To think my husband is wrong for reporting my sister for benefit fraud?

[Rockyhardplace25]

So back story:

My sister is a lot younger than me. There is a 15 year age gap- so I basically raised her as my mother was struggling with an alcohol addiction and wasn’t fit to until she went into rehab when my sister was 9. We have a very, strong close relationship.
Sister has also had her own issues with drugs- but when she found out she was pregnant with my niece 8 years ago, went to rehab and has sorted her life out. To some extent.
She has a much older partner, the gap is nearly 30 years, who she met in her addiction who has also, again to some extent, sorted his life out. In that aspect- I take my hat off to both of them.
This man was married with adult children and got my sister pregnant after a one night stand. He left his wife and moved in with my sister. His “other family” have completely cut him off apart from his eldest child- who, from what I can work out, uses him as a bank.

Me and DH have one child, DD who is now a 11, Children are expensive- there’s no two ways about it. With clothing, school trips, days out etc it does add up. DSIS has a 7 year old and is now pregnant with a second child who we are all very excited about.

DSIS doesn’t work and claims sickness benefits, her partner does. Up until recently we assumed she was reporting his income as part of her claim- but we have found out through a slip of the tounge she isn’t. She isn’t even declaring he lives with her, which he does full time. His bank account, car and other things that could link him back to DSIS house is registered to his son’s address. A son he gives £1500 a month too.

DSIS was brought a house when she turned 18 (we have same mum, different dads) so solely pays the mortgage and a lump of the bills herself topped up by her partner. If he/the kids need anything he will go out and buy it but doesn’t directly contribute to the monthly running of the home. Which has pissed me off if I’m honest.

DH is even more pissed off- feels she is taking the piss, as is he, she is committing fraud and why is it fair we both work our arses off to pay our monthly bills when she’s getting it handed to her on a plate but wouldn’t if she was honest. DH thinks if she does that then her partner will leave her because at the moment he’s pretty much living the life of Riley with no expenses.

Hes admitted to me over the weekend he’s reported her for benefit fraud. I don’t know how I feel- I keep flitting from one thing to the next- but ultimately she is my sister and I am worried she will get into serious shit.

Indeed, I had the same thought that his wife likely kicked him out and, of course, moving into OP's DSis' home is easy for him - not for her though - and as I've said repeatedly, she should have been smart enough to tell him he couldn't move in because it would affect her benefits and hence her security; things which are her responsibility. It would have then been his decision to offer to replace her lost benefits, or find somewhere else to live. She's allowed something to happen where she takes all the risk and he takes none. On the upside, it's likely this cohabitation has only been going on for a few months so reversing it could be straightforward if OP can persuade her DSis of what she stands to lose if the DWP were to find out.

Widespread benefit fraud is ultimately going to result in many deserving people having their benefits reduced in the long run because the country simply cannot afford the amount of benefits that are being paid out. I understand why your husband was
angry. Maybe your DSIS will be better off if this pushes her to take more responsibility for her life. Living a life of fraud which involves stealing from the working public is not right

Why should the tax payer foot the bill for that if she’s living with a partner who’s perfectly capable of supporting her ?

PIP isn’t a means tested benefit. It’s a disability benefit and all household income is disregarded. Probably why DWP didn’t do anything - your neighbours weren’t doing anything wrong. And you reported them simply because you dislike them ? Nice. Maybe get your facts right next time.

Benefit fraud is wrong but I’d never do this to a family member. In the cold light of day I doubt many would, despite anger/posturing about it.

Your sister is taking the piss and has made it her mission in life to live off those who actually get off their backside and do something with their lives. Your partner did the right thing.

But this is MN. Reporting benefit fraud is a complete scandal. Makes you wonder if all these people protesting reporting of benefit fraud are at it themselves.

This thread just shows why benefits are out of control. So many people think that they are owed a living just for being alive.

Well no, not quite correct. There are two elements of ESA. One is contribution based and not means tested beyond occupational pensions belonging to the claimant. The other is income based, and is means tested. Claimants are in the process of being migrated from income based ESA and onto UC, but the effect is the same - it’s fraud.

The partner isn’t the one claiming benefit. DSIS is. So she is the one responsible for advising DWP of a change that has affected her entitlement.

What she is doing is wrong but I couldn't forgive my spouse for doing something like that behind my back. It would be a divorce for me.

A word of warning then to anyone due to migrate soon: my colleague, whose patch was the first in our area to migrate, has told the rest of the team that more than 50% of the new UC awards the he has worked on are incorrect.

The most common errors are

1. transitional protection amount incorrectly calculated
2. LCWRA element that should be paid to those migrating from ESA support group omitted
3. housing costs having incorrect LHA rate applied
4. carer's element omitted

Pretty poor show, imo. All our clients have significant MH issues and have been totally freaked out in many cases, to the point where one had to be admitted to hospital because they were suicidal about how the hell they were going to manage on so much less money.

Yes, she has been stupid but the fact that he has moved in rather than stay elsewhere hasn't cost the tax payer anything. He hasn't officially moved in anyway if he has registered everything at his sons address.

Then he shouldn’t have moved in with her should he ? And she shouldn’t have allowed it because she was fully aware of the effect his income would have on her benefits.

Of course it’s cost the tax payer !! He’s moved in and has an income of his own. The fact that he’s not contributing is irrelevant. He’s arranged it so that it doesn’t look as though he’s moved in, when in fact he’s living there. It’s fraud.

You realise the entire government do this and no one bats an eyelid

I would definitely report her. I'm with your husband

And may I add, DWP probably won't do anything I have reported neighbours I dislike for fraud which I know they are doing and still living with partner and claiming pip.

That'll be because PIP entitlement isn't affected by living with a partner @Inthetyreshop . It's not a means-tested benefit, and household income is irrelevant to entitlement.

I'm team husband and wish I had the guts to do similar. I've a relative claiming benefits (not in UK so different set up), she claims to be a single mother working part time, she gets a weekly payment, a living alone allowance which includes her bin charges and a fuel allowance, plus the majority of her rent is paid, she lives in a private rented house with her 'husband' and as far as everyone else knows they pay their own way but I know through her mother that even though they had a wedding which we all attended they didn't actually do the legal part so she could continue to claim benefits. They intend to do this for another few years while saving to buy a house, he has an excellently paid trade and they take a few expensive holidays yearly. I used to really like this woman and now I avoid her because I want to tell her what I think of her.

When you say “prepare” do you mean work out further lies to defraud the system?

Hi op,

gosh I would be fuming! And like you without being able to aim at nothing because of course he was right.

You hurt for your sister and what is coming for her so there is that. But if she learns it is your hubby…that might very well dent badly your relationship with her and her children!

yes your hubby was right but no one likes a know it all and if he absolutely wants to be right above the relationship that are important to you…well…that kind give you what place you have for him. And all of that because he is jealous!

God. Who treats family like this.

I'd be livid with my husband. I'd probably divorce him.

I'm on the fence.

She won’t be able to do most jobs with a criminal record for fraud. How is that going to benefit the taxpayer? Also, some sickness benefits aren’t means tested so it’s not clear whether she has committed a crime.

If there’s no real financial links to him living there nothing will come of it anyway. The amount he stays there does not matter, the financial ties do, and you say he uses another address… it is annoying when others commit benefit fraud, but personally I’d never report my sister or family member for it, I’d tell them I think it’s wrong and leave it at that.