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Original poster

Benefit fraud cheats, what do I do?

31 replies

Bluebelllady15 · 15/03/2015 15:39

Hi,

So I know 2 People who have been committing benefit fraud for 4 years now. They are a couple (he works & gets paid really well & she has just quit college). They don't live together as she wanted to be able to claim more money and study. He has his own place, pays mortgage etc but provides quite a bit for her & the child and stays there most nights. He's just paid out for a new car for her as they are expecting their second baby in the summer. I found out recent that they aren't going to live together until baby is a few months old so they can claim more now & refurbish house before she moves in with the kids. Its eating me up inside as I am a single parent working living at home because I can't afford anywhere else. So, not only is he earnings so much, he has a house yet she has a council place, getting income support, housing benefit and God knows, what else. Having stuff brought for her but still claiming..

I don't know what to do? Do I report them?

OP posts:
pigwitch · 15/03/2015 15:40

Yes

Original poster
Bluebelllady15 · 15/03/2015 15:40

What if they are family members

OP posts:
Funkytown · 15/03/2015 15:41

so your reporting them because you haven't got much ??
if thats the reason don't report it cause your just doing it out of spite

tribpot · 15/03/2015 15:43

If your concern is that they'll know it was you, that doesn't seem very likely - plenty of people nearby must know the score.

LaurieFairyCake · 15/03/2015 15:45

There's nothing to report if they're both maintaining separate households - which they are

The fact it's morally wrong and designed to maximise the system is irrelevant

SoonToBeSix · 15/03/2015 15:48

Report them for what ? Having children together and him spending money on his girlfriend and child is not benefit fraud.

gamerchick · 15/03/2015 15:49

No I don't think there is anything to report either. They whether it's morally right or not are paying for their own separate houses.

Doing it out of jealousy won't give you the satisfaction you want anyway.

ThisTimeTed · 15/03/2015 15:50

agree with LaurieFairyCake

will you feel much better once you've reported ?

you sound quite envious and spiteful tbh.

Kvetch15 · 15/03/2015 15:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

usualsuspect333 · 15/03/2015 15:51

They are family members and you want to report them?

Nice.

usualsuspect333 · 15/03/2015 15:53

Fucking up someone elses life won't improve your life.

Quiero · 15/03/2015 15:54

They aren't commiting benefit fraud though are they? You must really hate this person to want to do this.

VixxFace · 15/03/2015 15:55

myob

tribpot · 15/03/2015 15:55

Surely him staying there most nights crosses the line? (In terms of fraud).

Finola1step · 15/03/2015 15:56

I too think that they may be skirting just within the rules. It's morally off but possibly not benefit fraud. Therefore unless you know for sure it's fraud, say nothing.

MsDran · 15/03/2015 15:57

If he is staying there most nights, and she is claiming benefits as a single mother then she is committing benefit fraud.

usualsuspect333 · 15/03/2015 15:58

If he has his own house and separate finances it's not fraud.

He can also give her money as child maintenance and it will be discarded in regards to her benefit claim.

gamerchick · 15/03/2015 15:59

Not unless he's contributing to the household. Hard to prove.

usualsuspect333 · 15/03/2015 16:00

Very hard to prove unless their finances are linked.

Viviennemary · 15/03/2015 16:04

I can see why you disapprove. But technically speaking it doesn't seem that they are committing benefit fraud. As they are living in separate houses.

RedRugNoniMouldiesEtc · 15/03/2015 16:07

It depends what benefits she's claming as there are different thresholds but it does seem like they are into moral rather than legal territory. Mn tends to hate reporting benefit fraud but I think, in this case, there isn't much point as they are unlikely to be judged fraudulent.

BuzzardBird · 15/03/2015 16:09

They are 'working the system' but I am not entirely sure that they are committing any fraud.

Nolim · 15/03/2015 16:21

I would

ElectraCute · 15/03/2015 16:41

'...getting income support, housing benefit and God knows what else'

Exactly. You have no clue.

They may be 'making the most of the system' but they're not committing fraud. The number of nights he stays over is irrelevant for the purposes of claiming benefit. You may disagree with this from a moral PoV but it's not fraudulent. Having someone who buys you stuff doesn't mean you can't claim benefits, either.

And btw I speak as someone who had to stay with my parents whilst working fulltime and bringing up my child so I know how crap it can be. But that's no reason to take your anger out on people who aren't actually doing anyone any harm.

Babyroobs · 15/03/2015 16:44

Of course they are commiting fraud if he is staying over most nights and supporting her financially whilst she claims to be a one parent.

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