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's not difficult to understand, people talk. 2 of my relatives are claiming pip after wildly exaggerating their symptoms. Yes, they have health issues but neither have care or mobility needs.

Yet if I posted a thread about this Mumsnet would ask me how I'm so sure 🤔

OP, they will catch up with her sooner or later, there was a very similar case in my local paper recently where someone tried to hide inheritance in a similar way. Took about 2 years but they caught up with her and she was prosecuted.

As I said, there is no harm in reporting suspicious behaviour, there will be an investigation to see if she is entitled and if she is then all is fine

I used to know a lady who spent hours and hours at the gym. She could not work due to mental health issues.

Disabled people are also allowed to attended the gym.

Her benefits will be stopped in the meantime though.

”sick” people are allowed to go on holiday and exercise…
tired of people expecting people on benefits to live in crack dens and spend their days watching countdown and eating frozen nuggets.
you sound bitter and boring babe

As I said, the OP had her suspicions which are probably not founded on nothing as she knows her well so there is no harm in investigating to determine entitlement

Why is going on holiday and attending the gym suspicious behaviour for a disabled person? You sound utterly ableist.

It doesn’t sound petty and vindictive to me. The sooner people are responsible for themselves the better, not expecting social care to subside their lifestyle when they have the capacity or means to do so themselves. For those truly in need, no issue, but for those taking advantage then we need to do more to change the situation. Including speaking out. Well done OP for raising this, I hope you have the fortitude to see it through.

Going to the gym is now suspicious behaviour?

There is harm as it is based on speculation, and her benefits will be stopped in the meantime. That means she wont be able to buy food or pay bills. For months.

DLA/PIP is not means tested, so you can't complain if that's what she gets - £40K is only a very small amount of money really in the grand scheme, she won't be paying into a pension scheme for example, and eventually that £40K will go very quickly when it is called upon.

And this is why I am too scared to leave the house at times. In case I am out "too much".

Report if she is defrauding the taxpayer. Giving away savings is deprivation of assets. I'm sick of paying more and more for people who aren't genuinely in need and with that amount of saving they need to be used first.

As I said, the OP had her suspicions which are probably not founded on nothing as she knows her well, so there is no harm in reporting so an investigating into whether she is actually entitled can be carried out, if it is found that she is entitled then all is well

Wonder why she didn’t report her months ago then if she has all this knowledge and ‘evidence’?

The “no harm in reporting” line is nonsense. That’s like saying “no harm in reporting Mr. XYZ as a nonce, cos that will help stamp out paedophilia.”

Her suspicious are founded on envy and pettiness.

You are forgetting that she has 40k in savings, that should last her quite a while

They will only know if it’s declared. If she’s hidden it away deliberately they may not know

i hate benefit cheats with a vengeance. I would be reporting relative or not and sadly I am not surprised at the number of posters on here saying do nothing

life is hard for lots of people who work hard for what they have paying taxes yo support those benefit cheats.

Hiding savings is suspicious behaviour.
You are persistently ignoring the details here.
I’ve already answered what benefits and you keep ignoring that too.
Living a lifestyle which includes significant spending, whilst claiming benefits, whilst having SAVINGS THAT MAKE YOU INELIGIBLE FOR THOSE BENEFITS is the issue here.

But why do you think going on holiday and having a gym membership is suspicious for a disabled person? You’re the one that said it, not the op. Are you capable of explaining your reasoning?

I'd absolutely report. I'm sick of working all the hours of the day and other people absolutely taking the piss. And I'm paying for them too! Keep the benefits system for the people who actually need it.

Allegedly has this money and if her benefits are not means tested the amount of savings is a moot point.

The suspicions are founded on HIDDEN SAVINGS.