To be annoyed with someone blatantly ' playing the system'

[Creamcheeseontoast]

Just a general annoyance.. A close friend of mine and her husband used to get tonnes in WTC etc.. However he started earning more and they stopped thier payments..
They were annoyed about this and thought it was a struggle getting by. So he has ' moved out' which he hasn't but is using his brothers as a postal address.

They said its wrong how people work they their backsides off and get nothing.
Yet doing it this way she gets her part time wage.. Plus all the help she can which covers bills and his wage is ' spending money' aside from. His own things like car insurance..

It annoys me as I see so many people talking how they generally struggle and then there are people playing the system and get away with it.

Just a general rant really and to see if many others get annoyed by things like this

Benefit fraud is a crime and it's one which affects us all - but then so do unfair tax laws for the very rich and companies who pay sod all too

How do you know this?

There's no way that if you were doing this you'd tell anyone.

It is upsetting when people play the system that way, but I hope those cases are in the minority.

It won't seem worth it if they get caught, though.

They aren’t “playing the system” they’re committing fraud.

I’d report them in a heartbeat.

Yeah I've heard lots of self-employed people talk about how they keep their income just under the threshold for child benefit and tax credits.

Also people doing the same to avoid paying a proper amount of child maintenance.

On one hand it’s frustrating to see the system being abused. But on the other hand, someone is playing the system to make it work for them. No different to the rich.

But agree with PP, that's not playing the system, that's benefit fraud.

Yeah I've heard lots of self-employed people talk about how they keep their income just under the threshold for child benefit and tax credits.

DH Did this for a couple years to enable us to save up a decent amount to enable us to leave the country.

No different to the rich.
It is different though because it's illegal. The rich & big companies make the most of LEGAL loopholes - that's just effective tax planning and can be done by anyone.

I would report them.

In fact, I have reported someone for a similar fraud before.

It's true, it is a crime. And people aren't always as discreet as you would think when doing something illegal. So these threads are fairly common

This should be reported its fraud!!!

When our Family Credit stopped (that's how long ago it was) we really struggled. It was because we lost all the other benefits as well. We're in the same situation with WTC now, we can't afford to earn over the threshold, we wouldn't be able to pay the rent.

Thequeenofwands

I work in benefits and you would think people would keep their mouths shut but they (fortunately for the DWP) do.

Op - this is benefit fraud, if he actually moved out but stayed as a couple it would be fine but if he's still living there and has a fake address it's fraud. You should report them but it's up to you.

if the laws were made by the poor then we would get loopholes too I'm sure. But they aren't so its tough.

If you work your backside off, you upgrade your skills, your increase your knowledge and increase your human capital. You earn more and you pay tax. You don't expect to get anything back. Society allows you to get to a good place and the greater that place in terms of earnings the more tax you pay. Fairly simple.

One issue I have is with these people saying they 'work their backside off'. There are not many jobs these days where people really do that. There are some for sure, but when I hear someone say that I look at them and often raise my eyebrows.

It’s fraud, it’s stealing - and the rest of us are paying for it. Report it or suck it up and continue being ‘annoyed’.

Oh don’t worry all these —imaginary— benefit fraudsters won’t be wanting to pretend they’re single when universal credit comes in everywhere

I help support people who are on it....It’s a miserable existence. no one would choose it

Report it and you've done what you can.

I suspect lots play the system like this, either one moving out or one not moving in to maximise benefits.

Tax credits caused so many issues the sooner they go the better.

Yeah I've heard lots of self-employed people talk about how they keep their income just under the threshold for child benefit and tax credits.

For a start the thresholds for tax credit and child benefit are massively different - about £30k between them.

Is this any different from someone only working part time to keep their income under the tax credit threshold?

Is this any different from someone only working part time to keep their income under the tax credit threshold?

Yes it bloody is!! I know of a couple claiming they earn under £10k a year so they can claim full tax credits - and STILL have way more than that in actual earnings. And yes I know they are doing it before people claim I can’t possibly be sure. It really fucking stings seeing them drive around in their expensive Mercedes, giving the kids a horse and buying only designer clothes whilst my husband and I bust a gut just to afford the basics.

SavvyFishFinger

I agree with you initially. You improve your skills, learn, gain experience and move up.

However Personally I want to be responsible for my self don’t want to pay tax to allow society to approve of me. I would rather not pay tax and live outside of these social constraints.

Apparently there are 3,800 DWP inspectors employed, in order to try to investigate benefit fraud totalling around £1.6bn each year.

There are around 700 HMRC inspectors employed to try to investigate £80bn of tax avoidance/evasion each year.

The thing is, most of us have a wide enough circle of acquaintances to know someone on the fiddle with benefits. But even if you did know someone who was evading tax, or using a questionable avoidance scheme, it would be somewhat unusual to discuss this with them - most people keep such arrangements fairly private. and there are fewer of them but far more money in tax revenues lost per person.

Another thing - HMRC uses the large accountancy firms to consult regarding tax arrangements. These firms are then in a very good position to spot, or even to manufacture the loopholes to sell to their clients.

So, while you have every right to be annoyed at these people and their benefits dodge, lets get angry about what is really costing our country money.

"Is this any different from someone only working part time to keep their income under the tax credit threshold?"

Well, we could get down into the nitty gritty of business expenses but they are both examples of playing the system in order to get as much as possible out of the system.

However, I do feel that the general public are more accepting of the hypothetical self employed person than the hypothetical part time worker, even though they aren't really any different, as you say. Why that is, I don't know.

I would report them, without losing a minute of sleep.

Fuckwits.

They're the reason that the Benefit System is on its arse and genuine people in need of financial aid aren't getting it.