves3cats · 04/01/2018 22:15

LOL. I just wanted to know the facts for his benefit!

Original poster
Iloveidris · 04/01/2018 22:16

Movinonup- yes he told me. Hes been putting on her gas electricity. Taking her food shopping.
Sevendown- theres actually a test like that? Shockhow would they prove they have sex and eat together?

OP posts: