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.

That makes sense. I did just read that there are some exceptions when it comes to parents receiving benefits and a child in care or foster care.
If the child has overnight visits with their parents the benefits aren't stopped. Perhaps that's the case here.
I'm not sure how to link the site I read it on.

The parents don’t have anything to do with the children anymore. I think they simply continued claiming for them and it hasn’t come to light.

I'd report this fraud.
Benefits are meant for people who need it - legally assessed.
The system will be lost for all if fraudsters steal money they aren't untitled to. It's theft. It's criminal.
It's taxpayers money - it's our business.

Im usually the one to say but out but in this case I would report that's awful.

I would report and I wouldn’t think twice.

@loobyloo1234 thank you. And you are completely right.

I just changed name because I’m embarrassed and also because I’m really not good at weathering abuse online. I’m probably considerably older than most of the people who use social media and I find that I get very shaken. Something I don’t understand is why anyone would think I had made up a scenario and posted it just to incite some sort of nasty debate. That sounds ludicrous to me. But perhaps I am naïve and there is a sport in this!

I am close to the family. I also worry that a court case could be extremely damaging to them and I don’t know how much more mum can take. There have been many other awful things she has gone through. It’s tragic really. When I learned she has still got the benefits coming in my first thought was - all that money and it’s not been used wisely at all. I can’t say more because it’s so easy to accidentally identify them. They are an extremely large family. Very unique case. I’m worried that if they cannot manage- and I’m talking about very basic things- then how would they manage when working for a salary. They must be receiving what would be an average salary for the area we live in. They are not able to pay for utilities or even keep a roof over their heads. It’s absolutely awful.

I do not resent anyone receiving benefits to support them when needed. I am someone who helps struggling families. I give my time and my money. I also realise- partly due to the comments on this thread- that this is a drop in the ocean and there’s a lot wrong with the benefits system.

Thanks to everyone who has responded thoughtfully. It’s really helpful.

I feel sorry for her just because she appears unable to stand on her own feet.

Do you feel sorry for me that I have to go to work every day of the week, to have a portion of my earned wages taken off me to fund people like this, when it could be going to fund someone actually entitled to it? Do you feel sorry for those people or those services that could be receiving more money if people weren't stealing from the system?

Theft is theft, people call it different things to justify it.

Theft is theft, people call it different things to justify it.

Yup, like tax avoidance and tax evasion!

You should report. Benefit fraud is theft.

Don't feel sorry for benefit cheats, feel sorry for hard working families on tight budgets, who through their taxes fund the benefits. And feel sorry for those who through no fault of their own are forced to survive on benefits, and manage even tighter budgets.

I'd report her without hesitation!

I don’t know why people are so surprised that you know this information. I knew someone who was living with her boyfriend whilst renting out her council house on the sly but pretending she lived there! It was common knowledge! I didn’t report her though

I feel sorry for her just because she appears unable to stand on her own feet

Our public services are crumbling and all benefits cheats and tax avoiders contribute to the demise. Don't ever complain about the shortfalls in the NHS, schools, public transport, roads, lighting, mental health care, policing, prisons etc etc if you think abusing the benefits or tax system is justifiable.

@Hadtoask I don’t envy the situation you’re in at all. You have to be comfortable living with whatever action you decide to take and in all honesty I think you could justify going either way to yourself or someone else.

@Cornettoninja thank you. It’s quite a dilemma. I am hoping that somewhere along the line there will be checks made and this will come to light. And then the family can look at legitimate ways of earning a living. Unfortunately they are associating with a lot of people who commit fraud in many ways and see it as normal.