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Original poster

Benefit Fraud Advice

110 replies

Blailey · 27/02/2024 07:38

I’m looking for some advice regarding benefit fraud and the chances of me going to prison.

My partner is the father to all three of my children and is registered at his parents house. We have been together for 10 years and I have claimed HB, CTC and have now moved over to Universal Credit. I have always claimed as single as he’s registered at his parent’s and to be perfectly honest, we struggle to make ends meet even with the benefits. When we moved into our home 7 years ago, I only put my name on the tenancy.

I have recently received a message from UC about a compliance interview over the phone. I think a friend that I fell out with has reported me, she knew what was going on with my benefits.

Since I got the message, my partner has moved into his parents as I’m so worried that I will go to prison.

Could they have been watching my house? I’m so worried that if they know he’s been living with me for 7 years then I will have to pay all of the money back and I could get a criminal record. Hopefully now he is at his parents, they will see he’s not living here.

Had anyone been in a similar position? What was the outcome. I’m loosing sleep!

OP posts:

randomusernam · 27/02/2024 07:45

I don't think you will get much sympathy here I'm sorry. I would get some proper legal advice once you know what they know. Until then it's just a waiting game.

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 27/02/2024 07:46

You won’t go to prison.

As it’s compliance rather than investigation it’s likely bugger all will happen, unfortunately.

AgnesX · 27/02/2024 07:49

@rando isn't wrong. You've brought up an entire family at the taxpayer's' expense. What's really amazing that you think it's ok to break the rules like that.

mitogoshi · 27/02/2024 07:51

If they have proof of you committing fraud for 10 years then yes you stand a high chance of a significant punishment. For a few months where a new partner moved in and you don't immediately tell them you might get some leniency but this was a calculated decision on your parts.

That said compliance interviews are routine so it may be to try ti get you to increase your earnings.

Perhaps the answer isn't for your partner to move into his parents but instead you both get jobs, second jobs if needed and come off the benefits.

MisterOnions · 27/02/2024 07:52

The difficulty you have here is that unless you are going to lie during your compliance interview (and they are likely to ask you outright if your partner has been living with you full time despite being registered at a different address) then this is all going to come out. If you do lie, and they have evidence that he’s been residing with you full time as a family unit, then you’re likely going to be in much more trouble than if you come clean and admit what you’ve been doing. It’s quite conceivable that if they have received a tip off that you’ve been cohabiting them they’ve been covertly watching you to built a case before interview. I’d be very careful how you handle this.

You need legal advice, urgently.

Queijo · 27/02/2024 07:53

You won’t go to prison, but all benefits will be stopped and you’ll have to pay it all back. Which considering is 10 years worth is going to be a lot.

Yes they will watch your house and can request bank statements from both of your banks as proof of you living together.

Wiglio · 27/02/2024 07:55

Get a job

Jmaho · 27/02/2024 07:56

I'm not sure what you want people to say? You've knowingly committed benefit fraud for years and now you've been caught
You worry that you'll have to pay all the money back? Well I should bloody hope you'll have to! Why should tax payers pay?
You'll probably avoid prison but you'll likely have to get a Solicitor which is suppose we will pay for!
But yeah you'll have to pay it back. Why wouldn't you?

Coconutter24 · 27/02/2024 07:57

I don’t have much sympathy for you loosing sleep tbh. Do you both work? For your children’s sake hopefully you don’t go to prison (but you should have thought about that before knowingly committing fraud!). It also would only be fair that you are made to pay back every fraudulent penny you took. Not to sound unkind but you’ve stole so now you have to take whatever consequences are given

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 27/02/2024 07:57

Wow ! 10 years of fraud !
Of course they could have been watching your home.
Goodness knows how you will ever pay that back and as for ' they will see he’s not living here. ' BUT he has been for 7 years !!!

itsallabitofamystery · 27/02/2024 07:57

The rules are quite muddy on this. I was a single parent but had a partner. He was living at his own property, we didn't move in together for 3 years. I had a compliance call like what you're talking about and despite the definition of a couple on the website saying that they live together, the woman on the phone was saying that it's how other people "perceive" your relationship. So she asked, do outside people see us as a couple? The answer was yes. Do we post on social media together? The answer was yes. However, my partner paid nothing into my property. They were not his children. He did not pay for their upkeep. SO, although I was claiming honestly, I told them there and then to cancel as I wasn't going through that stress again for the sake of £400. They tried to scare me.
I think in your case it's tricky as he most probably is contributing to your household income. You cannot tell me he isn't help financially in raising his children at all? This is where you're likely to fall into the dodgy territory I'm afraid.

NonoLePetitRobot · 27/02/2024 07:57

This page outlines the possible sanctions for benefit fraud:

https://www.gov.uk/benefit-fraud

07whatever · 27/02/2024 07:57

No sympathy from me here either unfortunately.
Millions of people are struggling, what makes you so special that you feel like you need more money than others?
You've cheated the system.
I suspect if it is your friend that has reported you she'd have evidence too instead of just reporting you with nothing to back the accusation up.
It's also set a horrible example to your children and they will have to deal with the knock on effect.
My suggestion would be to seek legal advice or come clean. It's not a life if you have to keep looking behind your back all the time.

charliew87 · 27/02/2024 07:58

This happened to someone I used to know.

They had photographs and loads of evidence of him living with her before they even questioned her, pictures of him going and leaving days later, pictures of them out and about together, so 9/10 they already know the answers and you denying it will upmostly leave you in more trouble.

Be honest. Pay it back. Everyone struggles even full time workers with 2x income in the house. Imagine if everyone just fraudulently claimed?

aband · 27/02/2024 07:58

My dh is military. He's never home. I can't work due to MH and other disabilities. I get £35 PIP a week.

We can't afford the bills. His petrol to get to work 7 hours away. He has to buy his food and kit.

But I never said he didn't live here. It's illegal and I'd get what I deserve.

aband · 27/02/2024 07:59

Plus this has been going on 22 years. He's retiring soon thank god.

itsallabitofamystery · 27/02/2024 07:59

Oh I've just re-read and he is living with you. Yes you've committed fraud I'm afraid if you didn't tell them he had moved him, as he's part of the household income.

YireosDodeAver · 27/02/2024 08:01

Has he actually been contributing to household finances and the upkeep of his partner and children during all this time? Is it that you are struggling to make ends meet despite him putting in a full-time salary, as well as the dishonesty gained benefits? Or has he been keeping all his money for himself and freeloading?

Lifestooshort71 · 27/02/2024 08:05

You won't get any sympathy on here and that's because you don't deserve any. I hope they do investigate and I hope they claim back every penny. Poor children.

FindingMeno · 27/02/2024 08:07

I've never done this so can't offer advice.
Unlike many though, I can see the temptation, given the corruption going on at higher levels in our society.
Life is a battle when you're struggling to get by.
For one, I hope for your children that nothing too bad comes of this, but I certainly think you should see it as a wake up call to change things going forward.

Whaleandsnail6 · 27/02/2024 08:07

You've purposely committed fraud and all you are now bothered about is that "hopefully they wont see he is living here" because he has now moved into his parents house to try and cover your tracks?

You both deserve to have to pay the money back and get a criminal record.

I'd say speak to a solicitor and be as honest and remorseful as you can.

ObsidianTree · 27/02/2024 08:08

So you've struggled financially even with claiming full benefits as a single person and have a full income coming in.... What about the people that don't claim benefits with one wage? Or those genuinely single surviving on benefits alone. Is it ok for people that stick to the law to struggle?

You have been very immoral for 7 years. Probably claiming all the cost of living payments too not bothered about the people genuinely struggling. I am afraid you do deserve to get caught.

MadMadamMimz · 27/02/2024 08:10

Money is tight for everyone right now, no sympathy from me I'm afraid but I can appreciate that this must be stressful.

You may have thought you were being clever by keeping him registered at his parents but given it has been 7 years, he surely will have a few bills registered to your address by now. What is his registered address with the GP? What about bank accounts? Car insurance? I also doubt his parents will be keen to lie that he has been living with them.

I suggest you get a lawyer.

Theunamedcat · 27/02/2024 08:10

I get the temptation but it's really not worth it

huggyhoo · 27/02/2024 08:11

I know someone who was investigated for this. She believes they did watch the house.

She had to pay back the money. She had to attend a number of interviews and narrowly avoided prosecution.

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