Cash for snitching on benefit cheats

donaldtramp

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/08/benefit-informers-snitch-policy

Benefit informers could be given share of cash saved

Proposals to encourage people to inform on benefit cheats are being examined by Labour's manifesto team
People who inform on benefit cheats could be given a share of the resulting savings to the state under proposals being examined by Labour's manifesto team.
The idea has been put to Ed Miliband, Labour's manifesto co-ordinator, by Jim Murphy, the Scottish secretary, as a way of making life harder for benefit cheats.

The DWP convicts around 6,000 benefit cheats each year. Figures for 2005-06 show benefit expenditure cost £116bn.
Every £1bn of fraud and error is estimated to cost £35 for every taxpayer.
The DWP claimed to have cut the cost of fraud, as opposed to error, from £2bn to £1bn a year, but subsequently the department appeared to recognise that its sample size was so small that the figures might not be reliable.

jennihen

What about all the malicious or unfounded rumours? What a waste of time (and tax payers money) trying to sort out that lot.

ln1234

I for one agree with this as someone claiming benefit they aren't entitled to is pure and simple fraud.

Why would someone waste their time on unfounded accusations if they'll only get a share of the resulting savings?

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I thought there always had been a "small payment" for informing.
I know there used to be,about £25 wasn't it.

amcluesent

If DWP will give you X% share, then it makes economic sense to go around to the benefits cheats and offer to keep quiet for an X+1% take of their fraudulent income.

Harry_Powell

I can imagine the scene...

1pm Mad George's living room, the benefit cheat's mutual society is called to order.

Mad George: Someone is grassing us up to the government, takings are well down.
Dirty Mike: We know that, George, but it's all anonymous and so whoever is behind it can never be caught.

Cut to view through window showing George's neighbour, Gus Gorman screeching to a stop in front of his council house at the wheel of a brand new Ferrari, honking the horn.

George: Hmnnnn. Get 'im lads!

The_White_Horse

wouldn't it be better to prohibit benefit cheats from ever claiming any benefits ever again?

Let them starve and die on the street - or get a job.

frosty

Its a shame some get away with it. www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1596324

I wouldnt mind a share of their proceeds.

peterg1965

Frank Field as Social Security Minister apparently proposed some radical reforms to the Welfare state and benefits in 1997/98. He was shown the door by Tony Blair. 13 years later they decide to try and do something about it! Is there an election looming?

Really2

How much did the telegraph get.

StevieJ

donaldtramp wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/08/benefit-informers-snitch-policy

Benefit informers could be given share of cash saved

A nice little earner for you.