AIBU to report her for benefit fraud...

[Bringyourown]

Very long story short. Person I know has been claiming benefits for at least 7 years I've known her.
Now this is a case of sour grapes, she misrepresented herself to me and basically used me for all she could get out of me, and me being stupid and gullible and so happy that someone liked me that I gave her everything I could.
I've been stewing on this for months and my mental health has broken down to the point I just can't get out of bed. I have nothing and nobody left.
She is a dog walker/boarder, horse trader and now a scrap metal merchant.
Should I report her or should I just put it down to experience?

flowercrow I'm sure they will do it. Back payments are a bit more complicated to do so take a bit longer. If they don't turn up in 2-3 weeks then complain. They will pay out fairly quickly after that.

fontofnoknowledge

Thank you!!

Hope you read the past

Auditbird thanks

You're very welcome flowercrow let me know if I can help.

The allegations were totally unfounded

Says you! Proof?

How pointless is it to tell someone to go away on a public forum?

It's also pointless to tell people to fuck off, basically the same thing, people still say it.

font sorry that's not alwaS the case. Maybe it varies in different departments. Many people have had their benefits stopped immediately. It's being irresponsible to suggest otherwise. People often get their worlds turned upside down because of one malicious unfounded call. It's not just a matter of the money being stopped, it's the whole intense investigation.

Auditbird i wasn't referring to you when i said "ignorance", nor when i said "bye".

www.jobcentreguide.org/claiming-benefits/31/suspected-of-benefit-fraud

It clearly states here that benefit can be stopped while investigation is ongoing. So no, they don't only stop the money if found guilty, they stop it before they have any idea if there is any fraud.

www.gov.uk/benefit-fraud

Straight from the horses mouth, clearly stating that benefits can stop whilst investigation ongoing. No wonder there's calls for the practice of members of the public being allowed to report people to be banned.

Past

Do you understand the difference between ongoing and immediately

Yes. Benefits can be stopped during and ongoing investigation.

No. Benefits will not be stopped immediately following any old allegation.

If you have definite proof or at least are fairly sure that some is claiming benefits fraudulently then you should report. Whilst they have the power to stop them immediately several benefit investigators on here plus the DWP guidelines say it is not instant and I find it hard to believe they would without definite proof. I think the OP needs some help with her mental health.

Report her if you want but you won't feel any better/happier afterwards

dilemma what is this obsession with the word "immediately"
By "immediately" nobody in their right mind would expect an investigator to receive a report of a possible fraud and immediately that very second stop the money. By immediately it means that money can be stopped at the beginning of the investigation, i.e. before any evidence of innocence is found. So to sum up, if the Dwp start an investigation on someone after receiving a tip off from the public they don't wait till the end of an investigation when they find evidence of fraud, to stop the money. They stop it immmediately give or take a week or two.

What diffference does the actual timescale make to the poor sod whose had their money stopped, who more than likely is completely innocent. I don't understand why this is such a sticking point with you. Their money is stopped before evidence of any guilt. It can't be clearer.Does it make it more acceptable to you if they get their money stopped two weeks in?

pasttimes11

Can I ask what’s your actual involvement and experience in the DWP? You speak with tremendous authority and I’m curious as to where this authority originates from

FGS pastimes couldn't believe that this thread was still running and even more bizarrely you were still attempting to champion the cause of benefit fraudsters . I do hope you are not projecting personal experience of getting nicked for it . Are you 😧.

Just to clear up something that seems to be obsessing you.... in 32 yrs I have never stopped the benefit of anyone at the start. Beginning or at any point other than the conclusion where someone has either been found guilty or has admitted guilt.

As for those trying to guilt trip the OP with 'I hope you feel better'.. yes OP I hope, like all normal people, that you feel good about reporting a suspected theft. Because that's what you have done and have every right to feel good.

Apologies pasttimes11 cross posts, clearly.

Got it! Nobody must ever report people abusing the benefit system on the off chance they may be innocent.

Ok let's all claim benefits fraudulently in the safe knowledge we won't be reported. Makes sense

Yes fontofnoknowledge on MN benefit fraud is the only crime that must never be reported unless you have cast iron proof and signed statements. Because you're probably jealous.

Everything else from your neighbour being drunk and loud, smoking a spliff in their back garden and using allocated parking spaces without permission justifies a call to the police 101 number to log it; but actual fraud, or to call it by it's proper name, theft, should be totally ignored unless you can prove it 100%. Right.

yes but if you really are the kind of person who goes around worrying that someone might have a fiver a week too much, or whatever, then perhaps it should cross your mind that benefits are suspended at once, in this case. Therefore your 'righteous' action could lead to people including ones under 18 , going hungry.
If that is your bag, I pity you.

Who is talking about five quid too much? From what the OP said she's working full time. That means she isn't entitled to benefits, housing benefits, council tax benefits, free prescriptions and free dental care.

That adds up to a lot more than £5.00. If you're happy to fund this pisstaking through your taxes then good for you. I'm not. I'd much rather my taxes went to support people with genuine reasons at to why they can't work, like those with disabilites who are being put through the hideous assessment regime and are having their motability vehicles taken away.

Read the OP, she's earning. Her kids aren't going hungry.

Oh dont bother pitying us. You do realise this thread is about fraud, not genuine benefit claimants who need it? RTFT.

Dilemmacentral

pasttimes11

Can I ask what’s your actual involvement and experience in the DWP? You speak with tremendous authority and I’m curious as to where this authority originates from

I'm waiting as well in anticipation

I am not even sure it is possible to work full time and claim 'benefits' apart from the ones you might be entitled to.

if it was JSA, for example, how does she get the time off work to sign on? if she is working full time, then her NI contributions and tax would 'show' and it would be patently obvious to the Jobcentre.

Therefore I would take any of this 'oh I am sure of this or that, blah, blah' because it is total unpleasant nonsense.

• with a massive pinch of salt