To report this as benefit fraud

[ClareClareClareClare]

A relative is claiming benefits, can’t work due to health but is one of those who is always complaining about something wrong with her but is always able to do the things she wants to do. Can holiday abroad, always down the gym, etc. When she was working she was always making complaints against employers- one of life’s victims.

She sold a property a couple of years ago and has squirrelled about £40k away through investments. I think has got her mother to do this for her.

I’m so fed up of seeing people like her take the piss. I 100% support a welfare system and it really pisses me off to see it abused like this. And meanwhile we are working our arses off and not able to afford the foreign travel and gym memberships.

I’m so tempted to report her secret savings to DWP.

It must be so much fun to be sick. I think you would do better to find a job you enjoy.

I think you need to mind your own business. You are clearly just jealous you can't afford holidays and gym membership but bet you wouldn't actually like to swap and be too unwell to work.

If my OP was “I think my cousin is pilfering funds from her job at the children’s home” I bet no one would have said mind your own business/you’ll make life hard for her etc

Exactly, there is absolutely no harm in reporting suspicion of fraud,
An investigation will determine whether they are actually entitled and if they are all is well
A person with nothing to hide wouldn’t be worried

@ClareClareClareClare Out of interest (and apologies if I missed this) but how do you know she has £40,000? And how do you know it's been squirreled away somewhere?

I never said she was too unwell to work.

Are people arguing against reporting fraud? I think many posters have said report your relative if you want to and wondered why you need anyone’s approval to do that.

Yes, please do it . The benefits system is there to support vulnerable people during their hardest times
Now your relative has come into money she is no longer entitled to the support
I worked for years for an organisation that helps sick & disabled people to claim benefits and it’s so difficult sometimes for those who need them to be awarded . It absolutely stinks when someone else is stealing from the system . There is only so much to go around so she is effectively taking from those who most need the support
Hiding the money in someone else’s name is also fraud and she will get found out ( the DWP are not stupid - they know the tricks people try to pull off ) and hopefully she’ll then get book thrown at her ( rightly so ) .

And here's the traditional assumption that anyone suggesting that reporting benefit fraid without absolute certainty must be on benefits themselves and probably committing fraud too.

Sorry mate. Not claiming a penny. But I do know that comparison is the thief of joy, and your joy has gone fully walkies.

The fact that you don't even know what this person is claiming suggests that you are nowhere near having enough knowledge to report anything.

A person with nothing to hide would still have their money stopped for months whilst investigations were taking place.

I can’t say but I’m 100% positive.

Your opening post literally says, "...can't work due to ill health..."

Exactly, in some people’s opinion all suspected fraud should be reported except of course benefit fraud

I don’t think that’s true.

It seems they always have to ask MN 🙄

You said she "can't work due to health"

Surely the only way you could be "100% positive" is if she told you herself?

But you are forgetting that the OP knows this person has 40k so she will have plenty to live off

I don’t think she’s too unwell to work.

But that’s another can of worms.

This is what you said in your opening post.

You define illness and disability as a lifestyle? ETA - as long as people are ill and disabled enough...

My parents were accused of benefit fraud when I was a teenager and had their benefits stopped while they were investigated. It was hell.

If I know she’s on UC that’s all that I need to know. The possible pip is irrelevant.

So you now have a detailed knowledge of her medical history as well as her financial history?
are you a medical professional?

From the Gov website....

"Your benefit may be stopped while you’re investigated. You’ll get a letter telling you about this if it happens"

https://www.gov.uk/benefit-fraud#:~:text=Your%20benefit%20may%20be%20stopped,an%20'interview%20under%20caution'.