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?

Don't be ridiculous. How can anyone be sure of others medical information. Please stop posting such BS

Nonsense.

I wouldn't report him. I just wouldn't have anything to do with him.

I didn't expect this many replies

Really?

You are aware that PIP is not an out of work benefit and that a motability car comes out of the mobility award?

I would report and then go no contact so you don’t have to listen to him . I will also say that whilst I agree that a lot of people who deserve PIP have difficulty getting it I personally know of 2 people who definitely abuse the system by exaggerating .

Hmm I don’t know much about pip at all but surely if your that level which warrants the medical evidence, have previously tried to commit suicide etc. then he’s pretty unwell or has the tendency to become so drastically.

I would leave it. I have had severe mental illness before; sectioned and acute. Im fine now. But I don’t pretend to understand depression at all. It seems quite a bad disease for want of a better word.

Well you don't have to choose to spend time with the crowing, patronising fraudster, for a start.

On balance, yes I'd report him to let them know he is a skilled pathological liar who is boasting of defrauding the system.

You are not responsible for his mental health and he clearly cares not about yours..

I know of someone who’s get the old DLA for bi-polar but they haven’t had an episode for 20 yrs but still claim it. I think it’s disgusting! Full time teacher too. ( I no longer speak to them because I told them so)

There is a real push at the moment to get people frothing about benefits claimants, even more so than usual. It’s all over here and it’s constantly in the news. I wonder why that could be? Could it be to do with Liz Kendall’s proposed cuts to disability benefits?

They’ve come for the farmers, they’ve come for the employers, they’ve come for the elderly, and now they’re coming for the disabled. Who’s next?

I’m so glad I spoilt my ballot instead of voting for this clusterfuck of a party. I was always a Labour supporter but they are no longer recognisable to me.

OMG if only you knew how stupid (and untrue!) your comment is 😂😂😂😂

Absolutely report.

I agree. Advise him not to talk about it so much, it's personal. He won't be given PIP for nothing.

Your cousin probably thought he was speaking to someone confidentially, who understood him. He's your cousin for goodness sakes, you do not grass up relatives unless they are violent criminals. Your cousin is no serial killer.

I have reported in the past and would report in this case. It’s not to say he won’t get something, but outright lying to get more is not on

Sadly there are more social media pages now telling people how to claim by lying.

As I say every time this comes up, please link to one. Must be easy when there are so many.

Yes report

He is f*ing over the rest of us

The judge will take account of any suicide risk / MH issues at sentencing. It is their job - they are literally paid to do this, so you don’t have to.

This might not be kind but heck yeah, I'd shop him. He's stealing from people who need it.

I despise benefit cheats.

I can promise you nobody gets a mobility vehicle for depression and anxiety.

Listen. He's committing fraud.

Also there is a lot of evidence that working (in the right environment) hugely benefits mental health and it's very likely it will help his depression.

Working helps people make social connections, gives them a purpose and a sense of pride, helps them have a routine, promotes self esteem and confidence.

You would be helping him in the long run.

I'm sick of people cheating our rubbish system which is meant for those who genuinely need it.

You're not the only one who's noticed this.

On MN in recent weeks there have been threads about people with diagnosed conditions like MS who are on benefits and are still being vilified. So we're in dangerous water here - anyone who is perceived to be a "drain" on society is being targeted. Reminiscent of a certain last century regime.

Getting benefits is no picnic and the amounts barely cover the basics. Getting disability benefits is even harder. Myths are being allowed to run unchecked on this site and it's a slippery slope in conjunction with things like the Assisted Dying Bill which has been ever widened in other countries to cover more things than simply terminal illness.

You are legally obligated to report or you're incriminated as well.

If you work for the DWP you would have to report and also if you work for the council where he is probably be claiming CTR and other benefits from. You'll lose your job if you knew and haven't reported.

Back to OP's dilemma - not sure you always get a prison sentence for benefit fraud - it's not always in the public interest to lock people up for this. He'd have to pay back what he has fraudulently claimed (if indeed he has) although it would be on a repayment plan and not a lump sum

The PIP fraud rates are 0%.

He didnt get PIP for not being able to tie his shoelaces. Hes exaggerating to you and minimising his issues (because hes embarrassed probably). Getting PIP is incredibly hard and requires a bucketload of evidence.

Someone who has tried to kill
themselves isn’t mentally fine tbh.

maybe he is bragging to cover up his obvious mental distress. Either way you can report him and they can investigate if you are actually serious.

When you apply for PIP people tell you to describe your worst day.

You don't see him that often, you don't like him and you are not close to him. Maybe the boasting is a front. Maybe he then goes home and disappears back into his own head. He has been suicidal in the past and probably has severe mental health and anxiety issues that he masks.

As for the car, they are not given it, they take something like £300 from your payments to cover the lease and insurance.

I would leave well alone, unless you want his possible death on your conscience.

You do you and let him do him, you might not agree with it but we aren't all made the same way

Digital Spy advice forum has 4 pinned threads about claiming benefits, with lots of tips and hints for accessing the most income.

One of my colleagues (a registered nurse) used to work for Capital, doing PIP assessments, but she barely lasted a year. She found it incredibly stressful and the majority of people she assessed were genuinely disabled in one way or another, whether physically or mentally.

Not sure if this is real or just to rile everyone up so they think all benefit claimants are fiddling the system. These posts seem to pop up occasionally, and we have a possible benefits overhaul coming up.
But I'll play along. Ignore him, and if he has depression as bad as you say he's welcome to PIP.