I'm dying to grass up the benefit cheats living next to me but..

[ssd]

..dh won't let me as they have 3 kids and he feels its unfair on the kids

they are the laziest young couple I've ever met, she told me she can't afford to work as she is getting so much paid for her by claiming to be a single mum, but her partner (kids dad) work on the side so they have that money coming in too

they seem to spend all their money on takeaway deliveries, about 3 a week, but sod all on their kids who come chapping my door every day trying to get in to play with our toys, and probably for a feed as they get their takeaways about half nine at night

we both work here, I'm part time on minimum wage and she actually told me what she "clears" a month and with income support, job seekers and rent paid she's better off than us bith working

I'm heartily sick of seeing them swanning about, she always seems to have new clothes and their car is much better than ours, her mu mtakes the kids at weekends so they can go out and party, she told me they can afford to go out every Sat and they lie in bed all Sunday till the kids are delivered back to them

I'm so bitter, I'm sick of the injustice

should I go ahead and tell social services and let dh go mad or just let them live their dishonest life and shut up? I really don't know what to do

so true edam...it all boils down to resentment that the poor are getting a few extra pounds their probably not entitled to.

and perhaps the rich are contributing to the pot as well as ripping off everyone else whereas the benefits cheats are just doing the ripping off??

Totally agree with you whispywhisp.

And then if anyone points out that the system is crap and unfair, they're accused of being resentful or envious - a cop out because there is no logical argument against what you describe.

To go back to the OP - the neighbours are committing fraud, they are taking money that does not rightfully belong to them and they deserve to be shopped.

In what way are they contributing? Driving up house prices in London, the South East and wherever they buy their holiday homes so ordinary people can't afford to buy a decent home? Fucking up companies that employ ordinary people for short-term gain?

through paying their taxes

edam - I am really confused that you ask 'where are the threads about city fatcats' and then in the next breath say that you couldne possibly start one because you are feeling sympathy towards people who have lost their jobs. So... maybe other people are feeling the same?

no findtheriver, not all people that point out that the system is crap and unfair are resentful and envious. i think parts of the system are crap.
i have never been on benefits..have a nice house, car, holidays, no money worries..but if my neighbour was living on benefits and claiming a few extra pounds then bloody well fine. i guess my life is happy so i don't get bitter.

Does it annoy me when I see people living off benefits handed to them by the Government when they could easily work? Yes, it does. I ask them why they don't work. Their replies tend to be 'why should I?', or worst still 'can't afford to'...because if they do they would less cash coming in and would have to take control of their household bills again. These are individuals who either don't have kids at home or have kids at nursery, whose fees are already paid for by the Government. These same people are able to afford holidays, smoke, drive large cars (7 seater varieties) and wear nice clothes with their kids dressed in the latest fashions.

On the other side of the coin I know of families who are struggling even more than we are - both partners work shifts around their kids, both work extremely hard doing overtime, have repossession notices coming thru the door and barely have enough food in their fridge each week.

We live off the single wage...we have a food budget of £60 per week (4 of us), my kids are dressed in bits I get handed to me by mates or bits I buy off eBay, they eat a wholesome diet (courtesy of our local market who sell bits off cheap late on a Saturday), walk to school and back every day (4 miles per day) because I can't afford to run my little car that sits outside my house and is rapidly gathering cobwebs (!) - if they need new shoes I save up for them, if a school trip needs paying for I save up for that too. Some months we have nothing left over after all the bills are paid, other months we might have a small amount which gets put into an ISA I have in the hope, one day, we can afford a weekend away to the beach! My youngest goes full-time to school in 2 weeks. I plan to get back to work providing my employer will allow me 13wks minimum off each year (half terms, teacher training days etc) because I have no one who can have the kids for me (no family).

Oh, hang on, I wonder if I can claim benefits so I don't have to go to work and can stay at home for my kids? Oh, no I can't, because I'm married and DH earns a wage etc etc.

I think you have misunderstood me daftpunk. You suggest that you would have to be bitter to shop someone who is committing fraud.
I too have a nice house, a comfortable lifestyle and a good job.. but I would shop someone committing fraud because they are committing an offence. Not because I would feel bitter - I wouldn't - I am perfectly happy with my own life.

Would you fail to report a mugging that you witnessed? Or someone slashing car tyres, just on the grounds that 'I'm happy with my life and therefore I'll let other people commit offences if they choose??' What an odd idea!

I think it's very dodgy to start deciding which bits of the law we want to uphold and which we'll just ignore

of course i would report those crimes, i just wouldn't grass up my neighbour for claiming a bit of extra money. and i never will.

whispy - it sounds like you're doing a great job of raising your family, and I fully respect that you set your children the example of paying your way and living within your means. And yes, it sucks that people who don't are able to afford all sorts of things that you can't.
Just wanted to say though - do look at other childcare options once your children are in school. Very few of us can get 13 weeks off a year and finish work at 3.30 - don't limit yourself by thinking that you can only get a job if it fits around school because you may be setting yourself up for disappointment or something very low paid. I know it's a little way off for you, but just wanted to make that point. With the bulk of the day when the kids are in school being 'free' the after school and holiday care won't be too bad.

whispy - it sounds like you're doing a great job of raising your family, and I fully respect that you set your children the example of paying your way and living within your means. And yes, it sucks that people who don't are able to afford all sorts of things that you can't.
Just wanted to say though - do look at other childcare options once your children are in school. Very few of us can get 13 weeks off a year and finish work at 3.30 - don't limit yourself by thinking that you can only get a job if it fits around school because you may be setting yourself up for disappointment or something very low paid. I know it's a little way off for you, but just wanted to make that point. With the bulk of the day when the kids are in school being 'free' the after school and holiday care won't be too bad.

I think it'd be interesting to see why people are on benefits?

If you are on benefits - why? If you have children in school why don't you go out to work and earn a wage?

I have no choice but to return to work at the end of this year. We cannot afford to continue living as we are. I get no help from the Government. Why should I go back to work when others don't? Just because I have a DH who works and earns a wage why should that stop me getting benefits too? I might actually want to stay at home!

so daftpunk, you wouldnt report fraud but you would report other crimes? because that's what it is, not just 'claiming a bit of extra money'

ftr....I have been looking since the beginning of the Summer for a job I could apply for in the hope I could start when DD2 goes to ft school. So far - nothing. Loads of jobs I'd love to do but unfortunately the hours don't fit in between 9.30 - 2.30. Evening work is out of the question with DH getting home late. I've spent the last ten years flitting between various part-time jobs as well as bring up two children and its not been easy, especially with the amount of time off kids get but I'm pleased I took the decision to be a SAHM but now its time for me to get back into a job/career and start again. Its just finding that job that's the problem. After school clubs are great but they cost money and my youngest is too young for that to be an option.

but findtheriver...in most cases the system is allowing people to claim this money?

and yes, thats correct..i would report every crime but benefit fraud.

daftpunk - why not report benefit fraud?

I must admit that whole PND thread changed my way of thinking entirely, the orginal thread was about somebody trying to wriggle out of their debts by not paying them and sighted the reason the debts had occurred as her being off with PND, I thoughts she should have sorted herself out and paid them back.
However after this week where two major profiting banks haven't had to sort themselves out and have been bailed out at tax payers expense, i think fcuk em, if that lady doesn't want to pay back her debts, if this one wants to commit fraud why the hell should i care ?
I won't be doing it myself but i certainly would turn a blind eye to anybody else doing it, this country along with USA is rotten to the core.

whispy - in response to your last post, I'm sure there are all kinds of reasons. I suspect that for a lot of people, you become locked into a cycle of not working, and it's then really hard to find the confidence to get out there and make a change to your lifestyle. Many people are naturally wary of change. It's easier to remain with the status quo than make changes. I meet a lot of women who have been home for a number of years and just don't have the confidence to get back to work. Or they look at all the problems - eg finding after school care etc rather than look for solutions - the old glass half empty syndrome. I think for a lot of people, the transition from benefits/being home is really offputting. eg if they may be working for a couple of years for not a lot more money, but would then start to earn more, it's difficult for them to see the long term benefits. People tend to want immediate rewards. Life isnt always like that. I had to make a very difficult decision after unexpectedly falling pg with dc3, when dc2 was a few months old. We had planned to space out our family so that childcare costs would be manageable, but whoops! didnt work out like that. I realised I either had to give up work, or continue working but have 3 years of paying literally about 90% of my income on nursery fees. I chose to continue working, and am now reaping the long term rewards as I am in a senior position on good money - but as I say, I had to work damn hard to get there without financial rewards. A lot of people choose not to take the long term view.

And lastly, not doubt there are some lazy feckers out there who just can't be arsed and think that they have the right to sit at home all day even when their kids are at school and live off benefits. It's not right, I agree, but tbh they are probably their own worst enemy - must feel like a very empty existence.

because, contrary to popular belief... the vast majority of poeple that live on benefits are poor.

The vast majority of muggers are probably poor too. There have also been a huge number of stabbings in London this year, and in many cases when someone is charged with the offence they are reported as being 'unemployed', so presumably living on benefits.

So, good to know that we just turn a blind eye because after all, it's fair enough.. they live on benefits

that's a totally different issue findtheriver and you know it...that's 99% drug related...and i should know cos i live in london. the problems these kids have go alot deeper than being "unemployed" and living on benefits.

I'm sure the reasons for criminal behaviour are many and varied daftpunk. But you were the one who stated being 'poor' as a reason to ignore an offence, and I was simply pointing out that it makes no sense to use that as a yardstick for measuring who we think should be accountable for their crimes.

I also think the reasons why people commit fraud are probably varied too. Some people are just lazy fuckers who want to take from the taxpayer to fund the lifestyle they want. I certainly wouldnt hesitate to shop someone who chooses to commit a crime.

ok, what would you want me to do?

just say for arguments sake i live next to a woman with 3 or 4 kids.. she doesn't work, doesn't have much, her kids are out all night doing drugs and god knows what else...and she tells me that she's claiming an extra £100 a month in benefits that shes not entitled to. i should go in and make a phone call to "grass" her up..twist the knife just a bit more into her back ....you must be joking. sorry..never.

I agree with your husband , I wouldn't do it personally. I might though tell her to her face that what she was doing disturbs me because I don't find it right. Not nastily but I might let her know

I think all the kids know is they live in an intact family wtih mum and dad in a home together. Mum is at home, dad goes out to work. I doubt they know the first thing about benefit claims etc.

Who knows what lies behind it all, maybe the dad was one of those willing to be around if it cost him nothing types and he'll disappear if expected to support his wife and kids himself. There are a lot of cruddy types like that out there.