To ask if you would report benefit fraud?

[namechanged102]

Name changed.

Me and DP have a friend who recently reconciled with his ex. She was a single parent who hasn't worked because she had her first DC young.

Said friend does earn and has moved in with her, however she is still claiming as a single parent and pretty much everything is paid for - rent, council tax reduction etc.

They seem to be living such a comfortable lifestyle, they recently got a new car and have had numerous staycations. I feel like it isn't any of my business what they get up to, but me and DH work full time and still can't afford anywhere near the lifestyle that they lead. It just seems a bit shit.

AIBU?

I would definitely report. It's theft and absolutely wrong.

I am amazed at the amount of posters who have ‘friends’ who share that they are fraudulently claiming benefits. I don’t even know how much my friends get paid, much less the inner details of their additional incomes (if any).

I wouldn’t report and I’m on a very low income as a single, working parent. I don’t feel bitter about TVs, cars and staycations that other people have. Why would I? Would them not having those things make me feel any better in the long run?

If they are fraudulently claiming then they will get found out eventually and be hit with a big bill to pay it all back. If there is the smallest doubt and you do report, the claim will stop while it’s being investigated and if there is a chance it’s not fraud, it could really fuck them over.

Those sticking up for the fraud friend saying how they don’t resent her having small luxuries are being short sighted. When you mean about austerity, remember why benefits cuts were accepted and even welcomed by the general public and continue to be so popular. It’s because people taking advantage of the system ruin it for the needy. Many knew and still know people who use benefits as a lifestyle choice and abuse the system, and that never works out well because it hardens the net contributors’ stance towards the welfare state.

Yeah I would report. Only people who would do or do the same thing would say don't report, because they are happy to steal money as well. I'm not happy to steal money, so I would report.

Lots of people who do this think they are clever for stealing and lying to the system. They aren't often laughing or feeling clever while on their way to prison.

@KeepingPlain

Yeah I would report. Only people who would do or do the same thing would say don't report, because they are happy to steal money as well. I'm not happy to steal money, so I would report.

Lots of people who do this think they are clever for stealing and lying to the system. They aren't often laughing or feeling clever while on their way to prison.

The reality is most don't go to prison so there's not much deterrent. They get to pay it back at a couple of pounds a week and that's about it.

The reality is most don't go to prison so there's not much deterrent. They get to pay it back at a couple of pounds a week and that's about it.

Some do though and they deserve it. Those that end up paying it back deserve that too. Really, that's an easier punishment than being sent to prison.

Yes and I have reported before.

Nope. Would never dob someone in for this. What Worra said. And fucking bloody sick of people calling UK holidays 'staycations'. Staycation is when you stay at home and do day trips, returning to your home each night. Going on holiday in the UK is just that.

And yeah, FuckHim, so amazed at how many know the inner minutiae of their 'friends' finances. Do they fuck!

Yes, it is fraud. No argument there.
Yes, it is shit when other people work their arses off and are only scraping by. I bet it feels like a right kick in the teeth.
No, I would not report. As others have said already, these things do have a habit of catching up with people and if they really are as blase as you say, someone else will do the deed.

at the moment during lockdown I'm not sure that would be against any law anyway? You are not supposed to switch households are you? And so perhaps he intended to but then due to covid didn't.

Or he is waiting for a new place...
Could be anything...

Not sure why anyone is assuming this is fraud, could be any number of things...

How does the OP know which benefits the so called 'friend' is getting? and why is the OP calling this person a 'friend' anyway?

I would want to but if it's a friend I would find it difficult to. It will catch up with then eventually!

100% yes.

So you name changed for this?

I doubt you'll be brave enough to tell her you're planning to report her. If you were really as honest as you claim you'd post this under your normal username and tell her what you plan to do.

Let her enemies report her, not her friends.

Tell him / her I mean.

I would and I have.

The benefit cheat was in a full time teaching job and had a very well paid DP. Both graduates, two good salaries. very nice privately rented home and two DC.

She came to ask me to sign her benefit form for UB, confirming she's not working. I notice the form gives her a different surname. She says breezily. "That's my maiden surname , DWP don't know about DH, they think I'm a single parent."

" You work full time. I'm not signing this."

"Okay, you're not the first to refuse, I'll ask someone else".

So I dobbed her in.

What on earth is UB?

I'm always surprised by the either or attitude, you can be frustrated that amazon and Starbucks dont pay appropriate levels of tax, that bankers get 6 figure bonuses during a recession, that MPs claim expenses for 2 homes that are commutable distance from London and that (a very small minority of) people claim benefits they are not entitled to.
Having said that I'm not sure I would report a friend.

Absolutely would report. Fraud like this, which seems pretty common, is why the welfare system is costing so much. If the fraudsters are weeded out, that means more money can be directed to those that really need it.

I probably wouldn’t report. If I really disagreed with it - as you do - I would tell her that I don’t agree with it and would stop being around her. If you reported her and she lost everything, would you be happy to keep being her friend? Because if the issue is the morality of it then you should probably stop being friends with her.

I don’t think some posters have read it properly. It isn’t the OP friend who is a ‘single parent’ who claims benefits, the OP friend is the guy who works and has moved in with the now not so single mum and they are both now living rent free even though he is working. Wouldn’t we all love to live rent free AND have a full time wage to spend on whatever we wanted? Doesn’t mean it’s ok to do. Also wondering how old her DC is...is she just never going to work because she had a child young and realised she can claim benefits instead.

@Livelovebehappy

Absolutely would report. Fraud like this, which seems pretty common, is why the welfare system is costing so much. If the fraudsters are weeded out, that means more money can be directed to those that really need it.

This is spot on.

Absolutely

We are going to be absolutely crushed under taxes to recover from this year financial disaster - and it's far from over. The last thing anyone need is for CF to abuse the system.

It's a criminal offence.

No.