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 report if I knew for a fact they were committing fraud e.g. If they were saying that they are claiming to love alone when I know perfectly well they are living with a long term partner. Or if they say they claiming JSA when I know for a fact they working cash in hand... But in think with me it would not happen because I rarely know the details of what my friends are claiming or earning.

There are clearly a lot of thieves on MN today.

Yes and they always come out to support other thieves when threads like this appear.

I would certainly consider it. As it is theft of public money. And makes a mockery of honest people struggling to make ends meet.

Re: disability, most chronic disorders are fluctuating. some days I can walk. If he says I cannot. So unless that person can walk sometimes but has claimed on their PIP or ESA that they never can walk at all, and I knew this for a fact, I wouldn't bat an eye. On my forms for PIP and ESA unexplained that some days I can walk other times I cannot or hardly at all. I have made sure to stress that my condition isn't stable. Because I would hate someone to see me on a good day and report me....so I decided being honest from the get go is the only way

I meant,: some days I can walk, other days I cannot. Stopped autocorrect

.stupid autocorrect, I mean

Yes definiteky

@Mcarthurpark

Re: disability, most chronic disorders are fluctuating. some days I can walk. If he says I cannot. So unless that person can walk sometimes but has claimed on their PIP or ESA that they never can walk at all, and I knew this for a fact, I wouldn't bat an eye. On my forms for PIP and ESA unexplained that some days I can walk other times I cannot or hardly at all. I have made sure to stress that my condition isn't stable. Because I would hate someone to see me on a good day and report me....so I decided being honest from the get go is the only way

This is why I get so annoyed when people tell others to write all their answers on the PIP form as if it's a bad day. I hear that said so often and it's just ridiculous. If a condition fluctuates then that needs to be properly explained.

@TrickyD

There are clearly a lot of thieves on MN today.

Yes and they always come out to support other thieves when threads like this appear.

I am honestly shocked that so many would turn a blind eye.

NewAutumnName

Lol at your extensive list of animal abuse and serious crime

Guess what, I don't fucking report people for driving through red lights, pulling into a cunting bus lane, trespass, not changing the address on their driving license

Because

LIFE IS FUCKING NUANCED AND REPORTING PEOPLE FOR MINOR CRIME IS A SHIT THING TO DO TO A 'FRIEND'

But you have at, go and stand at junctions tutting when someone goes over 20 miles an hour

I meanwhile will save my ire for crime I consider serious

And I'm guessing you fucking do too

Billions go unclaimed in benefits, it's actually not worth fiscally chasing anyone for benefit fraud - it costs more than it brings in

Utterly ridiculous black and white thinking on this thread

So unless that person can walk sometimes but has claimed on their PIP or ESA that they never can walk at all

But that's not how PIP works. It's the majority of days. There is clear case law on this.

And how on earth would you know what someone else had written on their highly confidential PIP 2?

Also ESA for the majority of claimants is now via UC50, with similar regulations.

And more than that I draw the line at reporting crimes I don't consider worth reporting - and I'm not a police officer so I don't have to report ALL crimes I see - it's not 1984

As does every other human do this including police officers who tell lads to calm down instead of arresting them every time for breach of the peace

A benefit fraud investigation for LTAHW is quite lengthy and done behind the scenes. If there is nothing in it, nothing will happen. If it's real, then initially she will be called by 'compliance' and 'advised' to report a change of circumstances'

And have her benefits stopped during this process. So if the OP has misjudged the situation or embellished it, a woman has her benefits stopped and all the related struggles for no reason other than jealousy.

Yes the person I reported had to pay the money back and she got a suspended prison sentence. She had to sell her big 5 bed house to pay the money back and move to a much smaller place

Not only was she claiming that she couldn't work because she could barely walk and in agony with her back (and yet could lift heavy furniture) she, obviously was not declaring her pretty substantial income so avoiding paying any tax.

@TrickyD

There are clearly a lot of thieves on MN today.

Yes and they always come out to support other thieves when threads like this appear.

I'd rather be called a thief than a nosy malicious reporter.

Hokeywokey

TrickyD
There are clearly a lot of thieves on MN today.

Yes and they always come out to support other thieves when threads like this appear.

I'd rather be called a thief than a nosy malicious reporter.

Me too. I’ve worked very hard for my money. But to call her a FRIEND. Who needs enemies.

@lynsey91

Yes the person I reported had to pay the money back and she got a suspended prison sentence. She had to sell her big 5 bed house to pay the money back and move to a much smaller place

Not only was she claiming that she couldn't work because she could barely walk and in agony with her back (and yet could lift heavy furniture) she, obviously was not declaring her pretty substantial income so avoiding paying any tax.

So it was tax evasion, and you reported her to HMRC?

Not benefit fraud.

Your narrative is quite mangled. And you wouldn't have been appraised of the outcome.

I wouldn't report anyone with kids under 18, no. If no DC involved and I was 100% certain they were taking the piss, maybe.

Would you tell her you were the one that reported her? Or would you fake support when it all fucks up and her life becomes a mess. I'd judge the sneakiness more than the fraud tbh.

It's not right what shes doing and it would be her own fault but in all honesty I just cba on reporting stuff like this. I'd hate to trade places so just thankful I'm not in the same position. Plus the obvious one, you dont know the actual truth. The one they've told you and the one shes living might be two different things.

Yes I would, but only on the basis I really did have crystal clear evidence that there was fraud taking place. I think in 99% of cases you really just don't have the evidence (which is why the government doesn't either). I do agree with you OP, although this line of conversation never goes down well on here. There's an assumption on mnet only people who are honest and dare I say... deserving claim benefits, but I know plenty of non working people on benefits who have a much higher earning partner not technically living there but spending the whole damn time there much as if they do. Of course that's only anecdote though and anecdote can't ever possibly be aligned with truth.

There are dishonest cheats in all walks of life, benefit claimants and politicians alike. Given that there are 6.8m working age claimants out there in the UK (something like 1 in 3 or 4 of all working age people) odds on there are quite a lot of dishonest benefit claimants just as there are plenty of dishonest cleaners or retail staff or accountants.

The moronic benefit fraud apologists are first in queue complaining moaning about austerity. Kept going folks, this is what has hardened people’s attitude towards the welfare state. The piss takers always end up causing harm to genuinely needy.

@JamieLeeCurtains

So unless that person can walk sometimes but has claimed on their PIP or ESA that they never can walk at all

But that's not how PIP works. It's the majority of days. There is clear case law on this.

And how on earth would you know what someone else had written on their highly confidential PIP 2?

Also ESA for the majority of claimants is now via UC50, with similar regulations.

Exactly!! That is what I meant. I wouldn't know what they put on their form so if I saw someone who appeared to walk fine but they were saying they were on benefits because sometimes they couldn't walk, if think maybe they are like me. I have days when I can walk and days when I can't . So when it comes to disability I give the benefit of the doubt.

I would.report a situation where someone lived with their partner but claimed that they lived alone. or claimed JSA when I knew they were working cash in hand. Those are clear cut. Disability is less clear cut.

@sst1234

The moronic benefit fraud apologists are first in queue complaining moaning about austerity. Kept going folks, this is what has hardened people’s attitude towards the welfare state. The piss takers always end up causing harm to genuinely needy.

I have not seen one apologist on here. I have seen most people.saying they'd report of they were 100% benefit fraud was taking place. So where are all these apologists?

Definitely report. Why would you not report theft?

YABU and really spiteful sounds like my DH’s parents when they found out we where getting married I was branded a benefit cheat because I was still getting my UC money they knew we where living together and I’m still entitled to it now that we are married I get a bit less than I did when I was single because they take his wages into account but I’m still allowed to claim my UC money. But you crack on and do what you believe is “right” because your jealous you know what they say comparison is the thief of joy.