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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU or is this benefit fraud??

37 replies

Weebeastiebaby · 07/06/2018 18:42

Dh’s ‘Friends’ are a married couple. Up until recently both unemployed with one dd. The dh in couple has recently got a full time job. They now can not afford the rent in their privately rented 3bed house and have become ‘intentionally homeless’ in order to be housed in emergency accommodation they have claimed to the housing association that their marriage has ended and therefore wife and dd have been provided with nice 2 bed semi detached rent free until permanent housing can be offered (which will also be rent free or heavily subsidised). However this is false information as they are still a couple and he stays there every night. AIBU to consider reporting them? Or am I letting my judgement be clouded by the fact I’ve always considered them lazy? Wife is now late 20s and has never worked. I don’t want their dd to be affected but I do think they should pay their way and people should not be allowed to cheat the system and get away with it.

OP posts:

PortiaCastis · 07/06/2018 20:13

Oh dear, councils go to great lengths checking peoples backgrounds and info and are under guidance about intentional homelessness.

www.gov.uk/guidance/homelessness-code-of-guidance-for-local-authorities/chapter-9-intentional-homelessness

DesignStatement · 07/06/2018 20:14

Report them, having a child does not give people the right to rip us all off. It's theft, pure and simple. People who don't report benefit fraud shouldn't complain when their taxes go up, the NHS goes burst or that there is no accommodation for the homeless.

Beaverhausen · 07/06/2018 20:20

Report them OP.

mavismcruet · 07/06/2018 20:22

Am I the only one who thinks it's atrocious that they could afford their house while unemployed but not with a full time job! And we wonder why people choose not to work!
This is what I thought too!

A young relative on my dhs side got emergency accommodation with his girlfriend and baby. We helped them move. It’s wasn’t a house I’d ever begrudge anyone moving into. It was a roof over their heads but not much more than that. Several months after moving in the 2nd floor started to collapse. Shocking accommodation. I’ve no idea if it’s normal or not but I bet your “friends” won’t be moving into a palace.

I get at stuck on these sorts of posts. Morally they are wrong to play the system. But morally the system is wrong when people who are working can’t afford to live.

Fattymcfaterson · 07/06/2018 20:23

The benifit cap is currently 20,000 a year. So her claiming her DH isn't living with her she could well be claiming that figure. ON TOP of her DH salary.
Report her.

shrimpie · 07/06/2018 20:24

I personally would report. She could be taking up a house that someone actually needs.

CosmicCanary · 07/06/2018 20:29

I personally would report. She could be taking up a house that someone actually needs.

She is homeless she does need it.

If found guilty of fraud they will demand the HB back not the house. The two things are seperate. One is a goverment payment the council are the landlords. To evict her they would need to go to court and seek a section 21.

Sparrowlegs248 · 07/06/2018 20:32

If the private rent was very expensive then the housing benefit certainly wouldn't have covered it. From your posts it doesn't sound like you've got your facts right tbh. From a housing officer who deals with homeless applications, temporary accommodation and intentially homeless families

TyrionsNextWife · 07/06/2018 20:33

The council in my area have properties like that, they’re temporary accommodation to avoid hostels and are usually ony for a few months. If you pay full rent though the flats are really expensive, much more then private lets - it must be to discourage people who could rent privately from staying too long.

If they’ve been evicted then it would be the same as putting the mother and daughter in a b&b or hostel.

MissMoneyPlant · 07/06/2018 20:40

Murane Am I the only one who thinks it's atrocious that they could afford their house while unemployed but not with a full time job!

Housing benefit only pays for the cheapest 30% of properties, of suitable size. So for a couple with one child they'd only be entitled to enough for the cheapest 30% of 2-bed properties in their area.

If his wage didn't bring in enough they'd be entitled to a housing benefit top-up.

So something is amiss here...

Fatty The benifit cap is currently 20,000 a year. So her claiming her DH isn't living with her she could well be claiming that figure.

Seriously? Don't be so dense!
The benefit cap is the absolute upper limit, regardless of having loads of children or whatever. It doesn't mean that anyone claiming benefits can just choose to claim that much. Up until a certain point it increases according to family size.

UnbornMortificado · 07/06/2018 21:01

I wouldn't do it because of the child.

If they are prepared to lie to the child about splitting up (or got her to lie to anyone) are they really going to put the child's needs above there own when they lose there benefits and/or house?

MsMotherOfDragons · 07/06/2018 21:42

Yeah, councils provide houses 'rent free' at the drop of a hat, with no waiting list

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