Benefit Fraud

[SteveCampbell]

Hi. I know this may be a touchy subject, but I've been thinking about this for a while and would like to know other people's opinions on this. As a morality issue how do you feel about reporting people for benefit fraud? I do have a specific scenario in mind, but I'd like to know, without any nuance, how you feel about reporting it in general.

I have reported and am glad i have . There is a difference between those who need benefits and those who choose to lie to get more, it’s called fraud

[quote SRS29]@MaryAndHerNet err yes I do....don't disagree as to where it goes but overall allows a lot to not work and claim all sorts of 'benefits' .....too easy[/quote]
No you don't.
And no it isnt.

Stop watching channel 5 benefit porn.

The rest of your tax goes to MPs wages, expenses, second homes, cabinet salaries...

Yes, of course. That's where the majority of your tax and the 350billion tax revenue goes. To 650 MPs. 🙄

The rest of your tax goes to MPs wages, expenses, second homes, cabinet salaries

Yes, of course. That's where the majority of your tax and the 350billion tax revenue goes. To 650 MPs. 🙄

I’m more bothered about the corruption that goes on in the government with public money tbh. It always baffles me how people pick on those at the bottom instead of looking at the real problems.

I knew someone would say it before me👏
I genuinely couldn't care less if someone's lying to get a couple more hundred £ in order to put food on the table.

The government just wrote off how many billions that was spent on PPE... how many of them were also giving big million £ contracts to their rich little friends. But it's Carol who's getting an extra £200 that she's not supposed too in order look after her 4 kids that I should be angry with and report?
The government wants you to focus on the little guys and make you think they're doing the wrong thing when the government is doing the exact same thing if not worse.

I'd never report anyone and I know many people doing benefit/social housing fraud.
I support them

I would never do it, and as others have said I would be far more concerned about people dodging paying tax.

The assumption that benefit cheats and tax fiddlers are different people isn’t always correct IME … one family very locally to me were doing both and also running up debt with local businesses by giving false addresses. Tens of thousands in benefit fraud alone.
It’s not always about exaggerating disability and failing to declare cohabitation.

It’s not an either/or situation. You can report both tax evasion and benefit fraud. Both are morally wrong and both negatively affect the tax payer. It’s all well and good saying “Oh well if someone on my street is managing to skank an extra 100 quid in benefits per month then good for them” but ultimately if a million people across the country per month we’re doing that then that’s £100 million every single month that is going on something it shouldn’t. Where do you draw the line?

I would report it. I’d have no qualms whatsoever, I’ve worked in benefits and in fraud for years.

It’s theft.

If people didn’t take the piss, people who really needed it would likely be able to have more. There would be more funding.

Would you do it for say, someone who was earning 30 quid a month?
Is that just as bad as people who are milking the system?

@BIWI

And you have just joined Mumsnet to ask this question?

How do u know??

How do you know what you are reporting is true? Unless you are actually in that household and are 100% certain that fraud is being committed, I'd mind my own business if I were you. Mud sticks and if you are wrong you could cause a lot of heartache. Also ask yourself why you feel the need to poke around in other people's lives instead of just living your own?

If I had cast iron proof of either benefit fraud or tax evasion, I would report it. Seems unlikely to happen though. I'm 60, and have never come close to reporting anyone yet.

@JTK392

As a morality issue how do you feel about reporting people for benefit fraud?

If I’m going to be the morality police, I’d much much rather report people for tax evasion than benefit fraud.

Yes - this.

I'm pretty sure we all know someone who is evading/avoiding income tax.
I'm also pretty sure a few of us have paid cash in hand or been paid cash in hand a few times in our lives.

@NSA2103

At risk of getting flamed: My ex implicated me when lying to the DWP and had committed fraud. She received circa £12,000 of UC she was entitled to. Our divorce was already messy, I have strong values, and she does not. So I reported her. But the decision was not taken easily. I see no difference between tax evasion and benefit fraud.

I wonder why your divorce was 'messy' when you obviously are happy to stoop so low

@SRS29

OP I would...mass amount of jobs available...I pay a shit load of tax for these people to do nowt.....go for it x

You clearly don’t realise that most benefits paid are in work benefits ie topping up shitty low wages to a liveable amount. If someone is earning a pittance and claiming for an extra couple of hundred pounds a month, you’d really report them because you think you’re so much better than that? There aren’t well paying jobs available for anyone who wants them. There are plenty of NMW and zero hour contact jobs around and UC is an absolute pain to claim, causing untold hardship for many. People who think that they have the moral high ground while reporting someone for benefit fraud really should take a closer look at the benefits system before judging.

@Suzi888

I would report it. I’d have no qualms whatsoever, I’ve worked in benefits and in fraud for years.

It’s theft.

If people didn’t take the piss, people who really needed it would likely be able to have more. There would be more funding.

No there wouldn’t - there would be more for MPs to spend on their second homes and fucking parties.

No I wouldn't .

@JTK392

As a morality issue how do you feel about reporting people for benefit fraud?

If I’m going to be the morality police, I’d much much rather report people for tax evasion than benefit fraud.

This!!!!

I wouldn't (mostly)

And I've committed benefit fraud in the past (more than 30 years ago - genuinely had no choice)

Nope, I wouldn’t shop anyone.
With the cost of living going higher and higher, people struggling to keep houses warm and food on the table, why would I begrudge someone an extra few hundred.
Wages have stagnated, stable housing is out of reach for many, and the optics are that the rich can swindle out of paying a fair amount of taxes. It comes across as one rule for them, and another for us.

To make a moral choice about reporting someone for benefit fraud I’d need a lot of individual details because while it might always be illegal some circumstances are going to be more forgivable than others.

I don’t agree that morally tax evasion is the same as benefit fraud. One is failing to pay a bill to the taxpayer and one is actively stealing from the taxpayer. Stealing seems like a worse crime to me than keeping money you have earned for yourself.

I would zip the lip. Often these people are struggling and some may simply not know that they are committing fraud - the system is so complex.

I would guess that there are far more examples of people who qualify for benefit but do not know and have not applied than those committing fraud.

As others have said the level of fraud committed on the tax system by those that are rich is a much bigger problem.

Unless you have all the facts (unlikely) you are not in a position to report.