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?

I’ve been on PIP several years now and have never once been asked about what I spend it on.

Oh worrying what you are spending yours on you mean?

Where does the £737 come from,I get standard pip and it's £290 a month.

I'm on pip for anxiety and depression. I have been asked in every interview what I spend my pip money on because of my needs. For example, I have to use taxis to get places instead of busy public transport and have had to explain this to my assessor. I also have mobility issues and had to explain how I clean and what tools I use for cleaning because of my mobility issues. I definitely have been asked and it definitely feels like you're being put on the spot but as my issues are genuine I have nothing to hide

What anyone spends money on has nothing to do with anybody but the person concerned, and even if I wanted to tell someone of my financial affairs, it wouldn’t be a judgemental person who clearly needs a life, like you.

A few of my friends claim PIP for valid reasons but are so scared that others in their circle will find out and judge them that they keep it quiet. Equally, I’ve known a few who like to rub it in people’s faces and exaggerate what they claim because they know certain saddos will foam at the mouth and it’s entertaining for them. Each to their own 🤣

£737 is PIP for standard and mobility combined

PIP is not means tested, therefore it is of no concern to anyone how you spend it.
Stop making stuff up to fit some agenda.

For some reason I can't edit my last post so just to add on I've also been asked each time I'm assessed questions around my pip income such as am I good at budgeting, what food do I cook, whether I make homemade meals or ready made meals or even buy snacky type food if my mood is too low to have to the motivation to prepare and cook food. They do go in depth in my experience

@xenobitch please stop getting so agitated at mine and others posts. I'm not making things up I can promise you, I'm explaining my experiences of pip assessments. Please go away if you have nothing nice to say!

That sounds like a way of assessing your needs. They are not asking you what how your spend your money on, but are more asking how you manage money.

@xenobitch they have asked me how I spend my pip money, you weren't there I'm afraid please stop your narcissistic aggressive responses to people who's responses you don't like the sound of. Please stop @ me and attacking me, I'm only going from my experiences

DWP do not ask you how you spend your money. A great many vulnerable people on PIP will be seeing your posts and getting worried.
DWP don't even ask if you are on means tested benefits.

£737 is higher rate or enhanced daily living
Plus higher rate or enhanced mobility added together - every 4 weeks
Without a motability scheme vehicle - although if you get higher rate motability you can choose to spend it on a vehicle instead - you may need to top it up depending on vehicle and might also need a big deposit

They may ask you how you spend it IF how you need to spend it is relevant to your condition, so for example, if you need to buy ready meals or snacks regularly, that suggests to them that you have difficulty cooking meals and you get points on that basis, but that has nothing to do with what you spend your PIP allowance on per se.

They don’t tell you how you can or should spend PIP and you won’t get penalised if you didn’t spend it in exactly the same way each month. It’s up to you how you spend it at any given moment. If you decide you want to go to the pub and buy drinks, that’s fine. Disabled people are allowed to get enjoyment out of life and have a semblance of normality

@xenobitch they have asked me what I spend my money on, I'm not going to keep arguing with you about my assessment which you weren't even present at or there to see or hear. It is very weird how defensive and angry you're getting all because I've said that they do in my experience ask how I spend my pip and what it goes on. I've asked you to stop replying as you don't seem capable of listening and you haven't respected that

@teanbiscuits they have definitely asked me in each interview what I spend my pip on for my needs, I was only saying from my experience as I've been on pip all my life unfortunately and know how these interviews go. They do go in depth with questions, I get they have to so am not critiquing them but just was putting my experience across, sorry

Asking if you buy ready meals (which suggests you struggle with preparing food), is not the same as asking out right where your money is going.

I would not tell on my cousin. I would just distance myself personally.

@xenobitch I've already explained to you multiple times that they have in fact asked how I spend my money and what it goes on for my needs. Now please go away

I thought exactly the same.
Mind your OWN business.

I have supported loads of people at PIP assessments both when they used to do them face to face and also phone ones and also supported people at tribunals a couple of times. I have never ever heard anyone asked what they spend their payments on !

They certainly needed it but thought because they were on a high, felt that they were well enough to come off it. There was no talking her round, tried to explain that even though she felt on top of the world, she was still very ill. That is what I meant.
You would have had to live our experience of that illness to understand what I am talking about. It was an horrific time for us as a family.
( Maybe it’s you that is ill, or you know someone who is suffering with MH) if so I apologise. But I object to you saying I am talking rubbish.

There are no restrictions on what a person can spend their PIP on. Someone who would choose to spend their money this way, is clearly unwell anyway, that should be obvious to anybody.

I remember someone I use to work with ( dead now) that SS offered her a fiver to support her & three kids as the DH was on strike at the time, she said she wheeled them up to the Social security office & said you can look after these children, if you think you can look after them for a fiver, then left. I think she was having a major brake down.
How times have changed.

Actually they were put back on straight away, see not nosey as I would have known. I had to ask mum the history.