Have you ever reported someone for benefit fraud?

[Wecandothisthing]

Just that really.

Also, if someone had been reported anonymously, would they know SOMEONE had reported them or do the DWP just say that they had investigated?

If the reported individual is told that SOMEONE has reported them, they may be able to narrow the suspects down easily, by who knows their financial situation or, worse still, may acuse family members who did not report them.

No, and I never would.

I've been reported twice falsely. I was told someone had reported me when I was called in for interview. They told me if they received another false allegation against me then I could go to the police and they would get the DWP to investigate and find out if the calls could be traced to the same area and that I could find out who it was and that they could be charged with harrassment.

I know someone that did report their friend. And yes they were not entitled to it. They got a suspended sentence.

I would report without hesitation.

No. I worked within benefits and I would never, ever report someone. It wrecks lives.

Even if you think you know all the facts and are 100% correct in reporting someone who is commuting fraud, you're contributing to the culture of demonising genuine claimants. FUCK that.

No, but I would if had decent reason to belive they were doing something that warranted attention.

I have been very tempted to but havent, as they would know its me.

God no, i think doing that is really 1984/nazi
Its people turning their neighbours and family in to the government. Its a very slippery slope

Only once. I usually take the view that I can't know enough of the circumstances, but this particular woman made an endless point of bragging about how clever her cheating was and how stupid others were not to be doing the same

She bragged once too often one day and the rest is history

I have not reported the individual who I know is claiming fraudulently as I know they're having other difficulties (unrelated to their benefit claim), but I've just become aware that another person, close to both of us, has.

I'm concerned a)the report will turn the fraudulently claiming person's life upside down - I'm particularly worried about her DC. b) That I may be accused of having reported, as I would have more reason than the other person.

I think it depends on the circumstance there are people happy to openly talk about how much money they get from the government when they aren't entitled to it, these people are happy to sit at home and claim when they don't need to.

But there are also people who are struggling to survive and do it for that reason. The former group id report without hesitation the latter I wouldn't.

I was reported falsely and it put a suspension on my benefit which was an awful time but I genuinely wasn't doing anything wrong.

I wouldn't report someone. No-one knows anyone else's true circumstances.

If they are genuinely entitled to what ever they are claiming then they will be able to provide bank statements with all their outgoings/ incoming monies and prove that they pay their own mortgage, bills etc and that they don't have a joint account.
You need to be 100% certain that you know their circumstances as it will undoubtedly cause them a lot of stress (that they could probably do without).

I would only report if I knew all the circumstances and they were clearly taking the piss.

However I'm more interested in ensuring the people I know are claiming all the benefits and assistance they are entitled to as most people don't claim everything.

It depends.

I’ve heard a lot of ‘they are claiming ESA but there’s nothing wrong with them’ comments thrown around. I wouldn’t report someone on that basis.

HOWEVER, if I knew for a fact that someone was claiming ESA and was then making a hell of a lot of money doing cash-in-hand work then I would. If nothing else, it’s tax evasion as well as benefit fraud.

I came across someone who was doing just that - claiming ESA and PIP and running a kitchen installation business on the side. Stupidly, they were advertising it all on their public FB profile. Fortunately for them (although they didn’t see it that way) they were found fit for work and their PIP was stopped before it caught up with them.

I know someone who is claiming housing benefit and tax credits but they have savings which mean they shouldn't really be eligible, and mentioned it to me. I wish they hadn't. I wouldn't report them though.

Sweet, PIP isn;t to do with working, just ESA.

I would warn friend who has been reported because their life is about to be turned over.

And unless other friend also reports every single crime or civil infringement they know about I would cut them out.
That's no friend that's a bitter jealous weasel.

My step sons mother is a benefit fraud. She works 16 hours as a single parent. Gets all the benefits. Then works 4 nights a week in a pub and also weekends. She gets £80 cash for every shift.

Never have reported her and never would. But have me and dh been tempted? Absolutely. She's given us hell over the last couple of years. Even at times been physical towards dh.

But all we have to do is look at dss and then realise how much it would affect his life. So neither of us would ever do it.

I'm with TheQueef on that. Warn them.

and yes drop the so called friend.

My partner was reported for benefit fraud, it was easily sorted as obviously he wasn't doing anything wrong, but from when we received the letter to the interview was absolutely hell, even tho it was only a phone call to say we have investigated and found nothing, it was still horrible to know someone had maliciously reported you, for no reason, as they didn't know our circumstances x

I was also accused of being a benefit fraud though no one had actually phoned DWP on me.

I had a letter addressed to my ex sent to my home. DWP managed to track that down - they have a lot of communication with Royal Mail - and just assumed he was still living with me.

It took me 3 months to prove he wasnt.

So sometimes they just assume things without any actual evidence. All it was was a letter from b&q about their latest offers and it caused me 3 months of sheer panic.

Even if you think you know all the facts and are 100% correct in reporting someone who is commuting fraud, you're contributing to the culture of demonising genuine claimants. FUCK that
Would you take the same attitude if you knew 100% that your neighbour was not paying any tax on the revenue they got from renting a house because they didn't declare it. After all, reporting them would be contributing to the culture of demonising genuine claimants...

I suspect the honest response is no.

@sissy89 even tho you know youve done nothing wrong, doesn't stop the sleepless nights of worry x

anyone who would consider reporting 'benefit fraud' is a sad sack who needs a brain transplant, sorry.

I was reported for benefit fraud when I wasn't committing any kind of fraud. It causes a lot of unnecessary stress and it and I think most reports are done out of spite, as opposed to genuine concern that someone is cheating the system.

I agree with the comments about warning the friend who has been reported and dropping the friend who has done the reporting.