Should I report benefit fraud?

[Greeksummer]

Firstly, this isn’t a benefit bashing thread. It’s something I feel hugely conflicted about.

A couple I know is committing benefit fraud and have been for quite a few years. They live together with their school aged child however, the dad is not actually down as being at the address so their rent is paid for as the mum works part time, as well as single persons council tax discount. The dad earns a very good salary (not 6 figures but for where we live in the UK it’s a lot of money) so there’s absolutely no excuse for it. I know the mum better than the dad and she’s quite open about it all and money in general. Both of their parents’ help them out as well - regularly buying their weekly food shop, covering the costs of their child’s school uniform every year, school trips etc (no issue with parent’s helping out if they’re able to, I’m just highlighting that they’re in no way struggling financially).

It just makes me so cross as I know a disabled person who’s benefits were stopped as they were deemed not disabled enough and had a horrendous ordeal trying to get them back. I think it’s so wrong that they’re taking money they’re not entitled to and don’t need when so many people are struggling. However, I’m also aware that it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what millionaires and billionaires get away with hence why I’m conflicted as to whether I should report it or not.

YABU - keep your nose out, people get away with much worse

YANBU - it’s wrong and you should report it

Nonsense. I live in a housing association flat and get benefits myself. I still think this sounds made up.

It doesn't sound at all made up. I've known many people who are very open about how they cheat the system. They don't see a problem with it, don't expect others to, and can't imagine that any one would do anything about it. Why would they hide it?

@Crikeyalmighty in agreement with what you’ve said re. The difficulties of organising work (in lower paid jobs) around school and issues with people moving to social housing because of the cost of private rentals.

I was on another thread trying to explain the stress of handling work around school drop offs/pick ups, which is much different to the nursery years where you can drop them off as early as 7am and pick up 6.30pm…. Yes you can do early drop off in some schools and after schools or other childcare…. But then they start to fail academically as you’ve no time to do homework after getting them home 6.30… when they still need fed/bathed…. Nevermind that it’s expensive and may be beyond the budget of some…The person in a high paid managerial position went on about flexi time and working from home….. Jane and Joe who work at Tesco (other workplaces are available) do not have this luxury. They get shift patterns with no flexibility and they change week to week… so there isn’t always room to do another job or take on overtime due to the unpredictability and trying to make it to the school gate.

Re. Ludicrous sums being paid to private rentals. I am in favour of the policy proposal put forward in 2022 where housing benefit would be able to be used for mortgage purposes - simply because we know that a lot of it is currently going to line the pockets of private landlords due to shortages in social housing. Which is expensive for the tax payer and unethical. The money would be better served to lift people and their descendants out of poverty by going towards an asset for them. Rather than making already wealthy people more wealthy on account of poorer people’s unfortunate circumstances.

Of course you should report them, they are stealing from a limited pool and from people who deserve the money more. They are basically putting their hand into the pocket of the vulnerable and taking from them.

And of course benefit fraud exists on a massive massive scale.

I wouldn't go by mumsnet's moral compass of turning a blind eye to financial wrong doing. Theres another thread at the moment where effectively stealing money is being encouraged by the majority. You can bet if it was a deadbeat dad, he would be told to do the right thing financially. Benefits cheats, not so much on here.

I think people like this should be called out.

Would DWP seriously launch a benefit investigation merely based on a random tip off that may not even be genuine? Informing someone that they’re under investigation without even having grounds to support an investigation seems ridiculous and a really inefficient use of resources? I can understand if they have genuine reasons to suspect fraud but causing someone a whole tonne of stress over what may be just a malicious and untruthful allegation is beyond belief? That in itself is a total waste of money.