Benefits fraud- what is the general feeling about it?

[Hadtoask]

I have changed my name and I’m posting with trepidation! I really am aware that I might sound heartless and mean. I will not be reporting this person but Im just interested to hear how other people feel about this. People may be very horrible to me and in this case I won’t be back! Sorry but not brave enough for an onslaught.

I won’t do the dreaded drip feed but I will have to be vague about a few details because I wouldn’t want the family identified.

So- a family I know had all their children removed from their care by the courts some years ago. They were a very large family. It is a permanent situation and the children will not be returning to their birth parents.

Despite many years passing the parents are still receiving benefits and tax credits for all of the children.

On the one hand I feel it’s really sloppy administration and makes a mockery of the benefits system. The tax payers are paying a lot of money in support for this family who are all in foster care. As well as supporting the parents who are on benefits. And now it’s come to light that there are tax credits paid to the parents for all of the children too.

I also feel that in some ways it’s probably this money that is holding their mother back from working. I feel she would really benefit from the structure and satisfaction of working. She has always claimed benefits and has never really stood on her own feet. She’s 40 ish.

On the other hand I feel that having lost her children she is very needy and this money will be very important to her. I can’t begrudge her anything because I feel extremely sorry for her.

I would not report this family but I definitely feel conflicted. I wonder how often this sort of thing goes on whilst there are people struggling to claim what they need.

Apologies if I sound really awful and mean. I’m just surprised at this situation and the money is not going to good use. I know this but cannot give details for risk of identifying them.

Of course report them. And I don't know why you're feeling sorry for her - people don't have all their children removed for no reason!

How on earth did you find out all this personal information about these people, OP?

This don't think this can be true. I had my children removed and my claim to income support ended immediately. I had to start claiming UC. I mean I reported the change. The law has changed and you can't claim if the children are in other care. I remember having lengthy discussions with UC about it.

It is fraud and I wouldn't be impressed if I knew someone was doing it.

Yes it's very sad that they have had their children taken away, but presumably this was for a good reason, to keep the children safe.

If she’s not managing to pay bills with bucket loads of free money how do you imagine she’ll be as asset to an employer? She’s 40 with no work experience and clearly some serious issues. Has she got any qualifications?

Their children were removed for their own good and the money isn’t being spent on living costs so how do you come up with the idea that they’re effectively being compensated financially for their failure to care for her children properly? That’s a bizarre approach.

@TheMustressMhor according to you this isn’t possible so there’s no need for you to comment.

I don’t feel mean spirited in discussing it because I’m discussing with strangers. I feel mean to have these thoughts about the family because the mum is someone I know well and have tried to help. I was clarifying that I feel conflicted. Not that I shouldn’t have a discussion with strangers.

@AnneLovesGilbert I think you are right.

Report.

@Hadtoask

I can comment on anything if I have something to say, surely?

I just meant that as you said you thought you sounded mean-spirited, it wasn't very kind-hearted to start a thread about people who you actually know nothing at all about.

I cannot imagine that you have looked at this couple's bank statements, or letters from utility companies saying they had not paid.

I am still sceptical as to how you found all this out.

I knew this was a big risk posting this and I’m sorry to anger people.

Also sorry to anyone who has been in this situation- losing children.

I am just so surprised that this fraud can happen and for so many years.
For those saying it can’t be true- it’s true.

I’m going to leave this thread now before people get angrier with me. Apologies for being cowardly. I really just wanted to see whether people felt shocked as I did.

They will have a massive shock when HMRC catch up with them! And they will have to pay it all back.

Not just HMRC. They'll presumably have been getting housing benefit for a family house, when they're now only entitled to a one-bed property. Where I live, that's around £60 a week difference, so a significant amount if this has been going on a while.

This is bound to come out eventually. When it does, they'll be stuffed. Their benefits will be cut, their HB won't cover their rent, and they'll have money deducted from the new, lower entitlement to repay the overpayment. They'll never be able to manage.

In some ways, they'd be better off fessing up now. If the overpayments come to less than £20k, they'd be able to get them written off via a debt relief order. If it gets to over £20k, they'd have to go through bankruptcy, and the fees for that are over £700 now, so they wouldn't be able to afford it.

I feel sorry for them, tbh, they sound like they struggle to cope in all sorts of ways.

People who don't feel mean spirited don't normally make a song and dance about name changing and posting with trepidation.

I will not be reporting this person but Im just interested to hear how other people feel about this.

Why will you not be reporting them? If the facts are as you say then it seems they really should be.

Are you sure?

I recently facilitated some children going into care. The only question the parents asked as they were taken away was when will our benefits stop.

That really isn't possible, OP. The foster parents will be claiming child benefit. The DWP doesn't pay it to two people.

Foster parents do NOT claim CB, we are not entitled to it.

I think if your children were temporarily removed you could keep your claim but there was a time limit on it I believe three months?

But if someone else tried to claim if they were adopted for example your claim would be paused or your asked if you consent to the change

People may be very horrible to me and in this case I won’t be back! Sorry but not brave enough for an onslaught.

Kind of missing the point of the thread, but why would you (or anyone who posts anything) care? It's a made-up name, no one is coming to get you in real life! People who actually know you won't be pursing their lips, tutting, and ignoring you in the street. Why does it matter if anonymous strangers disagree with your views?

So I'm guessing the children are in foster care or private family arrangement.....

I would report it doesnt make me happy to say this I feel people should do the right thing

This makes no sense. How do you know exactly what they are receiving, or what it's for?
Foster parents can receive child benefit in some circumstances, but there's no paying two parents for the same child.

If you really think that they are genuinely getting money that they are not entitled to, then the decent and compassionate thing is to tell them directly, as otherwise they'll have to pay it back at a later date.

Remember, if these are vulnerable people (which very clearly they are) then if you go reporting them, then you are partly responsible for what they then go through, especially if this is some misunderstanding, with being investigated, presumably having benefits frozen until it's cleared up etc. If you're keen to tell, then do make absolutely certain that you are right first.

@FiddlesticksAkimbo and don't forget she can go back to the name she uses when she isn't posting controversial stuff...

I'd report. She's not paying her bills, is she paying her rent?

@slipperywhensparticus
That rule changed when UC came to effect. When the girls went into care my claim was closed and I was pushed on to UC. CB has the 12-week rule.

I think the govt would do well to reclaim lost tax revenue from big corporations before chasing after single individuals.

I would report. They can work. They choose not to.