To risk everything for beliefs

[Silentlyseething1]

I’ve name changed for this as it could be outing but I am getting more and more annoyed by people abusing the system and the fact that I know a whole group of people who are committing benefit & council tax fraud. The poorer families are all due to get support and all these people I know are due to get some help too but then they are jetting off on holiday abroad etc. because they don’t declare their husbands live there etc.

I just sit and silently judge them when I talk to them as me and my other half do everything by the book and we don’t claim UC or anything even though we probably could. I probably know about 12 people who are committing one or the other type of fraud and most are committing both.

it just makes my blood boil as I work hard for my money, should I report them all and risk making my own life difficult or not?

I wouldn't report anyone for benefit fraud, I'd mind my own business. In the grand scheme of things, they aren't the ones ruining this country.

That's down to UC to investigate the claims. They pay people to do that job. Why do you want to do that job for them?

They have to have tip-offs in order to investigate them. Back in the day I worked for DSS. We used to get letters all the time, people dobbing in their neighbours. We did have someone investigating them, and he used to warn them to get their act together, or they'd be prosecuted. Usually this was enough for them to stop claiming. People don't always realise that they're stealing and they need a kick of reality and the threat of prosecution to bring it home.
I did report someone back then, but now I'm not sure I would, because I would never be confident I knew the whole story - I'd keep out of it, I think.

There's is around £15 billion in unclaimed benefit compared to the £8.6 billion the government report was lost due to fraud and ERROR.

Funny how the government make everyone believe the reason the benefits system is shit is because of fraudulent claims when actually there is £15 billion the government know should be claimed but aren't doing anything about it.

Aside from the shopping people I would say if you think you may be entitled to UC then apply for it.
no need to struggle if you’re entitled to help. People who work and claim UC pay taxes too

In this day and age can you blame them?

It's all fucked up. If my DH and I split, I'd be entitled to nothing because I earn over £50k. Just about. Yet two incomes on less than that would get support.

It's fucked up. I realise £50 k is a lot for some people and I am not moaning I am grateful I have a job that pays that. I've worked my arse off to get where I am. But I'm not rolling in it.

So what are you risking for your beliefs OP?

Pikes in a can I think.
do you not think benefit fraud affects everyone?

Exactly this. These people are FAR from being the problem. Focus on the real problem (huge trust funds, tax havens, tax avoidance by companies, etc)

I would pay attention to me and mine and mind my own business on others.

I don't understand that either.

Benefit fraud isn't good. Being proud that you don't claim benefit you're entitled to is just silly.

Crack on and report
I have been reported twice for benefit fraud years ago (different people)
once was a friends DP who hated me because I helped her realise how abusive he was
other time was a jealous neighbour
I was not committing fraud and legitimately claiming disability benefits whilst working and getting tax credits as a lone parent
I am also great at scrimping and saving so can afford other things

It can be done anonymously;

www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud

However, as others have said this is really 'small potatoes'.

Much more is lost in tax evasion - estimate £35 billion

www.gov.uk/report-tax-fraud

I'm not seeing why it would make your life difficult. I'd understand if it was your next door neighbour, but 12 different people, yes report them.

I wouldn't report them.

Watch MNers fall over themselves now in this thread trying to tell you to mind your own business, that benefit fraud doesn’t matter. MN has very high morals except when it comes to benefit fraud. That’s seen as a virtue around here.

It’s fraud, therefore mostly undetected. Of course they only count the ones they catch.

No actually that's the estimated amount of fraud. Its not based on those that were caught. Funny though that they count fraud and error as the same thing.

You sound like a bit of a busybody to be honest.

Yes, technically it’s wrong but you’re making out this sort of thing is really rife and it’s not.

Most people who receive benefits are legally entitled to them and this ‘it’s common’ mentality ends up ruining it for everybody else because everybody starts tarring people with the same brush when in the grand scheme of things benefit fraud accounts for a tiny amount of expenses, yet our rich government are ripping us all off and claiming billions out of the public purse and no one gives a crap about that and just blames all the ‘scoungers’.

Some people unfortunately will always slip through the net.

If someone feels the need to commit benefit fraud as immoral as it is they must be hard up without it. I’d love to know how you know for a fact about other so many people’s financial arrangements.

Just keep your nose out.

Exactly this. Look up the figures. It’s a tiny amount compared to what the establishment are doing. Leave it be.

I agree with you OP and also know of a lot of fraudsters but you will never get MN to agree or even to believe you.

Estimates are always based on actual rates of whatever is being measured. That just how statistics are done. Since detection is so poor, it leads to underestimation of fraud.

Anecdotally speaking, too many people know or see others defrauding the system. That’s why attitudes towards welfare have hardened so much in the last 15 years or so.

Personally I'd stay out of it.

But you do you.