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?

Nothing to be done!!!! Really.

He says he can't work because he can't go out because of anxiety and panic attacks and yet goes out all the time. He is probably out of the house more than he is in it. 7 to 8 hours a day Monday to Friday working, then time spent going shopping and/or walking the dog. Going out in the evenings with this girlfriend. Going out on Saturday and Sunday walking his dog, taking his girlfriend out for the day etc etc.

No way is that someone who has panic attacks and can't go out. I have suffered panic attacks in the past and could not go out at all.

Not sure why you are supporting this scrounger. If his claim is based on him not being able to work why on earth do you think it ok for him to work cash in hand 5 days a week?

@mydogisthebest

If his claim is based on him not being able to work why on earth do you think it ok for him to work cash in hand 5 days a week?

NOBODY'S PIP claim is based on not being able to work. Not a single persons.

Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are difficult to disprove.

Even if your “cousin’s” award were removed, it would be a simple matter to have it reinstated if there is a documented history of suicidal tendencies. Tribunals do not remove awards if it is likely to cause a serious deterioration. For these reasons, DWP would be unlikely to pursue fraud.

Wow, so much energy being invested in watching your neighbour, oh dear.

Of course depression/anxiety exist. I have suffered both in the past.

I am talking about my neighbour who gave up his job and claimed Job Seekers but didn't like them pushing him to find work. So he went to his GP and said he was very depressed and suffering such bad anxiety he could not leave his house so impossible for him to work. The GP can't prove whether it's true or not can they?

So he has been claiming benefits for 2 years but also working cash in hand OUT OF THE HOUSE 5 days a week. Therefore he is lying.

It makes me so angry because I know what it is like to have such bad panic attacks and anxiety that I could not leave the house. I suffered that for 6 months and probably left my house twice in that time and had to rush home because I felt so ill.

I had a full time job and it never occurred to me to leave and try and get benefits. Thankfully my employer was sympathetic and kept my job open for me.

He is taking the piss

When did I say he was getting PIP? I said benefits

Not sure why you care. Do you know my neighbour or maybe you are doing something similar!

It’s always very amusing when someone reports for wrongdoing without having any of the facts about the claim. That might explain why nothing has been done.

Things that didn't happen, episode 3065.

It is more that I care about nosy people with no clue, getting involved, and reporting people, not just once, but multiple times, and still not getting it. If he were being fraudulent, it would have been looked into, and dealt with. It is pointless engaging any further with you, so Good day.

This its disgusting. I agree with PP, the liars are getting it handed to them and actual people in need, who tell the truth and almost minimise their own struggles, have to go to tribunal and often don’t get what they’re entitled to.
My DS is one of them unfortunately. Tribunal is absolutely soul destroying. I wish they would just do a lengthy home assessment for everyone who applies, to weed out all the bullshitters. I know this isn’t possible, but surely something could be done. It just infuriates me how people like my ds who need life long care, are incapable of doing anything for themself, and can’t even communicate for that matter, are awarded the same or less than someone who has a normal life and has forged a load of shite.

It just infuriates me how people like my ds who need life long care, are incapable of doing anything for themself, and can’t even communicate for that matter, are awarded the same or less than someone who has a normal life and has forged a load of shite.

It is best to concentrate on your own circumstances, and level of award. You only really know your own difficulties, and not other people's.

I used to work at A&E .You wouldn't believe how many times I saw the same people coming every second night "dying" and then smoking outside and drinking cola. They gathering medical evidence for PIP (every report, appointment letter from GP, A&E ).There was one lady claiming she is not able to eat for weeks and then smashing sandwiches from cafe. EVERY SECOND NIGHT FOR TWO WEEKS.

It's a shame that genuine people are getting royally screwed over. People with genuine suicidal ideation don't have the energy to fight the system. It's sad, very frustrating and unfair. The benefits system could be changed in a positive way to weed out people who are 'lying' - such as someone below said, home assessments etc. but no, Labour would rather spend their time and money getting bots to write fake posts on social media sites, and writing daily mail drivel that makes people froth at the mouth.
They'd rather tar everyone with the same benefit grabbing brush. Same as it ever was.....

In 2023 - 24 more than £6.8 billion was spent on disability benefits. This includes Attendance Allowance. In the same period £53.9 billion was spent on defence.

Appointment letters mean nothing with PIP. It seems like a strange way to gather evidence for PIP, by sitting in A&E for hours on end, day in, day out, especially if nothing is found to be wrong!

What proof are they gathering if nothing is wrong with them?

@mydogisthebest

When did I say he was getting PIP? I said benefits

My mistake. I thought you were taking about OP cousin, who the thread is about.

The thing is with people like this, is that they can say anything to their GP and nothing can be proved, anyone can exaggerate difficulties with MH or say they have suicidal thoughts and there is absolutely no way anyone can prove whether they have or not. This is what makes an assessors job difficult . There are a lot playing the system, I see them every week in my job, but really there is little that can be done.

And they told you this did they?

@Miley1967 despite your saying that you see people like this every week in your job, there is flat out denial by many posters that anyone ever exaggerates or lies about their conditions.

Oh yes absolutely. People always quote this figures of 0.000001 % PIp benefit fraud or whatever it is . Absolute nonsense ! The genuine people are getting knocked back and the pisstakers are laughing at us.

How do you know they're exaggerating their difficulties?

Can you give an example?

Yes was just going to add about the 0.000000001 % PIP fraud line being trotted out every five posts or so. A likely story.