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.

No, this is not so where benefits are concerned. If you give away money and then claim benefits they can act as though the money still belongs to you and make you repay your benefits and sometimes also prosecute you.

Hiding money by putting it in someone else’s name so you can claim benefits you’re not entitled to is very deliberate, pre planned fraud.

Well get on with reporting her then if that's what you want to do. Why do you need people here to validate your decision? I presume you're also going to tell her you're reporting her?

This is rubbish. The beneficial owner will remain the owner of the money - the claimant.

If it’s PIP she is claiming then that not means tested. So having £40k is neither here nor there.

If it’s UC then she will have some explaining to do if she hasn’t declared it.

However, a single person on UC is generally not going on holidays etc as the amount for single claimants is minimal.

Do you know what she is claiming?

What a strange thread. Why ask MN? If you want to make trouble for her, do it. Just hope you have your facts right.

Is it making trouble? Or has she made her own trouble by planning fraud?

You sound really jealous of your relative and as if you’re wanting people to tell you to dob her in on moral grounds to help you take the plunge and report them, though your grounds and motivations aren’t moral at all.

How do you know the benefits she has are means tested? We have significant savings, but our household income includes contribution based esa and PIP. It is allowed.

Just do it, you don't need justification from the Internet, if you are sure of the facts report them.

If her mother has the money then it isn't her money - nothing to report.

SIgh, I wonder how many more benefits bashing threads we can take. If the OP wanted to report someone for fraud they didn't need a MN thread to give them permission, so there really is only one reason for the thread.

You are assuming she is committing fraud. Some benefits are not means tested. If she is on a non means tested benefit her savings won't be considered at all.

Then report her. Why do you need mumsnetters to validate your decision?

If the morality and legality really bothers you, then the decent thing is to tell her you can no longer stand by etc etc, and that if she doesn't stop her claim you will report her. That way the behaviour stops, you conscience is clear and you are able to own your judgements, rather than sneaking about making cowardly anonymous reports.

I think you should report her, just like I think we should report any crime we are witness to. If she hasn't done anything wrong, then an investigation will reveal that.

YANBU. Report the fucker

In the mean time, she will have her benefits stopped. That could put her in real hardship.
By all means report someone you know to be committing benefit fraud, but only if you are 100% sure. And no one needs MN to validate that.

ESA, DLA and PIP and not means tested. Shes could be allowed saving.

UC is £316 Pcm (under 25) and £400 Pcm (over 25). I don't imagine she is on UC and going on holidays.

DLA and PIP are not means tested. You could have a million in the bank and claim it. Even former Prime Minister David Cameron was able to claim it for his child Ivan.

You can’t just give money away so you can claim benefits. Shocked how many people don’t understand this.

she doesn’t have trouble at the minute, you’d be making it for her. It may be deserved but yeah you’d still be doing it

DLA isn't means tested.

You are right. You can't come into money and give it away. It is still seen as deprivation of capital.
But your relative may be on benefits that are not means tested anyway. So what she has does not matter.

Shocked how many people don't realise some benefits are not means tested. So your friend could be doing nothing wrong.

That's being nasty and sticking your nose into something that has nothing to do with you, you also don't know their full circumstances even though you might think you do.

Stop being vindictive and mind your own business.