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Original poster

Reporting benefit fraud

246 replies

Pandemicfundswhattodo · 12/04/2021 06:59

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!

OP posts:
XDownwiththissortofthingX · 13/04/2021 01:16

THERE IS A LIMITED POT OF MONEY

There really isn't when it comes to benefit claims, being that entitlement is based on need rather than availability.

Again, you've bought the right-wing propaganda hook, line, and sinker if you genuinely believe that's how welfare works.

Love to see your hypothetical UK where there are literally millions of people claiming welfare fraudulently, to the point whereby the country is essentially bankrupt. I mean, you'd think someone would notice all those ESA and JSA claimants suddenly rolling around in Rolls Royces and buying megayachts before it came to that.

If millions of people claim benefits fraudulently, does that affect the welfare budget further down the line? Yes, it does.

Well no, it doesn't, due to this being an utterly absurd hypothetical situation that doesn't resemble reality in any way.

The welfare budget is calculated to include an expected rate of fraud. This has been the way of it for eons, and it has no material impact on successive year-on-year budgets. Incidentally, neither does the enormous amount of unclaimed benefit, which, going by your logic, should apparently result in increased benefits and payments the next year. Except, lo and behold, that doesn't happen either.

You really have no clue what you are talking about. So yes, probably best all around you go to sleep.

Fr0thandBubble · 13/04/2021 01:29

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

THERE IS A LIMITED POT OF MONEY

There really isn't when it comes to benefit claims, being that entitlement is based on need rather than availability.

Again, you've bought the right-wing propaganda hook, line, and sinker if you genuinely believe that's how welfare works.

Love to see your hypothetical UK where there are literally millions of people claiming welfare fraudulently, to the point whereby the country is essentially bankrupt. I mean, you'd think someone would notice all those ESA and JSA claimants suddenly rolling around in Rolls Royces and buying megayachts before it came to that.

If millions of people claim benefits fraudulently, does that affect the welfare budget further down the line? Yes, it does.

Well no, it doesn't, due to this being an utterly absurd hypothetical situation that doesn't resemble reality in any way.

The welfare budget is calculated to include an expected rate of fraud. This has been the way of it for eons, and it has no material impact on successive year-on-year budgets. Incidentally, neither does the enormous amount of unclaimed benefit, which, going by your logic, should apparently result in increased benefits and payments the next year. Except, lo and behold, that doesn't happen either.

You really have no clue what you are talking about. So yes, probably best all around you go to sleep.

Right well thankfully the English justice system agrees with me, not you. Now I really am going to bed, some of us have to go to work in the morning.
CateTown · 13/04/2021 01:37

No tax avoidance available to us normal people on PAYE and we are the ones paying for this fraud

Of course there is. If you claim tax relief on your pension contributions you are legally avoiding paying tax.

WrongWayApricot · 13/04/2021 01:41

You say it's the right thing to do. But, I'm not sure it is. Is it an obligation to report non dangerous crimes? If so, there's so much we should be reporting everyday. I like to my keep to myself so I wouldn't report, I wouldn't want anything to do with what happened next. It could take a really horrible unexpected turn and then in 10 years I'd have to live with knowing I set that in motion.

AlexaRain · 13/04/2021 07:41

@CateTown

No tax avoidance available to us normal people on PAYE and we are the ones paying for this fraud

Of course there is. If you claim tax relief on your pension contributions you are legally avoiding paying tax.

Obviously but it isn't anywhere near what those that are self employed can claim - 20% tax on dividends.
kirinm · 13/04/2021 08:07

Is your point that they're suggesting the self employed person isn't working at all so they can obtain UC? I would make sure you fully understand the self employment grant scheme - all money received will form part of their next tax return and will be taxed.

Personally I couldn't report someone but I have enough going on in my life to not want to get involved in anyone else's.

kirinm · 13/04/2021 08:13

Also the 'full amount' of the grant is calculated on your previous tax returns so unless you know what they've earned over the last 3 years, they may only be receiving the minimum which could easily be lost by having to self isolate etc

kirinm · 13/04/2021 08:23

I'm intrigued to know what your job is though OP. To have access to that much information you must be trusted by them or have access to their accounts.

longwayoff · 13/04/2021 08:25

A 'limited amount of money'? Not when it comes to Bozo and his girlfriend's decorating tastes. How about asking David Cameron who has failed to get his grasping mitts on a few Covid millions? Or Hancock's pub landlord? Are you going to be writing a complaint to your MP about these people who are supposed to set an example to the rest of us? Which, according to you, someone you know has tried to emulate. The road to hell is paved with good intentions OP.

seashells11 · 13/04/2021 09:30

THERE IS A LIMITED POT OF MONEY. This is very basic economics. It’s like arguing with someone who thinks 2 plus 2 is 5. I’m going to bed.

Well seeing as how millions go unclaimed each year I think the pot will be ok.......but If everyone on benefits who committed some kind of fraud, ceased to do it tomorrow the benefits would still be getting paid out. Nothing more would have to be added to the pot.

Fr0thandBubble · 13/04/2021 11:00

@seashells11

THERE IS A LIMITED POT OF MONEY. This is very basic economics. It’s like arguing with someone who thinks 2 plus 2 is 5. I’m going to bed.

Well seeing as how millions go unclaimed each year I think the pot will be ok.......but If everyone on benefits who committed some kind of fraud, ceased to do it tomorrow the benefits would still be getting paid out. Nothing more would have to be added to the pot.

I mean, this doesn’t even make sense.

Regardless, the number of people on here trying to defend benefit fraud just boggles my mind.

CateTown · 13/04/2021 20:10

So what are you going to do, OP?

PatrickBatemann · 13/04/2021 20:18

@CateTown

So what are you going to do, OP?
She said in her last update that she wasn't going to report
OverTheRainbow88 · 13/04/2021 20:20

I personally wouldn’t. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for someone getting in trouble, I would feel guilty and I would probably have sleepless nights over it... I’m a sensitive soul.

Live and let live and all

AlexaRain · 13/04/2021 20:44

I like to my keep to myself so I wouldn't report, I wouldn't want anything to do with what happened next. It could take a really horrible unexpected turn and then in 10 years I'd have to live with knowing I set that in motion.

But you wouldn't have set anything in motion. The person committing benefit fraud would have set, whatever happened next, in motion.

AlexaRain · 13/04/2021 20:46

@OverTheRainbow88

I personally wouldn’t. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for someone getting in trouble, I would feel guilty and I would probably have sleepless nights over it... I’m a sensitive soul.

Live and let live and all

So the person REPORTING the benefit fraud is responsible for the person COMMITTING the benefit fraud getting in trouble.

Right.

Zakana · 24/04/2021 16:37

@ElsasFrozenVerucca

It sounds like there might not be any fraud anyway, tbh. If the person has applied for something believing they are eligible but the government guidelines as to whether they are entitled to it or not are a bit unclear, and so they have put the money into a separate account in case they have to pay it back then they sound like they are being cautious financially and not doing anything wrong (and prepared to right the wrong if it the guidelines become clearer later on). This does not sound like benefit fraud to me at all. Even if it is it sounds like it was unintentional.

I would absolutely not report this. I was reported years ago and it nearly ruined my life and had a big impact on my mental health. I hadn't done anything wrong at all, it made me feel awful and I never found out who had reported me. It was vindictive.

The same happened to me after my BIL died. The SIL fell out with my MIL and DP over monies she thought she should be entitled to, starting a huge 6 year probate battle and then started phoning DWP, stating I was not disabled etc etc. My money was stopped until I had been in for an interview under caution, and my partner also. This affected all my benefits, including housing benefit and tax credits. This was just because she was being a spiteful little witch, I think I have mentioned it before, after it had all been sorted out and my benefits reinstated, we asked for a data access request of the call, and the DWP were only too happy to provide it. It was my SIL and nephew. Proof was there all along.

The worst was when she informed DWP that my MIL had died and to stop her pension payments. Again, MIL very much alive, and had to sort this all out, whilst pension payments were stopped. Again, we asked for a data access request of the phone call, DWP happily sent it to us, again SIL and nephew pretending to be my partner, telling DWP his mother had died. Fortunately we had spoken to her the day before we got the letter from DWP, telling us they were sorry she had died! Sick little fuckers, my SIL and her horrid offspring!

Zakana · 24/04/2021 16:46

@Nat6999

My ex sil reported me for benefit fraud, I lost my DLA & had my mobility car taken off me. I appealed & got my benefits back after almost a year without them, my parents had to buy me a car because my mobility was so bad I would have been housebound without one. I know it was her because she admitted it & laughed in my face. People making allegations are the lowest of the low, you do not have the full facts, you can't see their accounts & know how badly their income has been hit by the pandemic.
Ah, same with me, see you had a bitter and twisted SIL too!
blueangel19 · 24/04/2021 16:57

Do it. Think of the people who really need the benefits and do not get it Also, of the hard working people that pay taxes.

Checkingout811 · 24/04/2021 17:03

You know through your job? Are you sure that is some kind of breach?

blueangel19 · 24/04/2021 17:07

Well I do not want to be the sucker paying more because of these thieves. Can’t believe people think is right.

I bet those defending do not even pay tax. Otherwise, they would feel the same.

MintyMabel · 24/04/2021 17:10

Always the same on these threads. So many people who would ignore. Makes you wonder what else they'd turn a blind eye to.

Or, I have no idea what an individual’s circumstances are, so it isn’t my place to assume they are cheating the system.

If you see someone stealing a car do you call the police? What if they steal a handbag or attack someone?

The difference is I can see that and know it is a crime.

GiveIrelandBackToTheIrish · 24/04/2021 17:11

No I wouldn't cos I'm not a cunt

Kona84 · 24/04/2021 17:12

There’s so many parts to universal credit now- child benefit, working tax credits, essa etc all paid through this.
Some benefits are available without means testing such as PIP.

In what way are they been fraudulent? And how do you know what they submitted on their claim form?

Bythemillpond · 24/04/2021 17:23

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

You can be on the grant scheme and also be on UC. You can be self employed but still also be employed in a separate job.