Is this Benefit Fraud??

[Sixer]

To take in french students and others people ironing whilst receiving benefits.

if u dont declare it to dwp then yes im afraid it is benefit fraud

So, what would you do if you knew someone was doing this?

Cal this number (you can do it anonymously if you want to):

National Benefit Fraud Hotline 0800 854 440

It may not be depending on what benefits they claim and how do you know they have not declared it?

depends how much they are earning. you can earn up to 20 pounds a week I think without it affecting your benefits, but think you still have to declare it.

MInd your own buisness, as far as I know its not very profitable taking in students, they have to be fed 3 meals a day, I thought there was some kind of limit you were allowed to earn on benefits £20? not really sure. What woud you gain from this?

well this is the thing. I don't know it hasn't been declared. So, should I turn a blind eye, or report what i know???

keep your beak out of other peoples business.

Maybe it is declared then. It's not likely they'll be raking it in, doing ironing. Depends on circumstances I guess but I don't think I'd blow the whistle, taking in ironing smacks of being really hard up, and it's not easy to live on £59 per week.

I don't agree with benefit fraud but do agree with bohemianbint, I don't like doing my own ironing never mind somebody elses! She is hardly going to be raking it in.
Where are you bothered anyway?

Its hardly high level is it? If this person is claiming and doing others ironing, they're not exactly rolling in it are they?

So, If you are living off next to nothing, have no pension (can't afford it) like wise no Insurance policies for home equipment packing up/not working, life assurance etc. No dispensible income (I think it's called,). Would it not annoy you just a little, and make you wonder how on earth can one be on benefits, pay out nearly £200 a month on the above (this is a fact,and straight from the horses mouth). You would still turn a blind eye to the sacks of ironing and stacks of shopping you going through the door??

see going through the door. Sorry. Should I still keep my beak out?

Taking in ironing sounds like an nice little cash in hand earner to me. I can imagine how this would pee you off but to be honest I wouldnt dob anyone in. Also it depends on the benefits in question.

I know that taking in a lodger isnt deemed income for WTC/CTC but would be for IS. There is also an amount of £20 that can be earned on top for IS.

I would ignore it, sorry but you can never tell what anyone else's life is like. Maybe she has lots of debts she has to pay off, maybe she's depressed. Imagine if you dobbed her in and she killed herself or something?

If she was walking in and out of the door in mink coats and obviously committing big, big fraud that would be a different matter.

I wouldn't cheat the system myself, for one thing I'd never sleep at night if I did, so I can imagine how desperate this woman must be.

Or maybe i'm just soft.

if you're earing money from it - then yes - it's fraud.

to be honest, if I knew someone who was doing that - I'd ask her to do my ironing (if DS wasn't our 'family-ironer'

Oh and there's the nice car outside. I am really cross at the mo as I haven't even the money to MOT my car. Yet I know this woman is recieving housing benefit. I'm just really cross and jealous and am finding it difficult to accept. Really does make me feek like jacking in my P/T job and going on benefits too. (Not that i would, but i do think like this sometimes). It just doesn't seem right. Maybe I just need to let off steam.

are you SURE she's on benefits? she's pretty dumb if she's being so blatant as to have students coming in and out with ironing and a nice car outside?!

you could always blackmail her about dobbing her in... that way you'd be better off and she'd get to keep most of her extra money !

Look the hotline number above is anonymous if they are not committing benefit fraud nothing will happen to them if they are then they will have to repay it.

I don't know what I'd do I think there is a huge difference between someone doing a little bit of cash in hand work (earning not much more than the declarable £20 a week that is allowed anyway) and someone raking in £100's per week whilst claiming IS & HBA which means there is less in the pot for all the people who are genuinely struggling on the pittance they rightfully receive.

Tough call.

She has said laughing, that she's on housing. Has also said (She cleans peoples homes as well) she can't be seen to be doing anymore than 16 hours a week. What do you think?? On benefits? or ??? why else couldn't you be seen working more than 16 hours a week.?? Maybe I have the wrong end of the stick. Oh dear .

Benefit fraud is a crime, and it's not a victimless one either. All of us who pay tax are contributing to the welfare system which is designed to support people who are in need, not people who are dishonest. Hundreds of thousands of honest hardworking people struggle to make ends meet without resorting to illegal activity.
If the woman isnt receiving benefits, she has nothing to fear. If she is committing fraud, then she does. To those, who think it's not the OPs business, I'm interested to know what other legislation you would choose to ignore if it suits you? Would you shop a drink driver? A drug dealer? What about a shop lifter? Just seems a bit strange to me to have legislation if we can pick and choose the bits we want.

She is certainly on some sort of means tested benefits.