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.

The fact that you don't care about someone having the worry of having their claim suspended says rather a lot about your attitude.

It is fraud though.

Men should support their children and partners who they have children with.

I struggle to see how people don't understand this is partially what's wrong with this country. It isn't benefit bashing.

The welfare state is set up like it is to make sure single women and kids don't suffer.

Why don't people get outraged by these things?! Maybe less people would do it if not reported.

I would love a free house & money to spend every day with my child, but no I have to go to work instead and pay expensive childcare and high tax!

Definitely not benefit fraud and you should also definitely mind your own business.

I was in a very similar situation with my ex, together 6 years before dc came along and split when I was 3 month’s pregnant. We co-parented very well (still do) went on holidays together, days out etc and when dc were younger he would stay over to help out a few nights a week, in fact he stayed at mine last night to take ds to an appointment early this morning.
We very much lived separate lives, there was nothing sexual going on and if someone had reported me they would have been totally wrong and it would have affected me and my dc immensely.

Also child maintenance isn’t taken into consideration for any benefits anymore, due to the fact it isn’t a reliable source of income. So potentially he could be giving her thousands each month and the only thing it may affect is her council tax.

I wouldn’t assume you’re back together form that, I know this couple are back together or never broke up as she sleeps with him and they act and refer to themselves as a couple.

Why don't people get outraged by these things?!

Because every single day they say other people with actual power get away with far worse.

I agree with this. Who honestly needs enemies when you have ‘friends’ like this?

Personally I’d never report anyone for suspected benefit fraud. Even if they’re playing the system, why would I report them? What’s it honestly got to do with me? It’s a dog eat dog world. Many people do what’s in their best interests financially, it’s not my business

Not benefit fraud technically but playing the system to the detriment of those of us who work and pay tax!

You can report, but it is the decision of the DWP as to whether they'll proceed with it.
Plus, you need to give as much information as you can, and it's not just name and address, but age (or best guess), what time they usually leave for work if they're working and claiming, their email address... more than you'd think. Only if you can provide enough information will they even consider an investigation, unless she's already on their radar, perhaps.

Oh do try harder. You know exactly what I mean
I really don’t think a single mum claiming UC is comparable to Akshata Murthy who is also just a woman
A sole trade with salary & bonus isn’t comparable to a single mum claiming benefits

This 100% Michelle Mon ,Philip Green and the thieves and their cronies at Westminster should be your targets…not a single Mother !!

What part of the world do you live in where people get free houses?

Asking for a friend.

Just leave them alone ffs it's none of your business. Also if this is your 'friend'...well, do her a favour and stop talking to her if her life bothers you that much.

Oh please, they don’t make somebody else stealing public money right do they?

I agree

I think you should save your anger and judgement for the very many corporations who evade paying millions in tax and the governments who enable them, rather than single mothers who may or or may not be in a relationship with their child's father.

Individuals are not the problem here OP.

@NicknameTaker *highly subsidised house

Same message!

I find it baffling people don't have an issue with others playing the system which means less resources for those who really need it!

I would report benefit fraud.

This is not benefit fraud. This is curtain twitching, pearl clutching at its finest.

Get a hobby or a job or a life OP.

She is not commuting fraud but is taking advantage of the system, I am in several benefit boards and its clear that some mothers will deliberately keep on a single claim while their partners live elsewhere, that saying some mothers will ask for a benefit calculation to see if they would be worse of their partners move in and have been reassured that even with their partners wages they could still claim some UC

People like OP are why we end up with the government that we have. It's all about the politics of petty envy. Too many people in the UK aren't interested in making things better for everyone, they just want to push others down so they can feel superior. It's a very unattractive trait.

Sounds like they know the rules and are operating within them. Nothing to report there.

It's not fraud.

There's a chance the man's a selfish prick who doesn't want to live full time in a home with a newborn crying all the time, the responsibility of being a full time parent, and with a partner who's too exhausted from caring for his child to be sexually available at the drop of a hat.

You want to punish a woman for that?

So she had a baby. Broke up with her partner for a short period which does happen and now she has her own place, which she would have been entitled to anyway for all we know. He still does not live there full time 3 years later just stays the odd night. That's completely fine. If he moved in full time and they didn't let housing benefit know he was permanently living there it would be benefit fraud but that's not the case so they haven't done anything wrong. Stop your curtain twitching and leave them alone. Are you after her house or something? In what way does this affect your life?

Technically not true. If they combine finances, and if he contributes to her household expenses then UC will deem they are together and it should be a joint claim.
Contrary to popular opinion there's not set amount of nights someone can stay over before they're deemed a 'couple' for benefit purposes.

You believe in free houses as well?

Problem is, if you're reporting someone and they're actually innocent, you cause someone an astronomical amount of stress and financial worry. Even if innocent, all payments will be stopped whilst the investigation is carried out ffs

Why would you want that for someone with kids? I go to work and back knowing I don't have to worry about this shit thankfully. But I wouldn't do that to someone. It'll impact their children badly