If a relative is defrauding benefits

wobbley

Chances are they are going to get found out at some point. They will HAVE to pay all monies back. If it's all the family on benefit and we're talking several years of claiming then the chances are that quite a significant chunk of their win is going to disappear. If you look at it that way then really it's in their interest to stop then claiming any more.

sue_balu

Helen
Thanks for your post.

I do feel that if I report them then I will "lose" contact with the kids - whatever the outcome so this does put me off.

I have wated months hoping that the BA investigators would find out or friends/ acquaintences would make the report but nothing so far...
They are not exactly being discrete (new car, foreign holidays, designer gear etc!!!) Well the money will soon all be spent anyway.

Its so unfair and although the kids are very young they are being brought up to lie and cheat and expect us hard working taxpayers to supply their every need.
What did Del Boy say about "only fools and horses work":mad:

jenniferpa

I'm reasonable certain that you can report them anonymously - they may suspect, but there will be no proof.

Turning_into_scrooge

Al_Mac wrote:

If the partner was muderer, you'd report him. I know extreme example but it is a crime and so is fraud.

Report away.

That is so true, yes you would.

You have to remember though that here the OP could actually be in physical danger if they found out it was her that reported them. We don't know the full circumstances as she loves the children dearly but not much mention of the parents.

Bossyboots

Unless things have changed, you can report them anonomously. My friend had 11 people report him and although the reports were malicious, he has never been told who did it. In his case, it turned out to be the start of a hate campaign around town and to this day we do not know who was responsible. No names were taken when the benefit fraud was reported so there was no way to trace them through that.

Mrs_Optimist

I've had the same dielmma and I reported this particular family member - she never knew it was me - how could she proce it? At the end of the day I'm paying to keep her in benfits. The benefit system should be there to support not as a lifestyle choice. Unfortuntaely there are certain members of the public who think it is their god given right to have free money handed to them for sitting on their idle backsides. On the other side of the coin my sister claims benefits but does work and has been upfront and by the book. She is a single mum. I know a lot of her friends have no intention of working and soon as the youngest is off to school - lo and behold they are pregnant again. SHOP THEM - DONT GIVE IT A SECOND THOUGHT - THEY OBVIOUSLY AREN'T BOTHERED OR ELSE WHY WOULD THEY TAKE THE RISK???

Turning_into_scrooge

A good friend of mine phoned me up yesterday very worried about her husbands Gran and which is involving his mother. Gran has dementia and is in a nursing home now the only person who visits her is, we'll call her, Emma - not real name - no one else goes her husband can't because they have debts an he works 2 jobs and when not working he is sleeping. The mother did run a business but she decided to shut it down as she said it wasn't making any money, she also has major debts that she is running away from, having said that sh buys designer stuff like there is no tomorrow and then expects Emma and DH to give her a hand out. Emma received a call from an investigating debt asking for any information about the financial circumstances of Gran. It turns out that mother has given Gran a paper to sign which she did without knowing that it was for the sale of her house which came to about 60K she has also been keeping all of the carers allowance which i believe she is entitled to provided she buys Gran clothing and personal toiletries or anything she needs which the care home have not seen a penny of since September last year. Mother is here in one heck of allot of trouble which will probably escalate to police involvement over the sale of the house. Emma is worried sick, not about mother shes got whats coming to her but for Gran as she has been paying what she could to provide underwear etc for Gran and also a little bit of spending money. Social Services are now going through the courts for legal power of attorney. This is a whole can of worms thats about to open.

If you try and cheat the system in a big way like this is you will eventually be caught and in this case i for one am pleased as the mother treated Gran like dirt before she packed her off to the home because she didn't want her. Is it worth it, really? Bide your time if you are worried about giving the nod to benefits, your family will slip up as for exactly when no one knows, that way you are safe and the children will also be able to see you on a regular basis. Its on its way to them.

sarahlouise210

Absolutely report them if you think you can keep a straight face and not let them know it was you. If you value your relationship with the children then make absolutely sure you yell NO_ONE that you are doing this.. that way the family cannot find out. Prison is very unlikely. The kids will still be ok as they will have the lottery money and even if the benefit they have to repay takes all of their lottery money..the kids will be ok as the mum and dad will legitamately claim benefits again!!! I have been in a similar situation and did not report but regret it - you must do what is right.. they are just taking the mick!! They have thousands...benefits..free dinners...free leisure...fprobably free rent and council tax...free time!!! I say..do it - you will have such a weight lifted off your shoulders!

patchwork_cat

This is a hard one as my morals say yes report them, but then I think no they are family. How close a family member are they. They may be distant as we are all family somewhere or other! If it was my brother I couldn't if it was a second cousin twice removed then I would have less worry.

I am surprised that they have not been caught as i would have thought that the Lottery would be scrutinised by the government. Maybe they just take time.

I used to work in Housing Benefit and from a personal point of view when someone came in covered in gold jewellery and flashing the latest mobile ( we are talking 9 years ago) you knew that they were dodgy, but it is endemic. The problem is proving it.

Personally,I would really really struggle to manage on benefits. MSE'rs are an inspiration even after being on the board for 2 years and trying hard I couldn't do it - I take my hat off to you that do.