Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you report this? Potential benefit fraud

389 replies

Overthebow · 03/03/2023 09:35

I’m struggling with this one, on one hand I think just leave it as everyone is struggling to survive, on the other it just doesn’t sit right with me. And I’d it even benefit fraud? I don’t have much experience with benefits so not sure. I need your thoughts! here’s the situation.

A couple had a baby a few years ago. Almost straight afterwards they split up.she got a housing association property and universal credit, she doesn’t work. He lives at his mums, has a decently paid job and doesn’t claim UC. But ever since they’ve still appeared to kind of be together. He sleeps over a few times a week, they go on days out and holidays together and she talks about them as ‘we’ and ‘us’. She’s also talked about buying a house together in the future as he is able to save a decent amount.

OP posts:
idontbutido · 03/03/2023 09:38

That's not benefit fraud though. You can have a boyfriend who sleeps there a few times a week and you go on holiday together and still have a single UC claim.

Nimbostratus100 · 03/03/2023 09:38

well, it sounds dodgy, but the best way to tackle it would be warn her it looks dodgy, rather than report her

reporting because a relationship is healing is time consuming, expensive for tax payers and devastating for the family.

Tell her you are concerned about how it looks and the trouble she could get into, then leave it up to her to either continue to take the risk, or look into exactly how much he can legally stay over, etc, if she wants a peaceful life!

memyselfi · 03/03/2023 09:38

What the hell is it to do with you ?
Just mind your own business.
Do people really live like this ?
Monitoring friends or neighbours for some transgression?
You've no clue what their lives are like , wish them happiness.

Hoppinggreen · 03/03/2023 09:39

Yep, sounds like fraud to me.
I would judge but not report

Dinkleberg · 03/03/2023 09:41

A partner can sleep over a few times a week and not have to join their claim under UC rules. Also, if you reported her her claim would be suspended and her money stopped whilst they investigated. Would you really want to do that? Mind your own.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 03/03/2023 09:41

If they aren't living together it isn't fraud. He is allowed to stay a couple of nights

MamOfFive · 03/03/2023 09:42

No that's not fraud. You can have a partner stay over long as they have another address they pay their bills on.

So well done on being a nosey Parker and jumping to the wrong conclusion. 👏🏻👏🏻

Mrsjayy · 03/03/2023 09:42

I mean It's her boyfriend isn't it not her live in partner or husband so they are not doing anything wrong I mean what would you say ? My neighbour goes on holiday with her boyfriend .

WFHbore2023 · 03/03/2023 09:42

Not fraud - but defo playing the system

BollocksToThem · 03/03/2023 09:43

I can't see what they are doing is wrong

idontbutido · 03/03/2023 09:43

A couple had a baby a few years ago. Almost straight afterwards they split up.
Yeah so what? It can and does happen to genuine couples.
she got a housing association property and universal credit, she doesn’t work.
Yeah ok? She was assessed as a single woman who isn't working.

He lives at his mums, has a decently paid job and doesn’t claim UC.
Yeah ok so he's not entitled to UC and works.

But ever since they’ve still appeared to kind of be together.
Kind of together? So you don't even know for sure and even if they are a couple you can still have a boyfriend/girlfriend and claim benefits as a single person if you don't live together.
He sleeps over a few times a week, they go on days out and holidays together and she talks about them as ‘we’ and ‘us’.
You can have a boyfriend and go on holiday with them and be a single benefits claimant. He doesn't count as living there if he is there less than half the week. You can have the opposite sex for nights over. It's reasonable to keep a good relationship with the father of your children and go on holiday together is nice for the children and even if they were a couple you're not banned from dating, having sex and going on holidays regardless if they are the biological parent of the child you have or not.
She’s also talked about buying a house together in the future as he is able to save a decent amount.
So what? Are you jealous? They can dream and talk all they want, until he actually buys the house and puts half of it in her name it's just talk right now.

They aren't doing anything wrong from this info. The system has legal loopholes.

Original poster
Overthebow · 03/03/2023 09:43

idontbutido · 03/03/2023 09:38

That's not benefit fraud though. You can have a boyfriend who sleeps there a few times a week and you go on holiday together and still have a single UC claim.

It’s more the fact that they were together when they decided to have a baby, and then split up pretty much as soon as baby was born but haven’t actually split up. So now as we’ll as his relatively good income they are getting benefit money too.

OP posts:
LetThemEatTurnips · 03/03/2023 09:44

I wouldn't report that, no.

I am tired of all the benefits bashing that goes on. I doubt the intentions of the OP and think the thread is just designed to be goady.

Theunamedcat · 03/03/2023 09:45

The quicker he can save the quicker they can buy a house and move freeing up the housing association house for someone else if they have to cohabit now he won't be able to save and they will be stuck there forever

Suzi888 · 03/03/2023 09:45

idontbutido · 03/03/2023 09:38

That's not benefit fraud though. You can have a boyfriend who sleeps there a few times a week and you go on holiday together and still have a single UC claim.

This^ probably playing the system but happens all the time.

He would have to be living there on a permanent basis for it to be classed as fraud.

LetThemEatTurnips · 03/03/2023 09:45

Overthebow · 03/03/2023 09:43

It’s more the fact that they were together when they decided to have a baby, and then split up pretty much as soon as baby was born but haven’t actually split up. So now as we’ll as his relatively good income they are getting benefit money too.

Show quote history

Why do you care?
Do you not have a life of your own to focus on?

Maybe work on yourself.

Theunamedcat · 03/03/2023 09:45

Your allowed to have a relationship and not live together though? I'm not moving a man into my home just because I'm in a relationship with them

user1492757084 · 03/03/2023 09:46

The father has a responsibility to parent his child and to stay over for that reason is solid. Heshould also be showing baby that he is respectful and helpful to it's Mum. They are doing the right thing.

Zebedee55 · 03/03/2023 09:47

This is not fraud. Living together means more than sleepovers. It's about bills, registered address etc.

If he was there all the time, then that could affect it.

"There are no set rules about how often or how long someone can stay. Some people think there is a limit of 3 nights a week. This is not true. But if the DWP thinks someone has started living with you, this could affect your benefits.27 Jul 2022"

Dinkleberg · 03/03/2023 09:47

Overthebow · 03/03/2023 09:43

It’s more the fact that they were together when they decided to have a baby, and then split up pretty much as soon as baby was born but haven’t actually split up. So now as we’ll as his relatively good income they are getting benefit money too.

Show quote history

So you know for sure that he gives her all of his salary? That he doesn't have his own home and bills to pay for? You just sound jealous and this is a thinly veiled benefit bashing thread.

nationallampoons · 03/03/2023 09:47

Mind your own business.
You seem to not know the full facts, just guessing really.

pasta4metonight · 03/03/2023 09:47

If you want to report, report it. Personally I wouldn't get involved it's not my business.

idontbutido · 03/03/2023 09:47

Overthebow · 03/03/2023 09:43

It’s more the fact that they were together when they decided to have a baby, and then split up pretty much as soon as baby was born but haven’t actually split up. So now as we’ll as his relatively good income they are getting benefit money too.

Show quote history

You can judge them and wonder but there is nothing concrete for you to report everything they are doing is within what is allowed by DWP.
You can have your suspicions about them but there is no evidence to prove they separated for benefits and even if they did, they are still operating within the parameters of what is permissible. They might well be playing the system but they are playing it right there is nothing to report. As I said, the system has loop holes. You don't like what she's doing, avoid her and distance yourself from her. Life is not fair and it's human nature to take advantage unfortunately.

philautia · 03/03/2023 09:48

That's absolutely not benefit fraud.

DogsDryWineAndCheese · 03/03/2023 09:48

Mind your own business. Perhaps they are in a relationship and working through problems. And so what? Do you think the second a single mother gets a boyfriend they should move in with her also?

You sound bored.

Swipe left for the next trending thread