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.

Who's taken offence?? I was talking about the DH being jealous, not people generally. Calm down 🤣

Obviously the stats are not accurate, if she has been claiming this since her daughter was born this wouldn’t have been counted as fraud would it? How many others are like this? Less than 3% sure someone with a disability would of benefitted from this ‘only 3%’

No, she’s letting us know that she’s a high earner and holds benefit recipients in contempt.

This exactly.

Snitches get stitches. Don’t grass on your own family

You know I read it a bit like that, assumption all benefit claimants have XLbullys and mouldy flats but decided not to bite, pardon the pun 😬

Edited - well I did bite a bit hence the "you ok hun", ah well.

There has been some confusion- when I say she was brought a house- ie her Dad put down a sizeable chunk of money and there is a mortgage on the remainder. Which she pays out of her benefits.

She isn’t claiming non means testing benefits- she’s on UC, signed off on long term sick. No dispute she would be eligible, because she is, but the issue is she isn’t declaring her partners income and the fact he lives there.

I don’t condone what she is doing- far from it. But it’s the potential consequences it could have- she could go to prison for goodness sake. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, especially their children who are innocents in it all.

Sure even middle earners are not jealous too!

She won’t go to prison, that’s a bit dramatic. But the benefit fraud needs to stop ASAP.

No one is anxious to support your sister, kids or not.

@WhenYouSayNothingAtAll I don’t think that passes the sniff test though- how many women on here married and unmarried don’t really have access to partners income- they may well pay towards bills , or pay bigger part of the bills but the partner can’t access the rest- They aren’t all busy claiming UC because of this factor . If he is living there full time in a relationship and they have kids too then his income counts, regardless of what part of it she can access or how they work this between them.

She should go to prison. She is a fraud, simple as that. Your husband is right to report it. What a shit show.

Hopefully he has fully considered the consequences and has decided it will be worth ending his marriage over.

Yes but it was cunning and deceitful of husband to report his wife's sister.
I feel for wife as she has to deal with a cocktail of emotions.

This is my view too.

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Fraud and error in the UK benefits system cost taxpayers a net loss of approximately £8.6 billion in the financial year ending 2024. This represents 3.2% of total benefit expenditure. Prior to this, the government was facing a situation where the welfare system was estimated to be losing around £10 billion annually due to fraud and error. The overpayment due to fraud and error was estimated to be £9.7 billion in the same financial year.

I don't have much sympathy, her and her partner are committing fraud, why is he paying £1500 a month to his son ?

Just get your sister to move all his stuff out and say he’s never lived there. If he’s not on any bills or registered there for council tax etc I doubt they’d bother pursuing it. Living together is a difficult fraud to prove. They might just check the above and drop it anyway.

I'd be furious with my husband because when it all goes tits up it would be me who'd be picking up the pieces.

Yes it's dishonest, yes she should stop. £1500 pcm should be for their family not an adult son.

The sad matter is her bf will walk away and leave her with 2 kids and a fraud charge + the debt to pay back!!

I guess your husband followed his conscience.

You don't have to agree with him 🤷🏻‍♀️

Maybe she should have thought of this when deciding to commit fraud?

He did it without speaking to you first and thinking about the potential consequences

Yes this is what would make me angry. He did it behind your back. I would now have massive trust issues with him if I was you.