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?

@lynsey91what happened after? Did you ever find out?

I woild find it hard to report a friend. But I would report someone else for this. Its money out of your pocket.

I knew someone who was claiming benefits as she said she could not work due to health problems. She claimed she could barely walk and got disability benefits.

PIP, was it? Aye right.

Here we go.

Jesus Christ. I bet you’d be frothing to report her if she has more than the requisite six in her house, too, wouldn’t you, OP? 🙄

Who needs enemies with friends like you? Your motivation is not from a sense of morality and justice, it’s because your friend has nice things and you don’t.

@silentpool

I woild find it hard to report a friend. But I would report someone else for this. Its money out of your pocket.

What, with £10 billion of benefits unclaimed annually?

I wouldn't as I'm not petty but it is fraud and you could.

Some friend you would be, if you reported them.

Definitely claiming benefits is stealing from honest taxpayer's although it seems many on Mumsnet are petty criminals and are happy to condone this. Stealing from the taxpayers It is no different to stealing from a bank or any other business.

I am a tax payer, even paid tax when I was getting tax credits.

There is nothing wrong with being jealous if it is unearned these nice cars especially if they are obtained using fraud to help pay for it. You have a moral duty to report it.

Yes I would report,wouldn’t think twice about it.

It does seem shit but I wouldn't report it. My threshold for reporting anything is abuse and grand larceny. Anything else I leave them to it, it's difficult to prove anyway.

People are stupid to let others know about their finances.

yes report but i doubt they will do anything

I wouldn't report it but would be seething inside.
People that do this often get found out eventually anyway.

Have you spoken to your ‘friend’ directly used the word fraud? That’s surely a good place to start?

@vodkaredbullgirl

I am a tax payer, even paid tax when I was getting tax credits.

But I would guess taking much more out than you paid in. Too many people think that just because they pay Vat and duty on a glass of wine makes them net tax payers. to be honest unless you are earning 40k you are a net drain on the taxpayer assuming you have average number of children and average health issues.

You can receive tax credits and still earn enough to pay tax as well as just vat. Obviously not to 'self sufficient' levels, but tax payer none the less.

No. As a taxpayer, it really annoys me but I couldn't grass on anyone, least of all a "friend" .

Oh yes, Rishi needs his money back ASAP

I felt shit for being furloughed and receiving something that I’ve inevitably already paid into for years.

Report her!

Yes, if they aren't doing any harm what's the issue

it seems many on Mumsnet are petty criminals

@Wherehavetheteletubbiesgone have you evidence to back this claim up?

www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/27/false-benefit-fraud-allegations

They have confirmed that she is claiming as a single parent.

I’m amazed how often this comes up in a conversation when someone is fraudulently claiming benefits. Most friends don’t even talk about what they legally earn as salary but people claiming benefits illegally tell everyone what they are doing. Presumably none of them ever come on MN and see the plethora of posts from people willing to stick their nose in.

@lynsey91

So would the degree of benefit fraud make any difference to those who would not report?

I knew someone who was claiming benefits as she said she could not work due to health problems. She claimed she could barely walk and got disability benefits.

In fact she had a business buying furniture cheaply and then re-selling it. She would buy wardrobes and manage to get them into her car on her own and even sometimes up on the car roof.

She bought a holiday home in Portugal during the years she was claiming, went on holiday to Australia at least once a year for a month at a time and generally had a pretty good life.

I reported her and do not feel the slightest bit guilty about it

Was she convicted do you know?

Who needs enemies with friends like you? Your motivation is not from a sense of morality and justice, it’s because your friend has nice things and you don’t.

Yes, the couple in question do have more cash to spend, because they are benefit cheats, and using other people's tax money!

There are clearly a lot of thieves on MN today.

And for the hard of reading, the OP is not friends with the woman, she and her DP know the man.

It's theft pure and simple. Report her.