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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Friend committing benefit fraud

100 replies

namechange091 · 19/02/2019 12:32

Name changed.

A close friend is pregnant. She's living with her parents and her DP although claiming that he doesn't live there and pays minimum maintenance.

She's getting money for being a lone parent and he's also earning almost £2k a month and they have £50 a month rent to pay.

AIBU to be so angry about this?!
I keep getting temptations to dob her in but feel like it's immoral as a friend!

OP posts:
Original poster
namechange091 · 19/02/2019 12:33

Just seen there's another thread going about benefit fraud!Confused I thought it was pretty rare.

OP posts:
NutellaStraightOutTheJar · 19/02/2019 12:34

It will eventually probably catch up with them. Karma. Annoying, yes, but not your problem, TBH.

Babyroobs · 19/02/2019 12:34

Report anonymously online. This kind of fraud ( greed) make me furious and is rife.

Original poster
namechange091 · 19/02/2019 12:36

@Babyroobs I just find it so annoying, there's so many parents that actually really struggle as single parents or even skint in a couple, how can they accept more money when knowing they already have so much? I get so frustrated seeing the luxury meals and holidays they go on etc.

OP posts:
hazell42 · 19/02/2019 12:38

Why?
Firstly, his maintenance wouldn't be counted as it is not taken into account when deciding on benefit entitlement and secondly, if she is living with her parents and not claiming rent for another property then she isn't fraudulently claiming housing benefit.
so what is it that she has done wrong?
Except have more than you think she should.
Jesus some people can be so nasty

Babyroobs · 19/02/2019 12:39

It is not rare. I help/ advise on a number of benefit sites on fb. Virtually every post is from young women with multiple children claiming as single ( and moaning they don't get enough benefits). On virtually every one of their fb profiles there is a note saying " engaged since 2013" and photos of them loved up with their fiancée and kids ( who is clearly the dad of the kids). It makes me furious. I worked with a colleague who had a seven year old with her current partner but ' officially he lived at his mums round the corner whilst she claimed lone parent benefits for four kids. he didn't live with his mum of course he lived with her. makes me furious because we are talking of benefit fraud to the tune of hundreds of pounds a month. It is just greed.

LordPickle · 19/02/2019 12:40

Loads of people will be along to tell you that it's none of your business etc but honestly I'd report it. I have no problem with my tax money going to help people on benefits but obviously immoral and illegal fraud really makes me angry.

Original poster
namechange091 · 19/02/2019 12:40

@hazell42 she laughed to me about how she's claiming as a single parent so they have hundreds more each month knowing she wouldn't get anything at all with him being on £2k if she'd said they were a couple?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 19/02/2019 12:40

hazel - what she is doing wrong is getting hundreds of pounds of benefit a month when if her partners income ( as it should be if they are living together )was taken into account she would get nothing. Is that so difficult to understand ??

StreetwiseHercules · 19/02/2019 12:43

OP, it’s got nothing to do with you. Why are you jealous of someone living off benefits? Would you swap places with her? Of course not.

So what do you care?

happinessischocolate · 19/02/2019 12:43

You can report it anonymously online, I would

StreetwiseHercules · 19/02/2019 12:45

“
hazel - what she is doing wrong is getting hundreds of pounds of benefit a month when if her partners income ( as it should be if they are living together )was taken into account she would get nothing. Is that so difficult to understand ??”

Big deal. Do you think she boards the money under her mattress or does she spend it in the local economy?

Obviouspretzel · 19/02/2019 12:46

If you did report It, would you continue to be friends with her?

Babyroobs · 19/02/2019 12:46

I don't think op is jealous of someone living off benefits, more angry at someone defrauding a system which is there to help people who have no means of support rather than people who are living with a partner earning 2k a month ?

happinessischocolate · 19/02/2019 12:46

Streetwise her friend isn't living off benefits, she's using benefits as a top up to her family income. Yes it is other people business as it's fraud against all taxpayers.

hazell42 · 19/02/2019 12:47

They aren't living together though are they. She is living with her mum and he stays there. Maybe every night. Maybe not,
Who cares?
Do you really want to be that person?
It is so mean spirited.
But if you do decide to dob in your 'friend', do have the courage of your convictions and tell her why. Don't hide behind an anonymous phone line and then pretend to sympathise with her

Babyroobs · 19/02/2019 12:47

Some of the attitudes on here are disgusting.

Original poster
namechange091 · 19/02/2019 12:47

@Obviouspretzel doubt it - I haven't spoke to her since the conversation about it, I was so shocked and didn't expect it of her!

OP posts:
PinkiOcelot · 19/02/2019 12:48

What are you on about Streetwise?!! She’s living fraudulently on benefits. Her partner gets £2k a month salary!!

Original poster
namechange091 · 19/02/2019 12:48

@hazell42 they lived together in a house, they both then moved in with her mum so they wouldn't have to pay rent too so would have all his wage and then benefits.

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 19/02/2019 12:49

They pay £50 pcm rent, so 12.50 PW.
Think I'll sell up and go rented instead.

happinessischocolate · 19/02/2019 12:49

Do you think she boards the money under her mattress or does she spend it in the local economy?

Sound like she spends it on holidays so I doubt the local economy is getting any of it and it's still wrong even if she gave the whole lot to a local charity shop

buttertoff33 · 19/02/2019 12:50

I would report it - friend or not.

It's not right and the general taxpayer funds this. So it is your issue. such behaviour gives makes claiming benefits for those who genuinely much more difficult.

Limensoda · 19/02/2019 12:54

How much is she getting? Is this her first child? I doubt she gets much whilst still pregnant.
Tell her how you feel about it and that you feel you should report it if she keeps claiming. Don't go behind her back if she's a close friend ffs!
If you aren't going to report it feeling the way you do then you're as bad as she is.

hazell42 · 19/02/2019 12:55

I think that everyone should pay their due. But I can't stand people who pick on benefit cheats, or people they think are benefit cheats.
I think you should save your disgust for greedy rich bastards who avoid paying tax.
Lets get them first. Make companies pay tax on earnings from this country. Stop rich people putting their money off shore. Stop wealthy people hiding their money.
Then, after we have done all that, then we should go after people who are claiming housing benefit they're not entitled to or have a cleaning job on the side.
It is so nasty to continually bash people on benefits who are, by and large, the worst off in our society. A few people abuse the benefits system, and everyone goes mad with nasty vitriolic posts. People don't pay tax and no one gives a shit.
I say again, don't be so mean spirited

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