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?

@crunchymum is too late she’s just reported her and to me it reads like this woman did something to her so reporting her is just the op getting revenge which in my mind makes the op no better than this woman that she’s just reported. Reporting her won’t change whatever she’s done wrong to the op.

A few years ago I was a DWP Fraud Investigator. I never, not once, stopped anyone's payments whilst an investigation was ongoing. Innocent until proven guilty. And I had a young DS at the time. Me and DH were both on low incomes so there's no fucking way I would have stopped the only income that anyone would have had whilst we investigated.

I would estimate that 80% of allegations were absolute rubbish, 10% were correct but had been properly declared before the allegation was received so there was zero fraud and only 10% were actually fraudulent.

I would love to see what HMRC have done with the referalls re Amazon etc.......

Thanks for clarifying that audit so all the people on here saying people got their life’s ruined etc must have been doing something wrong in the first place

Are you accessing help for your MH issues?

Glad you reported her op. Now time for yourself. Go and see your gp and chat how things are.

Audit is speaking for herself and/or her department. I've read of many cases where money HAS been stopped immediately.
sweetsomethings obviously i'd report someone who broke into my car, it's not quite the same thing.

Always report benefit fraud. It's theft - pure and simple.

Pastimes why isn’t it the same thing? Stealing is stealing. Or is stealing from the government a victimless crime or because it doesn’t affect you directly ? Trouble is with benefit fraud so many people don’t see it as a real crime so go about telling everyone . Forgetting that all it takes is for one fall out and for one person to report them.

pasttimes11

Where have you read this?

A quick search suggests that the first port of call before any benefits are stopped would be an interview and any decision to suspend or stop would be done on your responses at said interview .

OP this sounds awful for you. I can feel how beaten you are. I thikn if there is any way to move elsewhere and get a new start it would be a good thing.

If you are frighteneed of repercussions then don't do it - not worth it. Wait til you are away from her.

I haven't worked for DWP for years. I have only recounted what I did when I did.

I can count on the fingers of one hand when I stopped benefit payments. The top two are:

1 - A bloke claiming to be an unemployed race horse trainer who submitted 3 horses into races at major racing events, whilst claiming to have nothing to do with horse racing anymore. And made a shit load of money.

2 - A bloke claiming to be an unemployed antiques dealer, who couldn't work due to anxiety, who travelled the country attending antiques fairs. And made a shit load of money.

As I say, I haven't worked for DWP for years. But benefit fraud is a fraud against everyone who pays tax. If you're happy to accept it, then great, that's up to you. But it's this kind of shit that is robbing the NHS of the funds they need.

If the OP reports this and the woman is claiming legitimately then how does she live while it is being investigated.

I have no issue with blatant benefit fraud from being reported.

I do have an issue when someone “thinks” they know when they don’t. You could cause her serious hardship if she is claiming legitimately.

And sweetsomethings your reply about my client having her money backdated so she didn’t lose anything ignores the fact that a disabled person was caused serious hardship and distress during the time she was investigated.

I’ve seen the reality which is why Inwoukd have to be VERY sure that someone was defrauding before I reported.

pasttimes
The needy are the ones deprived by benefit fraud!
Those that need the NHS, that need the Education Service and who need police to keep the streets safe ~ to name a few essentials.

I've no liking for tax defrauders either and would report any I knew about.

Don't imagine benefit frausters are virtuous robin hoods that are restoring some balance in inequality. They are thieves in every way. I for one resent paying their way in society!

Needy people aren't deprived because of benefit fraud. There are set rates, they don't drop down because of fraud. However they do drop down because of unnecessary sanctions.

Pastimes I would also like to read all the cases of the money being stopped immediately if you could share where you read them please?

As a benefit fraud investigator for 32 yrs before recently moving to a slightly different field - I am gobsmacked that people don't think this is none of their business. Of course defrauding the benefit system is theft ! A percentage of EVERYONES tax money goes towards the welfare state. The horrendous hoops people who actually NEED and are entitled to state help now have to jump through is because of the fraud in the system.

Report. If there's nothing in it. Nothing will happen. So many background checks before she would even know. And then only if there is foundation to the allegation.

"You don't pay for her. The state does."
Is probably the most stupid fucking comment I have read in ages.

Delores you never mentioned in your comment that the lady was disabled that is different. The government shouldn’t be leaving disabled people without money to even eat .

Let's not forget the greedy grasping MPs and their fraudulent expenses claims. Hardly any of them got prosecuted. What hypocrisy asking us all to shop a benefit cheat whilst they're doing exactly the same, not for any need, just pure greed.

Thank you font for confirming what audit said was Infact true and if you are innocent then you have nothing to worry about

Pastimes that makes no sense. So your saying if someone goes out and assaults someone and gets away with it. Then you have the right to go around assaulting people cause they got away with it ? Maybe you missed mine and others comments about where we could read the many cases of innocent people having their benefits stopped as they were reported wrongly that you hav read?

Oh God, poor woman. Is she even definitely committing benefit fraud?
Her child might not get fed or adequate clothing as a result of this decision / quest for revenge.

Are her benefits definitely not in-work benefits? Do you know for certain that she has deceived the DWP?

Also I'd just like to add that benefit fraud is incredibly rare. The vast majority of recipients are genuinely severe ill and threads like this reinforce the warped perception that it is common.

It is very easy for people to hate poor people. Thing about all the tax evaders (e.g. Gary Barlow, Jimmy Car) who cheat the state out of far more money but because they are wealthy nobody hates them.

** think, not thing