Reporting benefit fraud

[Pandemicfundswhattodo]

Have nc'd for this.

Have you ever reported benefit fraud? Would you report covid-19 financial fraud (getting support when not needed and having to lie to do this)?

Sadly worried about karma as we are always told to "not tell tales" but this family have received thousands in help from the government over the last year and have been claiming UC fraudulently as well.

Before anyone asks ... yes we do know the above are facts. Would you even think twice?

Also there is no need for me to be worried about karma as have never claimed anything fraudulently so that feeling has no need to be there, it is just me feeling guilty!

@EverythingRuined

I KNOW mistakes happen but someone’s benefits will not be stopped simply because someone reports them for fraud. Implying that this happens is ridiculous. I know a few posters on this thread have had it happen to them but there cases will have been investigated prior to them losing their benefits and their benefits will only have been stopped if there was good reason to suspect fraud. Obviously in these cases the investigations proved there was no fraud but this will be the exception.

I’d always report.

Absolutely not in my case.

There was no good reason at all. They simply stopped the claim while the investigated the false allegation. It happens and it causes huge amounts of stress.

I'd definitely report

Report them! I think someone must have reported me years ago for benefit fraud. I had been claiming for years then they randomly wanted like a year of bank statements and pay slips. I wasn't commiting fraud so didn't even think it was that at the time and thought they was just being thorough 😆 gullible me. Report them op if they aren't doing anything they will be fine.

My benefits were not stopped they gave me ages to get the info requested to them. Then it took them ages to send it all back. Mine was never stopped.

I'd have expected it to stop if I got the info back late, like the letter said. But they gave me around a month so plenty of time.

@FireflyRainbow

I'd have expected it to stop if I got the info back late, like the letter said. But they gave me around a month so plenty of time.

We had that too but it was still suspended while they looked into it. Gave them everything that day and we were already sending them monthly payslips because of mistakes they had been making. Still suspended, still too out MP to sort it out after months.

Then again they did the same when I changed jobs. Suspended for weeks on end, same when I caught pneumonia and had to claim
SSP. Any change they would suspend the claim.

It was soul destroying being at the mercy of them. Moved 300 miles away now to an area much cheaper. Had to leave all our family and friends, kids schools etc but at least we don't have to claim anything here to pay rent.

Why wouldn't you report them if you're 100% sure?

Why are you going to stand by and watch thieves be thieves and do nothing about it?

A woman from the yard where I keep my horse was reported and investigated for benefit fraud.
She claimed to be a single sahm, where in fact her (working full time)bf lived with her and she had a job in the local pub(pre covid).
She was found guilty and all benefits stopped and had to pay back, she would then plead poverty on horse yard nights out, not buy a drink, expect us all to cover her meal etc saying how hard done by she is.
Prior to this she was constantly showing pictures of her twice yearly holiday's, her new car, stuff for her horse, I had zero sympathy.
Benefit fraud is claiming money out if the tax papers pockets .
Id always report if 100% sure.

@FireflyRainbow

My benefits were not stopped they gave me ages to get the info requested to them. Then it took them ages to send it all back. Mine was never stopped.

Am glad but it’s changed, now they immediately suspend then investigate. Grim for the innocent.

Implying that this happens is ridiculous

I'm implying NOTHING It HAS happened to me and others I know. I very much resent and am offended at being called a liar how DARE you!

Dwp confirmed NO investigation prior to stoppage and NO reason as far as they could tell until ex claimed I was either working or had moved a man in - which was complete bullshit every time so there's NO WAY there'd be ANY even suggestive evidence of such.

I provided all paperwork requested in plenty of time and even allowed them to search my home completely without notice so they could see there was no man living there, I'd not even had a male friend visit in months! Not even my brother. It was completely and utterly unfounded!

@Graphista

Implying that this happens is ridiculous

I'm implying NOTHING It HAS happened to me and others I know. I very much resent and am offended at being called a liar how DARE you!

Dwp confirmed NO investigation prior to stoppage and NO reason as far as they could tell until ex claimed I was either working or had moved a man in - which was complete bullshit every time so there's NO WAY there'd be ANY even suggestive evidence of such.

I provided all paperwork requested in plenty of time and even allowed them to search my home completely without notice so they could see there was no man living there, I'd not even had a male friend visit in months! Not even my brother. It was completely and utterly unfounded!

I'm so sorry that happened to you. Like I said upthread, my housing benefit was suspended (my area didn't change existing claims to UC). It's was horrific and I also know many people it had happened to.

A lady at my dds playgroup went through the same as you. She had them come to check the house too. She fled Dv 18 months prior and it put her in a very bad place to have her place of safety violated and her financial security threatened after a malicious claim that she had a man living with her.

It's horrific.

Yes we forgot, you live and operate to your own set of laws. The law of the land is of insignificance to you.

Twit.

@sst1234

Legal and moral are not the same thing and the system is hiked in favour of the rich and powerful. You may not have a problem with that, but others have.

@ThreeFeetTall
The tenancy agreement was brand new (just moved in). Joint names, along with joint names on the allowance application form.
Current council tax bill showing one name for the tenancy address. Showing single person discount and covid assistance.

@Pandemicfundswhattodo
You’ve been repeatedly told that you can still be working as self employed and still claim these grants, it’s to cover your loss in earnings as compared to previous years, it is not free £££.
My friend has received them and the amount was promptly deducted from her UC monthly payment, so no gain whatsoever.
MN in general are very anti benefits and love frothing and spouting uninformed crap.
Keep your nose out of other peoples business and if this was told in confidence or second hand, it is really none of your business.
Also, bear in mind the Tory government is responsible for millions of misspent £ and more ppl than ever claiming benefits, so I do hope you vote accordingly, rather than interfering in ordinary peoples lives who are just trying to get by.

I agree that none of would stand by and not report a theft of actual stuff if we saw it. But somehow putting your name down on an official form to report someone feels a little scary doesn't it?
I think that's what stops me reporting a couple of people I know who have taken the Covid grants for 'holiday lets' which they were intending to let as long lets. I'm actually scared of being dragged into officialdom myself!

I wouldn’t report you never 100% know. UC is a pittance and the poor have been squeezed and demonised this whole pandemic. Mumsnet is very anti benefits, yet fail to acknowledge the billions of wasted money or tax loopholes the government have given their pals.
If wasting public money is up there on your list of moral objections, vote accordingly next time.

You can claim the self employed grant while still trading. You just have to demonstrate that covid has adversely affected your turnover. UC is is paid on the income for a one month period. The loans are paid 3 monthly, so technically in the 2 months the loan is not paid you may be able to to claim UC, even though you've technically been paid the grant for that month, you haven't received the money during that month. They may be exploting loopholes, and claiming legally (if not morally). Personally I'd keep my nose out of it.

@Heysiriyouknob thank you. That it was my ex (dds father and at the time dd was primary age and it very much impacted her too) was particularly disgraceful.

I've known it happen to a few people - it's often ex's or ex in laws out of spite!

I'm a survivor of csa myself and it was a lone middle aged man did the inspection. I didn't feel able to protest or complain for fear it would make matters worse! Very distressing he even went through the bins! I have ocd and I did insist he did that last

Also, bear in mind the Tory government is responsible for millions of misspent £

Try billions! The corruption is off the scale!

It's been a very very steep learning curve for me going from someone who had worked full time from the age of 16 and even at times when made redundant but not getting a big payout as I hadn't been working there long it never occurred to me to claim then I went and applied for every job going and never went more than a few weeks between jobs - this was when the economy was generally doing much better and when I was fit and healthy.

Becoming disabled at the age of 32 had a massive impact on me. I managed to keep working for a few years but eventually it simply became impossible.

I'm well educated, well spoken (albeit accent is a little odd due to being an army brat), articulate and well mannered and yet from very first time I went into a municipal office to claim I was treated like shit on the clerks shoe!

I'd very much like for those who think it's so bloody easy to claim and live on benefits to put their money where their mouth is and try it! Except they won't cos deep down they know they're talking shite!

And it's been getting much worse over last 10 years for obvious reasons.

I ended up disabled thanks to a dick who thought texting was more important than watching the road while he was driving. Sickness and disability can happen to anyone at any age.

Report.

Who believes in karma...plenty of evil people seem to do ok

What are you reasons for wanting to report it? If it’s to get one over on them and out of spite YABU as that’s nasty. If it’s because you are a very honest person and this really dosnt sit right with you then YANBU

Also, and I know I will get flamed for this, but for me it would fully depend on the people involved. If they are a family who have really suffered and struggling to cope on the pittance that is UC and reporting them would break them them even if I didn’t like them I would probably stay out if it. If they were raking in loads of money and live a nice comfy life splashing the cash around and regularly commit commit benefit fraud I’d probably report if I knew there is no way it would come back to me.

I'd very much like for those who think it's so bloody easy to claim and live on benefits to put their money where their mouth is and try it! Except they won't cos deep down they know they're talking shite!

This in SPADES.

You have no idea what it's like to "live off the state" until you have been forced into that position. It's not a good life.

Criminals are innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the Law
Claimants are guilty until proven innocent in the eyes of the DWP. Meaning they'll stop all their money before they've even looked into it. Meaning children potentially going hungry. I for one would certainly not be having that on my bloody conscience.

If you do report them don't start offering a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to. If you've got the bollocks to report you've surely got the bollocks to own it.

You should report.
They’re basically taking money from people who genuinely need it. I’m baffled at how people think that’s OK.