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.

You can't do what you want and then say 'but they're doing x'. That's just jazz hands to deflect from what you're doing wrong.

So stunning and brave to deliberately take action that could repeat the cycle of motherless children for another generation, vulnerable to any significantly older adult that makes them feel parented.

What is the alternative? Benefit fraud affects everyone of us in the long run.

I'm aware of multiple situations where fraud is being perpetrated, both in the course of work and personally but few are investigated due to lack of resources.

Benefit fraud is likely much higher than the Gov will admit to.

Many of us have a hard life story, that doesn't give us a mandate to break the law.

Makes me wonder if the people who think he’s done wrong , would say the same thing if he’d been ringing about other things like child abuse or domestic violence

Why do people always do this? Bring up clearly much worse issues as though the situations are in any way comparable?

She is a first degree scrounger, chancer and liar and deserves to be reported.

Of course he did the right thing.

I’m on the fence.
what they are doing is wrong.
it should be reported.

BUT.

she is pregnant.
she thinks he will leave her if it’s exposed.
shes an addict.

morally I couldn’t report this due to the above right now. Yes it’s their fault and they are wrong and should be culpable for their actions.

but if she falls back into addiction, or he leaves her and leaves her a single mum, it’s the children who will pay the price. Even though it’s their fault, I couldn’t do this and I’d be furious with my husband if he did this.

I meant to vote that OP Was being unreasonable. Her husband did the right thing in reporting his SIL for benefit fraud. If OP's sister does get into trouble, then it'll be her own fault. She should have included her partner in her claim for benefits. If she ended up receiving less money from the State, then so be it. Her partner should help with the bills, etc.
Anyone who commits benefit fraud is essentially stealing from taxpayers, since we're the ones who provide the money to enable people to live off benefits.
She needs to sort herself out and get her own job, and seriously think of kicking out her "partner", who is freeloading (even though he has a job, since he's not helping with the bill payments, etc, then in my eyes, he's free loading)

You can't get your ducks in a row, it's too late now, she's commited fraud and is pregnant also so she can't hide it. It needed putting a stop to because the longer it goes for, the more she'll have to pay back when she eventually got caught. If everybody decided to sit back and play the system it would collapse the country!

How on earth is anything childish about reporting benefit fraud? It's not childish to work and pay taxes and get angry watching a relative take the absolute mick! Just supposing as an aunt, she buys things for this guys kid with that money, he knows it's fraudulent money! What about presents at Christmas? I aren't how sure sure how these things work but what if they became seen as an accessory to it because they knew about it and benefited from the money! This is serious and grown up stuff!

Of course she can hide it. She can just make sure none of his stuff is in her flat and there's no evidence that he's been living there.

Yeah, you really don't know how these things work do you? This isn't some dodgy channel 5 drama. They're really not going to become accessories or their children imprisoned for money laundering as their auntie bought them a barbie 🙄

And if they have other evidence ? The thing is, you don’t know when you’re being investigated. DWP don’t tell you until they invite you in for an interview under caution. And they only do that when they have gathered enough evidence to make a case.

We can only go on the basis of the husband reporting her though, so in this case investigations wouldn't have started yet. She'd just need to make sure the freeloader spent less time at her house. There is no set amount of time allowed though, so if everything is as OP says, she may well be OK anyway.

This.

OP will tell her that she has been reported. If he's registered everything at his sons address and receives posts at his son's address it is hard to see how they can have good evidence he's living with OPs sister.

Have you heard of surveillance ? She won’t know she’s being investigated unless/until they call her in for interview under caution. By then they’ve already gathered enough evidence to present to her as a case - and benefit will be suspended at that point. If OP’s DH has told them everything then they’ll follow leads based on the information, including the £1500 he’s paying his son, and also the mail redirection. It’s astounding that people think DWP don’t know how people get around the rules, or how to counter it.

Not the point. It’s fraud. Where do you draw the line ?

The DWP aren’t in the habit of making people homeless to repay the debt. There will be an arrangement to pay it back at a rates when can afford.

Yes, they’re paying the same amount. But if DSIS was honest and declared that her partner was living with her, the tax payer would benefit because she would no longer be eligible for benefit, or would have it reduced. That’s the point.

Well she will if OP tells her. The 1500 to the son will make it look more legit as will seem he's paying board elsewhere, especially since all his mail goes there.

DWP are most interested in financial connection and there doesn't seem to be much in this instance.

Those claiming contribution based ESA aren’t being migrated to UC - UC is means tested, contribution based ESA is not. Contribution based ESA claims are not time limited for those in the support group, but are limited to 12 months for those who aren’t. But you’re right, any change of circumstances must be reported to DWP - even something as minor as a change of GP if you’re claiming sickness/disability benefits.

Thank you. It's a bit confusing isn't it?! I've just been migrated but it was a weird process x

Not sure what you mean about her not knowing she is being investigated . Obviously she will know it is a possibility if OP tells her that her husband has reported it and she will probably take steps to make sure there isn't any good evidence. Surely the fact that he is giving his son money will back up the story that he is living there. He can say the money is for rent and bills. They can stop the mail redirection.