Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sister is committing benefit fraud

317 replies

Ellabella989 · 19/02/2019 12:19

My sister has 2 kids and is in a relationship with their father who earns around 50k per year. They all live together in privately rented accommodation (in his name) however my sister pretends to still live with the kids at my parent’s house so she can claim benefits.
They have horrendous debts between them because they live totally outwith their means (2 nice cars on finance, holidays on credit cards, eating out multiple times a week etc. The children are very spoilt with toys and clothes too).

I love my sister but I feel total rage at this situation. I know I should just keep my nose out of it but it all just feels so wrong. AIBU to want to anonymously dob her in?!

OP posts:
Roussette · 19/02/2019 15:47

Because OBvious it's a bit galling to struggle to pay a mortgage when a DSis is going on and on about a foreign holiday she's going on, when in fact she STOLE to go on that holiday.

(Sorry to answer for you WFT. I'm just gobsmacked at the people who think it's OK to do this and wouldn't dream of trying to get the sister to see sense and stop stealing)

Elfinablender · 19/02/2019 15:52

I know some posters said for the op to keep her nose out but most posters who say they wouldn't 'shop' their sister have also said they would try and get them to see sense and stop stealing.

27dresses · 19/02/2019 15:54

Do people on here not think the government are corrupt?

Do you honestly think politicians care about those who are not like themselves?

These are the same politicians who own housing associations, claim thousands expenses and dodge tax themselves

Elfinablender · 19/02/2019 15:55

In fact, most people who said they would shop their sister have said they'd give her a chance to quit stealing benefits before making a formal accusation - which I think, from a black and white thinking perspective, is a little morally dubious as it doesn't address the already stolen money.

FindMeSomebodytoLove · 19/02/2019 15:59

I think I would report her tbh. I know she's your sister, but I would be so angry that she had involved our mother and her young children in this mess. If it truly bothered her she would stop and start living within their means. Her DP's 50k salary is definitely doable for a family of 4.

Evilspiritgin · 19/02/2019 15:59

And politicians who do that are just as corrupt as anybody committing benefits fraud, just because politicians do it it doesn’t make it any worse they are both scum

Obviouspretzel · 19/02/2019 16:01

@Rousette the point I'm getting at is that most of this comes from a place of jealously. People think why should someone else have something I haven't got ? Then they stand on their high horse when in reality they just couldn't bear someone else to be getting away with something they weren't.

If people are going to report it because of concern for genuine claimants or because they have serious moral objections, then that's up to them. But I think most people report for other reasons.

27dresses · 19/02/2019 16:01

But who ends up behind bars? The politicians certain my don't because their mates can give them a free pass to skip jail.

AcrossthePond55 · 19/02/2019 16:06

For those of you shouting 'governments are corrupt' or 'politicians are greedy', do you really think that means that committing a crime is justified?

Because if you do, I'm going to use that for my defense when I rob Ft Knox. Given the President we have now I'm surely justified and of course will be found 'not guilty by reason of corrupt politicians'.

JellyBaby666 · 19/02/2019 16:12

If my brother and SIL did this, I'd report them. That's the consequence of breaking the law, and if you don't want to get caught don't steal!

BlueSlipperSocks · 19/02/2019 16:21

Obvious. Any stupid buggar can commit benefit fraud. It's nothing to be proud of. People report people who are claiming what they are not entitled to because it's illegal and the people stealing from the public coffers is lazy, greedy, ignorant and think the world owes them a living. They don't get reported because of jealousy.

Decent, hardworking people with good values, morals and principles work to support their families. And are proud to do so. They work extra for treats and holidays. What they don't do is steal from people who are in genuine need.

When you are hauled in front of a judge please tell him you steal because....politicians. Then come back and let us know how it went.

I guess you'll claim that you are a taxpayer and see nothing wrong with people committing benefit fraud. Before you say it you are obviously not! Nobody who works hard and pays ever increasing taxes will welcome their hard earned taxes being wasted on feckless scum!

SoloD · 19/02/2019 16:27

The problem for you sister is that sooner or later she may be found out.

When that happens she will be told to repay back all over payments. The longer this goes on the worse it will be for her and her family.

ShatnersWig · 19/02/2019 16:31

Fuck me iboogy how the hell can you say this You know her situation is dire when it's an outright lie that this woman is in a dire situation?

nrpmum · 19/02/2019 16:34

I'd report. People like your sister piss me off. Most of my life I was a single parent, and worked very hard to keep a roof over my head and pay off the 40k of debt my ex left me in.

flowersaremyfave · 19/02/2019 16:36

@Ellabella989 I don't see the logic in your post? Your not going to grass and you knew that before posting. So what was the point in this thread?

Obviouspretzel · 19/02/2019 16:41

@Blueslippersocks I didn't say anything about politicians. I didn't say that I steal. I didn't say that everyone who reports does it because of jealousy. But some definitely do. People cheating the benefits system doesn't affect your mortgage interest rate. So why did pp mention It? Because they were annoyed that they were suffering and someone else wasn't. They wanted to redress that balance. I believe that to be their motivation.

And there is no need for you to question my tax status because I don't think the same way as you do. It may shock you to know that all taxpayers don't feel the same about every single issue.

Roussette · 19/02/2019 16:44

*the point I'm getting at is that most of this comes from a place of jealously. People think why should someone else have something I haven't got ? Then they stand on their high horse when in reality they just couldn't bear someone else to be getting away with something they weren't.

If people are going to report it because of concern for genuine claimants or because they have serious moral objections, then that's up to them. But I think most people report for other reasons*

I disagree. And I think the OP is not saying all this because of jealousy. And if one of my family was doing this, I would be livid because of the sheer dishonesty of it, and it is taking from those who actually need it. It isn't that OP wishes she could get away with it too!

As for 'politicians are corrupt so what does it matter' type comments. It matters a lot, otherwise let's all just commit benefit fraud, shoplift (they're insured, who cares), steal from our NDNs... rich bastards, they'e got a new car, they can afford it.

It's all about having a moral compass AFAIC

purplecorkheart · 19/02/2019 16:48

Your parents need to mark any post for her as no longer at this address. Hopefully then she will be looked into as none of ye will do the right thing and report her

BlueSlipperSocks · 19/02/2019 16:56

And there is no need for you to question my tax status because I don't think the same way as you do. It may shock you to know that all taxpayers don't feel the same about every single issue

There is no taxpayer in the UK who wants to pay tax for feckless scum to fraudulently claim in benefits. I very much doubt you would recognise that. It takes a tax payer to know how tax payers feel.

In every place I have ever worked people who take the piss and claim benefits that they are not entitled to - and hide the fact they are claiming fraudulently, because they know they are thieving and the consequences of their actions, if they get caught, are the most hated. Nothing but scum!

I don't care what excuses you offer the judge. It won't work because there is no excuse for committing benefit fraud. Anyone who is caught should be jailed and be ordered to pay every single penny back, with interest. Greedy bastards!

HappyHattie · 19/02/2019 17:06

I would 100% ‘dob her in’!!!

😡 There are ALOT of families struggling out there OP and VERY few of them are lucky enough to earn £50k a year!

Your DS is STEALING from every tax payer out there and from others much more in need than she is!!!

There self inflicted materialistic debts are their own problem. Your DS is EXACTLY what is wrong with this country and why high earning, benefit free, tax payers like myself a largely beginning to begrudge funding benefits! Not because we don’t want to help those in genuine need- BECAUSE WE DONT WANT TO FUND SHAMELESS SCROUNGERS like your DS 😬

HappyHattie · 19/02/2019 17:06

*Their

lyralalala · 19/02/2019 17:12

The 5 year old being at school will be the undoing of them. Especially if school catchments would have been affected by the addresses. People will notice that X goes to Y school despite living in X street.

I'm just surprised the rented house isn't in her name.

WFTisgoingoninmyhead · 19/02/2019 17:13

Obviouspretzel
It didn’t help me pay my mortgage directly, no, but it helped me sleep well in my bed at night knowing I had done the right thing and that helped me feel a lot better which in turn meant I had a more settled life over the last 25 years, I think doing the right thing ALWAYS pays off, as I am ok financially now and she is on her fucking knees as are her awful children😛

NotAgainSilly · 19/02/2019 17:15

You know her situation is dire so why would you want to make it worse by reporting her.

@lboogy Her situation isn't dire. OP says they live very comfortably so how about you stop making shit up. Hmm

Itsallpeachyfornow · 19/02/2019 17:21

@WFTisgoingoninmyhead you sound just lovely.. wow

Swipe left for the next trending thread