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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Reported possible benefit fraud

263 replies

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 16:16

I suspect someone of claiming carers allowance fraudulently, and after bottling out several times, I just submitted a report. It’s likely to get back to me if something comes of this and I feel like the bad guy for doing it. Am I the bad guy?! Should I just not have said anything?!

To claim you need to be providing 35 hours a week of care and also earn under a certain threshold and I’m fairly sure this person meets neither of those criteria. (If I’m wrong, of course, there will be no ill effect to the claim).

Feel quite stressed.

OP posts:
Proudofthem · 25/03/2025 16:18

Do you not realise how much a carer does.
You have come across as an interfering busybody.
Why report if you don't have the full facts.

lifeturnsonadime · 25/03/2025 16:19

OH goodness I hope this isn't a friend you've snitched on. Especially if you don't KNOW they are fraudulently claiming which you clearly don't from your OP.

Crunchymum · 25/03/2025 16:20

Carers allowance is a pittance. So you have to earn a pittance to receive a pittance in benefits.

PhilippaGeorgiou · 25/03/2025 16:22

Proudofthem · 25/03/2025 16:18

Do you not realise how much a carer does.
You have come across as an interfering busybody.
Why report if you don't have the full facts.

I'm afraid that I agree. I am all in favour of reporting fraud that is known, but to say that there will be no affact if you are wrong is disingenous - have you any idea how much suffering these investigations cause to carers and those they care for? And you are feeling stressed because you anonymously reported someone - aww didums.

JLou08 · 25/03/2025 16:23

I'm a carer. I don't claim carers allowance. No one other than the person I care for knows exactly how much I do. Why gave you reported them when you don't know if you are right? You could cause so much stress for them and carers and disabled people are already under a lot of stress.

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 16:24

Yes I know how much a true carer does, but I don’t believe this is a carer situation. Person works full time, doesn’t spend all day caring for said person.

There will be no affect on their claim if somehow their full time job doesn’t actually earn that much money, which is unlikely.

But fair enough, general consensus is to allow people to claim money not entitled to, I shall keep that one in mind, thanks all for the consensus 😊

OP posts:
PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 25/03/2025 16:26

Well done for being the Bad Guy 👏🏻

Stupendous effort.

Do you have any idea how much work is involved in being carer and not all of it obvious?

Are you aware that benefit fraud is 0.2%?

Or that it's so incredibly hard to get benefits from illness & disability that GPs report patients afraid of sitting in their own garden in case they're surveilled/ reported on and having their benefits removed?

So, no, if they're innocent there's no guarantee their benefits won't be affected.

Do you have any idea how much stress and harm you're likely to cause?

SerendipityJane · 25/03/2025 16:26

Yes I know how much a true carer does, but I don’t believe this is a carer situation. Person works full time, doesn’t spend all day caring for said person.

In which case the DWP will know via HMRC.

Of course if this person is also not paying tax that won't work. However in my book a tax dodger trumps a benefit cheat.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 25/03/2025 16:27

So the only evidence that you have is based on suspicion.
Yabvu.

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 25/03/2025 16:27

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 16:24

Yes I know how much a true carer does, but I don’t believe this is a carer situation. Person works full time, doesn’t spend all day caring for said person.

There will be no affect on their claim if somehow their full time job doesn’t actually earn that much money, which is unlikely.

But fair enough, general consensus is to allow people to claim money not entitled to, I shall keep that one in mind, thanks all for the consensus 😊

You are really not aware of carers who also have to work full time?

Truly, your ignorance is outstanding

lifeturnsonadime · 25/03/2025 16:27

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 16:24

Yes I know how much a true carer does, but I don’t believe this is a carer situation. Person works full time, doesn’t spend all day caring for said person.

There will be no affect on their claim if somehow their full time job doesn’t actually earn that much money, which is unlikely.

But fair enough, general consensus is to allow people to claim money not entitled to, I shall keep that one in mind, thanks all for the consensus 😊

Why post on here at all if you are feeling so righteous about your decision to report?

No one has said that people should have the right to claim money they are not entitled to, just that you don't know and without possession of the full facts you are causing this individual potentially a lot of stress.

Did you consider asking them about it before reporting? Or have you just made assumptions based on your prejudices?

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 25/03/2025 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

lifeturnsonadime · 25/03/2025 16:28

SerendipityJane · 25/03/2025 16:26

Yes I know how much a true carer does, but I don’t believe this is a carer situation. Person works full time, doesn’t spend all day caring for said person.

In which case the DWP will know via HMRC.

Of course if this person is also not paying tax that won't work. However in my book a tax dodger trumps a benefit cheat.

This.

I think this may just be another benefits bashing thread.

Proudofthem · 25/03/2025 16:28

They might work during the day but caring for someone isn't a 9-5 job.
Report if it makes YOU feel better but I hope they are not one of your friends
as with friends like you they don't need an enemy.

RightOnTheEdge · 25/03/2025 16:29

So you have reported someone for fraud because you are fairly sure they don't meet the criteria? Wow.

ACynicalDad · 25/03/2025 16:31

You did the right thing. The benefits bill needs shrinking, if we could get rid of those who shouldn’t be claiming then there would be less cuts for those that need the support.

Totallymessed · 25/03/2025 16:31

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 16:24

Yes I know how much a true carer does, but I don’t believe this is a carer situation. Person works full time, doesn’t spend all day caring for said person.

There will be no affect on their claim if somehow their full time job doesn’t actually earn that much money, which is unlikely.

But fair enough, general consensus is to allow people to claim money not entitled to, I shall keep that one in mind, thanks all for the consensus 😊

If they're working full time they won't be eligible for carers allowance.

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 25/03/2025 16:33

ACynicalDad · 25/03/2025 16:31

You did the right thing. The benefits bill needs shrinking, if we could get rid of those who shouldn’t be claiming then there would be less cuts for those that need the support.

Tell me you're ignorant without saying "I'm ignorant".

Benefits fraud is at 0.2%

Totallymessed · 25/03/2025 16:33

snitchapparently · 25/03/2025 16:24

Yes I know how much a true carer does, but I don’t believe this is a carer situation. Person works full time, doesn’t spend all day caring for said person.

There will be no affect on their claim if somehow their full time job doesn’t actually earn that much money, which is unlikely.

But fair enough, general consensus is to allow people to claim money not entitled to, I shall keep that one in mind, thanks all for the consensus 😊

And they could easily be caring full time hours on top of a full-time job. Caring isn't a 9 to 5 responsibility.

MoreChocPls · 25/03/2025 16:33

There’s over £1.35 BILLION of benefit fraud. Every little adds up and serves as a deterrent.

yanbu.

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 25/03/2025 16:33

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 25/03/2025 16:33

Tell me you're ignorant without saying "I'm ignorant".

Benefits fraud is at 0.2%

And "less cuts for those who need the support"

🙄

McQueensMuse · 25/03/2025 16:34

How do you know they are actually getting carers allowance?
When I required a carer not one of my friends that were caring for me could claim as even those working part time earned too much!

Are you sure of your facts?

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 25/03/2025 16:34

MoreChocPls · 25/03/2025 16:33

There’s over £1.35 BILLION of benefit fraud. Every little adds up and serves as a deterrent.

yanbu.

0.2%, baby

Starlightstarbright4 · 25/03/2025 16:34

I work over 30 hours a week I am a carer for my Ds . I not only do care for him . I can spend lunch breaks arranging appointments , sorting things out picking up prescriptions - not every day to be clear. But my hours of caring aren’t always physical

if they are working full time they don’t get carers allowance but may top up Uc if on low income .

honestly you have just added a lot of stress..

ACynicalDad · 25/03/2025 16:35

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 25/03/2025 16:33

Tell me you're ignorant without saying "I'm ignorant".

Benefits fraud is at 0.2%

I suspect this is the proven figure, nobody will know the real one with certainty.