Should I report my cousin's benefit fraud?

[GreatAmberSnake]

Hi everyone - I'm having a bit of a moral dilemma and looking to get everyone's opinions.

My M34 cousin doesn't work, he claims PIP. I'm not that familiar with how it works but he says he's on the highest level available, and there's even talk of him getting given a car. He openly boasts at every opportunity about the extreme exaggerations and outright lies he put on his PIP application, and calls me and other members of the family idiots for working when we could just get our money from PIP like he does.

If they investigated him they would easily find that some of his lies don't add up. I believe he genuinely does have depression and anxiety, but he has no physical issues. He said he put things like his partner needs to dress him in the morning (he split from his partner a couple of years ago), needs to wear velcro shoes as he can't tie laces etc. A home visit would show up some of his lies, and a call to the school (he's a weekend Dad but sometimes picks up/drops off his sons) or the Police (he's been arrested for drug offences a couple of times) would be further proof.

The main thing stopping me from reporting him is his depression. He has attempted suicide on at least one occasion, and I fear that a potential prison sentence for fraud could send him into a spiral. Even if no-one found out it was me, I really don't want that on my conscience.

If he didn't boast all the time I would just ignore it, it's not like it affects me directly, but it just winds me up every time he goes on about. Grrrr!! I do try to minimise contact with him but sometimes it's easier said than done. If he gets this car I think he'll become even more unbearable 😡

Help! What would you do?

Pip isn't a benefit easy to get, I know people with serious medical conditions that have been refused. He must be a very good actor

How you know how he dresses before he goes out? Are you in his house to see?
And people in receipt of benefits can spend it how they wish... even if it is day drinking and smoking weed.

That's the reason it needs to be abolished. And only genuinely disabled people should get disability benefits.

Age Uk often have people who will fill out the forms. they will often do home visits. Also citizens advice or sometimes even DWP home visiting officers will come to the home to help fill out the form. Or you can fill out the form online also.

I am confused. Are you on about two different people?
You mention someone who has been on DLA/PIP for 20 years despite not having a bipolar episode in that time....
And then go on about someone with bipolar who takes themselves off of DLA when they feel well.

If you are in hospital for more than 30 days, your PIP is stopped anyway. Maybe that is what is happening with this fictional person that is bipolar with no episodes, but also has them and comes off benefits.

Yes I do know this person well and that they can dress. And really, so it's okay for them to blow all of their earnings on drugs and alcohol when that's not what PIP is for and they can easily work? People like you are the problem, you clearly feel personally attacked and I wonder why....

Who are you to judge who is genuinely disabled and who isn’t? Is this judge and jury of social media? When you have a welfare state, you have to accept that there will be some level of fraud in order to help the majority who are genuine.

You are NEVER, EVER going to get a system where no fraud occurs, so by abolishing it you’re going to harm many more genuine claimants. There are many invisible disabilities and conditions, some people you wouldn’t know needed PIP if you saw them out in public, and neither do they broadcast their personal struggles. What system do you suggest?

Gosh you’d hate me, I buy medical cannabis with my PIP.

Again, people can spend their benefits how they wish. And PIP is not an out of work benefit. Many people rely on PIP to be able to work. The fact you do not know the difference just shows your ignorance on it all.
And an addict can not easily work at all. If you were an employer, would you take them on?

I am the problem? I think the fact you even felt the need to say that suggest that you are. Picking on the lowest hanging fruit. I hope it makes you feel good. Personally, I get my kicks in ways that do not involve punching down.

Oh you can piss right off! I know all about mental health, my sister was the one who had Bipolar- had a massive breakdown & left with the clothes on her back, we had to get her sectioned for her safety. It was heartbreaking. we got her into a rented house, between us we furnished it. Up & down the country to look after her. It was flipping hard work.
you don’t know me as a person! You don’t know I helped that friend through a divorce. Gave her stuff because the husband had taken the best stuff.
I haven’t said a single word about her to anyone else. I just don’t agree to staying on pip, just case you might have a turn 10 yrs down the line.

I never said there was anything wrong with medical cannabis, did I? You clearly get prescribed it for a reason. This person is taking drugs and alcohol in other ways, then boasting about getting PIP. It does happen.

You are so wrong about me tbh

No, definitely don't do this.

Is he making some false claims? yes. Does he have severe Depression that has led to suicidal actions and should be enough to qualify for benefits, in the absence of other difficulties- yes. Just leave it alone and focus on your life.

Not really. You are supposed to get PIP to help with your needs. I'm quite sure it's not to be blown all on drink and drugs. If you're capable of getting dressed and can go out drinking and partying, boasting about getting PIP and not having to work when admitting you have nothing wrong then I'd say that's fair for people to feel frustrated. People like you are not worth the arguing with, you'll allow everyone to claim benefits and scrounge the system when others are genuinely struggling. I love how defensive you are getting at all this. I merely said that there are 100% people who do play the system as firsthand I've seen it myself

I’m going nowhere, thank you. As the previous poster said, you’re just picking on the lowest hanging fruit for your kicks. Why don’t you pack your job in and claim PIP whether you need it or not if it’s that easy. I hope you never develop a disability which you need help for and have nosy relatives or friends slagging you over the internet.

You’re talking about addicts like they’re addicts for no reason and they’re just lazy, as if you think addictions and mental health problems don’t go hand in hand. You’re a judgemental person, that’s all there is to it. Concentrate on your own life instead of worrying about what others are doing, you’ll be a lot happier.

No, you get PIP according to your needs... and not to help with your needs. Once you get the money, you can spend it how you want. Otherwise you could go down the route of vouchers etc, the idea of which was thrown out.

I'm quoting you as you so passionately keep replying to me and seem very irate about this. I'm not mad at all. And no, PIP is supposed to be given to help you out with your needs. My partner gets PIP and he gets asked what he spends his PIP money on to help with his needs.

No he doesn't. No one gets asked what they spend their PIP on... ever.

So many people scream 'but it's SO HARD to get it'. But it's not really. Not if you know what lies to tell, how to tell them and how to word your answers so they tick the boxes for points.

I have a family member who gets the enhanced rate for mobility. She's on a number of meds for anxiety and depression. According to her PIP claim she's unable to undertake any journeys due to extreme psychological impact (or words to that effect) which pretty much netted her full points.

She got her PIP award and promptly exchanged her mobility component for a car. Which she is the sole insured person on. This person who is so psychologically unwell, she's unable to ever leave the house according to PIP. Yet the car's on the drive 🤔

If 'someone' took 2 minutes to look at the full picture they'd quite rightly ask why on Earth has this mental wreck of a person got a mobility car with no other named driver when the whole reason she even gets the mobility part is because she's unable to leave home.

But no one does. There's NO oversight. No checks. No common bloody sense. It's mind boggling.

I'm pretty sure he does, I've been with him during his PIP interviews. You just don't like what I'm telling you.

You need to start assessing your own morals here OP.

Boasting - Report.

Not boasting - Ignore.

I hope there is nothing else in your life, that goes against your morals, that you are able to turn a blind eye at.

Someone will be along in a moment to say ah well that’s different, she needs the security of the car to enable her to leave the house or some such bullshit

I am sure pips isn’t for going drinking in town at the Monday Club or buying weed. I always thought it was for getting help to care for one’s self. No wonder the poster is cross

Sorry OP but it’s not a moral dilemma when it’s about right or wrong. What he is doing is wrong. You have every right to do the right thing and report him.

It is for however you see fit. A friend of mine uses her PIP to go to buy craft supplies... because doing crafts is what helps her mental health.
She has never ever been asked what she spends her PIP on by the DWP.

Also, many people with MH issues self medicate with things like booze and weed.