Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think reporting someone to dwp for going on holiday is ridiculous?

293 replies

CactusJelly00 · 10/03/2018 07:44

As it doesn't actually mean they're hiding income!
It's happened to someone I know; and she's now in the unfortunate situation of having some of her money stopped while everything is investigated and being treated like a criminal, as someone has reported her for having undeclared income.... because she went on holiday!
Aibu to think this is a ridiculous reason to report someone?
They know who's done it and why, but now she still has to prove herself to the DWP and I just think it's awful that someone's reported her for that.
Would anybody report someone for that? I just can't understand it.

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 10/03/2018 11:36

26mcjrfm: A girl I know from school (left at 16 and never worked a day in her life), has 3 kids and was given a new-build house on social housing - drives a BMW and was able to take her family of 5 to Disneyworld Paris this year (along with multiple other trips away in the past year)."

Where I am the best/new build Social Housing goes to people Working, or with disabilities in the Family. I left school at 16 and was a SAHM for years. Everyone assumed that I was on benefits, but my Partner (later my Husband) had a decent job.

If she isn't in a Partnership, then it could be CM and Family help that is making the difference, she isn't oy on benefits.

I agree that wages should be higher and a profit share mentality should be the norm, though. That means wages go up, not benefits go down.

I saved up to go on a 5* AL holiday to Morocco, whilst on benefits. I lived really frugally to do it. Why can't I spend £15 a week on that, rather than heating, treat foods etc? Its better for my health and mental wellbeing.

Ivymaud · 10/03/2018 11:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bowerbird5 · 10/03/2018 11:38

Years ago I took my sister and her four kids on holiday. We usually had a camping holiday in France but I asked DH if instead we could have a week and take sister and nieces and nephews. We paid for their train fare to us then I took my kids with sis on the train and DH packed everything in the car including our tent and another DH picked up for £50 and drove to a small, family site near Scarborough. The kids had a ball. DH said never again. Eight kids and two women were too much for him. I found the photos on Wednesday and the joy on those kids faces was worth it. We took them to Kinderland for the day but the rest was the beach, picnics walks etc. we weren't at all well off but we managed.

OP what a shame some horrible person has tainted what should have been a wonderful holiday for your friend. I'm so sorry to hear that, it was such a kind gesture from you. Why shouldn't people on benefits go on holiday? Some might have saved for years. If you don't smoke or drink that money could be put away for a holiday. Relatives, charities, social services might have paid. People should get on with there own lives instead of interfering with others.
I don't like people de frauding though. I don't mean people making the odd fiver but those working full time jobs and claiming fraudulently.

Birdsgottafly · 10/03/2018 11:40

As for fraud, there's more people that miss out on benefit that they are entitled to, than is lost through fraud.

There's also more spent out trying to prove that people are wrongfully claiming. Or 'consultation' committees, whose projects go now where.

Our Council (Liverpool) is owed more by private contractors than is claimed in benefits, as I'm sure are others.

More money in the pot doesn't equate to more spent on the most vulnerable, not anymore.

GrannyGrissle · 10/03/2018 11:42

I find this rather far fetched given that benefit claimants are and do go on expensive holidays ; gifts, on credit, saving up. I struggle to believe the DWP gives a shit. Secondly, i've been reported to benefits 3 times, for having Mum living with me and having a man live with me (my social worker and other professionals i was under the care of found this hilarious and offered to back me up if need be (not required). Can't rememberwhy i got reported the 3rd time but again nothing came of it (stalker neighbour was responsible all 3 times and i finally got her moved). During all 3 investigations which ensued, i continued to receive full benefits. Has the system changed since 2 years ago?

Birdsgottafly · 10/03/2018 11:43

The outrage that should be being expressed at tax payers money being spent on this investigation, is non existent on this thread and it should be.

Frequency · 10/03/2018 11:45

I think it depends which benefits you claim, Granny. When I was reported my WTC and CTC continued but my HB stopped.

swingofthings · 10/03/2018 11:47

I'm confused OP. How do you know that your friend was reported because of the holiday? Maybe there were other issues that raised alarm, maybe things that have gone on for years that got that person to report your friend. You live abroad, so you wouldn't know all the details. Your friend might have concluded that she'd been reported only because she went on holiday because they asked about information about it, but that doesn't mean it was the sole reason why someone decided to report her.

An old friend (not close friend) of mine some years back got reported when she became a single mum and I initially thought it was a real nasty thing to do. This friend told me that it was jealousy etc... and I believed her... until it turned out that she'd received over £50K in inheritance, failed to declare it, but thought that she could get away by putting the money in her children's accounts. I lost sympathy for that friend at that time.

Bluelady · 10/03/2018 11:48

Totally agree, Birds.

Butteredparsn1ps · 10/03/2018 11:51

Posters who have pointed out how some people like to look down on those on benefits/those perceived to be an underclass are entirely correct.

It never ceases to amaze me how much pleasure some people get from looking down on others.

Gilead · 10/03/2018 12:03

She would not have had her benefit stopped whilst they investigated
Mine were stopped a few years ago whilst under investigation. I was seen purchasing Basmati Rice in a supermarket. Apparently I should have been buying Long Grain. Yep. I am serious!

Custardo · 10/03/2018 12:04

@gilead wtf? how did they justify that?

GabsAlot · 10/03/2018 12:04

i dont mind anyone going on holiday

its when theyre doing cash in hand jobs and bragging they dont pay the proper tax that annoys me-these people never get caught its too hard to prove

mishfish · 10/03/2018 12:06

* I cannot see why I should pay for someone to live the easy life at my expense and then some MNers think this is OK*

😂😂😂😂😂 “easy life” on benefits 😂😂😂😂😂

Headofthehive55 · 10/03/2018 12:17

It's an unfortunate fact that not everyone plays by the rules. So we have to have a police service, tax inspectorate, benefit fraud office.

My sil works investigating benefit fraud. I am agog with the stories she tells.

Headofthehive55 · 10/03/2018 12:18

If benefit fraud is a victimless crime then so is tax fraud.

Blinkyblink · 10/03/2018 12:21

Headofthehive55

What stories? Genuinely curious

gingerh4ir · 10/03/2018 12:25

I am on benefits (carer for a severely disabled child). I don't believe for a second all these stories about people on benefits going on holiday. Unless it is sponsored by a 3rd party, you really cannot. We live very frugally, no luxuries,no meals out, no days out, nothing extra no treats and we barely make it to the end of the month. DD is 11 and has never been away because we really cannot afford it on benefits.

DeadButDelicious · 10/03/2018 12:27

I had a malicious report made about me once. I don't know who did it, I have an idea but I can't be sure. They basically made up a story about me going on a lavishly expensive holiday to Europe. Complete bullshit, I hadn't been to Europe since I was 14 at the time, I hadn't even been on a weekend away for a few years as I was caring for my sick mum and elderly grandfather at the time, my whole life revolved around flitting between their two houses.

They didn't stop my money whilst they investigated and I did have to have an investigator come to interview me at home, literally the first words she said to me when we sat down were 'Have you fell out with anyone recently?'. I dunno what that says about the validity of a lot of the reports that they receive but she went away promising that everything would be fine, which it was.

Whoever this person was, they wasted their time, the investigators time, my time and who knows how much government money on a complete fabrication.

gingerh4ir · 10/03/2018 12:28

and thank goodness we cannot - seems there are a lot of posters who think people in my situation do really not deserve a short break once in a while. Sad

expatinscotland · 10/03/2018 12:32

'My sil works investigating benefit fraud. I am agog with the stories she tells.'

How incredibly unprofessional of her.

Tobythecat · 10/03/2018 12:46

Im on ESA/DLA (waiting for PIP appeal) because i'm autistic and have mh issues. I'm going to save for 3 years so I can go to Florida with my mum. I don't drink/smoke and rarely buy myself anything, my clothes are mostly second hand and worn to death.

I really don't enjoy my life, it's a huge struggle becaue of the autism. God forbid I use my beenfit money to save for a 2 week holiday to Disneyland. One of the only things (besides my mum and cat that makes me happy).

I would much rather have a normal life, but my autism has taken away a lot of the dreams and hopes I had that people take for granted, like buying a house, having a career, having a relationship, learning to drive, being independent, having a family. I cannot do any of those things because of my autism. Wanna swap?

EenaMinaMoe · 10/03/2018 12:49

The thing that always confuses me is the number of people who simultaneously talk about how hard they work and how their job is an exhausting slog and then insist that if someone is well enough to sit on a plane for a couple of hours and then lie by a pool, they are clearly well enough to work. Despite work being such a hard and brutal slog.

It's like a weird gap in Tory outrage logic.

itsonlysubterfuge · 10/03/2018 12:57

TheFirstMrsDV
This is straight from the gov website:

You’re committing benefit fraud if you:

don’t tell the office that pays your benefit you’re going abroad, even if it’s just for a visit
ExFury · 10/03/2018 12:59

However I do know a family (don't we all) whose children have all had funded 2 year old pre school places, which means they're earning under 16k gross

It doesn't necessarily mean that. There are cases where HV's or other professionals can organised a funded 2yo place for other reasons.

Swipe left for the next trending thread