Would you report this? Potential benefit fraud

[Overthebow]

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.

When Rishi puts his money in a tax haven to avoid paying his fair share of tax it's prudent.

Nope didn't like that either.

That’s because the days of popping out 6,7, or even 8 kids and getting benefits for them have changed, unless of course you work the minimum hours which allows you the maximum benefit which lets you get away with the 2 child limit!

That’s what worries me about Labour getting in. I just cannot forget the days of the early 2000s when feckless parents with 5 kids were absolutely raking it in because there were no caps.

No it doesn't.

for all the benefit bashers on here

You won't read it, or if you do you won't give a flying fuck because you don't have a conscience or any human decency, but here it is anyway.

This country is so full of shitty hateful people.

Oh grow up. Critiquing or discussing benefits is actually legal, and what’s more, we should do it. I can’t think of any other area of public spending that posters on here are attacked for discussing. This ‘shut the conversation down by monstering people who disagree’ it just boring, and will have the reverse effect.

@Moonicorn and you and yours aren't monstering benefit claimants? So much pejorative language on this thread, and so little empathy.

I don't claim benefits, but I know people who do. It's far from life of Reilly.

This was going on 40 years ago . Leave them to it at least they are going to better themselves. Once they buy house they won't be so reliant on the state . They are trying to better themselves.

Plus there are people committing benefit fraud who you would not think would be doing it and doing it in plain sight . Friends mum many years ago was claiming left right and centre while running a small antiques business on the side for cash . Lived in a lovely leafy wealthy part of town.

I want there to be a generous benefit system for people who really need it. Those with profound disabilities mainly. Not for people who decide work isn’t for them because they’re depressed or have a bad back and therefore they’re entitled to live off the rest of us 🤷🏼‍♀️

This. There should be ample benefits for victims of significant, involuntary misfortune. Not to bail people out of everyday issues and the predictable results of their own poor choices.

Leave them to it at least they are going to better themselves

a) what makes you think they’re going to ‘better themselves’ with the money?
b) if they were Joe Bloggs stealing from the public purse via another method for a house deposit, such as fraudulent travel expenses as a minor civil servant, would you be fine with that?

I mentioned before about a woman I know. She has a nice HA flat in what is predominantly a private development and is a single parent to two primary aged kids.. she doesn't work and gets around£1580 in UC of which her rent is around £580 - on top of this she gets around £750 maintanance a month (2 different fathers) - she was I admit right to the point and said it was pointless working as in an average job she would be no better off at all . I must admit I was a bit gobsmacked that her maintanance doesn't affect UC at all- the point I am making is that the way benefits are currently set up is that they are almost encouraging people who aren't highly paid to not be in a couple set up or encouraging women who are lucky enough to get decent maintanance to actually work- particularly if they rent. People aren't stupid, especially if things are tight and it's hard to get social housing- they will make choices that benefit themselves first and foremost and can be seen as 'playing the system' . Personally I don't see why maintanance isn't in the figures when it comes to benefits. Maybe it would actually encourage authorities to actually get tough with lying or feckless fathers.

CMS payments should absolutely be taken into account for the sake of UC. I don’t understand why it isn’t.

CMS isn't taken into account because too many men don't bother paying it. The government decided its easier to ignore it than to actually make the men pay.

Because UC is poverty level anyway - roughly £100/week below the needed level for a single parent - where is the value in further impoverishing children?

Do people get some sick pleasure out of knowing children are genuinely starving?

No, it is because it is not easy or cost-effective to formalise maintenance - people pay it in cash for example. It would cost a fortune to the taxpayer to formalise it more.

Also so many children already living in abject, life-ruining poverty as UC set so low.

Of course I do, call me Jacob Rees Mogg 🙄

Not.

But in PP’s previous scenario, why should she get UC on top of a generous CMS payment? Those of us just over the UC limit aren’t given any handouts for our kids. Why do you want our kids to starve?

That too. And you don't need to tell me about children living in poverty. I live out every day!

Oh mind your own bloody business!!!

😂

I'm sure she doesn't give a flying fuck thst you think less of her!! Besides that, she's doing fuck all wrong, what on earth is the matter with you woman. Get that chip off your sodding shoulder!

Oh come off it she’s clearly gaming the system. Why should other people be happy to pay for it?

This is MN. Where there is no such thing as benefit fraud. Well benefit claimants are salt of the earth and can do no wrong. Makes you wonder if all these people vociferously defending benefit fraud are on the take themselves.

Because some of us are? Because the government is sitting on £15 billion in unclaimed benefits? Because we’ll still pay the same amount of tax whether or not she claims?

Yeah I’m inclined to think that. Or if they’re not that they would secretly like to. Either way they’re not working 40+ hours a week for 27k and just above the threshold to claim a penny.