To contemplate reporting someone for possible benefit fraud? WWYD?

[WWYDhey]

So there’s this girl I know. Not a close friend but someone I know and would say hi to in the street. We are Facebook friends. I know a bit about her through mutual friends.

She is claiming as a single parent of two kids but her boyfriend lives with her. Full time. They have actually just become engaged and she is pregnant. He has 3 kids to someone else with which he sees 2 of them every other week.

He is ‘unemployed’ but I believe he works full time for cash in hand. (Some kind of joinery or building work)

What has made me consider reporting her (if that’s something you can even do??) is that she spends all her ‘free’ money on weekly hair up appointments, professional make up done. New nails etc (we all know this as she documents everything on Facebook) always out at restaurants and nights out. Almost like she is bragging.
Doesn’t look like she spends much on her kids. They always look a bit scruffy and bored in her photos. (Think tops that look too small or worn out)

And now that she’s pregnant she’s uploading loads of expensive purchases for the baby (ted baker everything, massive pram ordained in Jewell’s)

Now I know some of the replies I will get here will be along the lines of ‘what’s it got to do with you how she spends her money’

• well yes it has nothing to do with me but it is really irritating that I work full time with kids and pay a lot in tax and have to scrimp and save. I don’t get all of the luxuries she does. Yet ina round about way I contribute to it.

‘How do you know she’s on benefits’ our mutual friend knows she is for certain. Plus she works 18 hours per week in a cafe so it’s not rocket science.

So would you report someone claiming as a single parent when she isn’t?

YABU- Dont report her and don’t give it another thought

YANBU- Do report her

If so how would you report anonymously?

Thankyou 4 sharing this information with mumsnet. I understand your concerns that this mother may be breaking the law., but what are you going to achieve by reporting her to the benefit fraud. I personally would not waste my time to report her as their are far more worse situations in this society to deal with. She has not stolen from an individual , so therefore it shouldn't affect you or anyone else. Should this lady be found guilty by the local authorities then she will have to pay the full price. I would suggest you leave this matter to someone else. As I think that it should not be a call into your hands.

There's not been a good benefit bashing thread on here for at least a week.

I love how there is every stereotype going, uncared for kids, beauty appointments and nights out designed to whip people into a frenzy.

You would almost think these threads are politically motivated to make people hate benefit claimants.

Oh ffs!

You barely know the woman! What information you do have is 3rd party and possibly from a biased source.

You DON’T know her full financial information

You DON’T know how she parents

You DON’T know her health record.

Benefits are very strictly regulated now. Do you even know what can happen if you DID report her?

It’s entirely possible all her money could be stopped for many months leaving her AND her children in dire straits - even if she’s done NOTHING WRONG!

I’ve had it happen to me I believe it was my ex reported me, the claims were bullshit and eventually disproven and I was given the money “backdated” but while it was all going on it was a nightmare!

Unless you have genuine concrete visible evidence - NOT bloody Facebook posts or gossip! - then keep your nose out!

She might be editing what she posts about her kids because her ex or someone else gives her grief on certain issues?

“where her benefits could end up suspended for 6 weeks” try 6 months!

The pram could have been paid for by not only her and baby’s father but soon to be grandparents too - My parents and in-laws helped out with that kind of purchase and I’ve seen plenty of posts on here with posters saying similar.

Someone else could be paying for the salon appointments etc too. I’m a disabled single parent on benefits, as was my sister for a time and a number of friends, some of us are lucky enough that parents/relatives/friends have bought us nice things we couldn’t otherwise afford. My sister is very insecure about her appearance to the point it causes her anxiety and if she doesn’t think she looks right she will limit her activities, so when she started going grey and this really affected her confidence my parents have since made it their Christmas gift to her to pay her relatively cheap appointments to get her hair coloured, my disability means that a foot and lower leg massage can be really helpful and soothing at times and some years that’s been my gift from my parents a few sessions a year when I am up to getting it. But we’ve both had people make nasty ill informed and judgmental comments about these things, it makes you very wary of posting on social media or even telling people at all.

You very clearly don’t think much of her so morally you should remove her from your “friends” on Facebook.

“details from mutual friends.” = GOSSIP!

“If the woman is doing nothing wrong then nothing will happen will it?” WRONG! Money can be and is suspended while they “investigate” which can take many months. It’s the only time in Uk law as far as I can tell where you’re guilty until proven innocent!!

Report her she is commuting fraud and that is against the law

I really am not jealous.

Well, you really sound it.

To be honest, you made it worse when you said that you wouldn't mind the idea of her committing benefit fraud if she was spending it on the sort of things you consider to be worthy, but that since she appears to be spending it on things you consider luxurious and frivolous you are fuming about it.

So it's not the (potential) benefit fraud that worries you, but the fact she spends money on nice things that you don't have.

I mean, feel free to report her. Obviously benefit fraud is wrong. I can't see how you can be so certain of your facts, but I guess the DWP will work out if it is fraud or not. The family might have a sticky few months, if their benefits get stopped while they investigate and it turns out she was doing nothing wrong, but hey. I guess they would always sell some of the crystal dummies off the pram. (The mind boggles, by the way, and I would like to see a picture of this pram...)

However, don't pretend your reason for doing it is anything other than jealousy.

Tbh I would sooner tax evaders were targeted , get the big corporations high earning business man to not dodge tax bills then I might care.

So many comments about tax evaders in this thread as if that justifies other fraud.

Just because tax evasion costs more doesn't mean it's ok to fraud the DWP

Report her - if its untrue then all will be ok . So many people on here who think it's OK to cheat the system .

Absolutely report them, you can do it online anonymously www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud. Its not about "keeping your beak out" it's about people getting what they are entitled to and that's it! Why should an honest hard working couple with kids struggling to pay childcare and mortgage get less than someone claiming to be single to gain benefits they are not entitled to?? Benefits r for people in need and not people that don't need them. It's in all our interest to report people like this as this is Fraud plain and simple and these people need to look after their own children instead of letting hard working tax payers pay for their offspring. Fair enough if a relationship breaks down but don't take the p**s!!!

I'm disabled & worked all my life paid my tax etc. Now I know of someone doing the same thing & believe me it's all about them & not the kids. It's just greed! They allow you to earn enough extra to help without affecting your benefits. Myself well it's not an issue of your cheating then I will report it.

Of course it’s not right to defraud the DWP ( which is ultimately our taxes). But she’s basically spending money and putting it back in the local economy - hair, make up restaurants etc.
She’s not creating off shore accounts or taking money out of the country for her own benefit.
If she’s earning minimum wage for 18 hours a week she’s hardly going to be claiming 1000’s Also it’s pretty hard to defraud for long and the penalties are harsh. She doesn’t sound terribly bright listing stuff on Facebook etc.Let them rumble her.

So many comments about tax evaders in this thread as if that justifies other fraud.

No-one's said that. I even put "benefit fraud is wrong" in capital letters. What they are saying is that blaming a small number of fraudsters for all the problems with the system lets the real villains off the hook. It's a version of the biscuit joke:

‘A banker, a worker, and an immigrant are sitting at a table with 20 biscuits. ‘The banker takes 19 biscuits and warns the worker: “Watch out, the immigrant is going to take your biscuit away.”’

You're left thinking it's legitimate to fight for crumbs when what you should be asking is, who nicked most of the packet?

Report her! It’s disgusting! Sick of people ripping off the benefits system whilst genuine people have nothing

No-one's said that. I even put "benefit fraud is wrong" in capital letters.

Lots of people have. You didn't. Others did.

Fraud is Fraud people and if your not guilty there's nothing to worry about as you only get money stopped once an investigation deems you to be guilty. You do Not get money stopped for suspected fraud. If its a Compliance interview its based on information that's given to DWP if its fraud an investigation will have taken place to obtain Factual information/evidence.

I would have no hesitation in reporting her. Unfortunately it is far too easy for people to commit benefit fraud as people don’t report and she is taking money away from others who really need it. Oh and yes go after the tax evaders too.

Love the biscuit analogy

Who said it was ok?

You dont KNOW anything

Oooh you big liar Mosch payment can and often is suspended.
Oh and you don't need to * you can say cunt here.

@Vanhi I told the same joke upthread .

Fraud is Fraud people and if your not guilty there's nothing to worry about as you only get money stopped once an investigation deems you to be guilty.

That's crap. Benefits are often stopped while investigations are done.

Report her, anonymously.
She will be investigated.
If she is committing fraud it will be stopped. If you have got your facts wrong then nothing changes and no harm done.
But... Do not tell ANYONE you did this. It will get back to her if you do!

I think someone who stands up in court against said rapist or murderer is commendable. Not someone who calls an anonymous hotline after reading a dodgy Facebook post and hearing gossip. Hardly comparable. Buts let’s just pretend they are for dramatic effect....

I'm not sure how to reply. I've already explicitly stated what my actual point is (that name calling people who report crime is wrong). You seem to be saying it's OK for less serious crimes, but don't seem to have an argument to support that.

What is the point of repeating things I haven't said? If OP were merely getting her information from gossip and supposition then, of course, she should mind her own business. That doesn't change my point that reporting genuine crime is to be supported.

Report without hesitation if you are sure she is commiting fraud.