Would you report someone you knew for benefit fraud?

spike7451

If I was still living on the mainland,then yes I would but living over here in Northern Ireland,then no,for the simple reason that you've a good chance of ending up with a 9mil bullet in your leg for 'touting'.....

johnnyboyrebel

dtsazza wrote: »

Ironically I think this post is a strong example of why they should be reported.

As with many others, I don't see how this is even a question. It's taking money that one is not entitled to by deception; it's fraud, committed against the state and thus all of us by proxy.

And the worst thing about this, in one respect, isn't simply a money issue. We live together in a society that is held together by common respect for rules and customs, for the greater good (though by definition some of these will impinge on purely selfish benefit). If a notable number of cases emerge whereby someone can ignore a law they don't like in order to get a personal gain, without any ramifications - well, that's going to do two things:

1. Inspire other people to follow that exact example, because it's proven to be a risk free gain;
2. Elict retaliatory tactics from those being disadvantaged (everyone in society, in this case) - be that as simple as "well, I'd have got a larger pension if the coffers hadn't been depleted by false benefit claims, so it's only fair that I lie on my pension form in order to get back the money I'm rightfully owed." Or as direct as "since (s)he injustly receives £2,000 from the taxpayers every year, as a taxpayer I'm going to go and take their TV to make up for it."

Your post is a good example of this sort of mentality - you're implying that because some people have broken the rules* for personal gain, it's somehow more OK for others to do the same! I find that insupportable personally, but regardless it's clear that this leads to a slippery slope where everyone is breaking every law and pointing at everyone else for justification.

So this needs to be stamped out. As another poster said, "what goes around, comes around." In this case, if you ensure that those who attempt to buck the system are caught and dealt with when you're in a position to do so, then in turn hopefully other people in society will be vigilant to the same thing. We can't just delegate all our responsibilities to policemen and magistrates, and expect them to keep the peace all on their own; it's everyone's responsibility to do it. If everyone shirked their duty to uphold society, this would be a terrible place. And you can't expect others to do it if you're not willing to do it yourself.


They think we're 6 billion people who are more likely to notice fraud between us than, say, the mere 126430 employees of the Department for Work and Pensions. And hopefully, they think we're people that care enough about the society we live in to do what we can to uphold it.


Or the short version:

It's wrong, and it needs to stop. Do you really consider yourself the kind of person who sees something wrong, has the power to right it, and does nothing?

*Except that, as noted, they haven't broken any rules. If you have proof/suspicions of tax evasion, I'd encourage you to report that just as strongly as proof/suspicions of benefit fraud.

If you have clear proof of her claiming said amount then get her reported but if this is just hear say or someone has told you then be careful especially as you know her. Wouldnt be very nice to get the completely wrong story and report to the authorities as you will never get rid of them once they are involved!

yvonne13_2

Tread very careful, if and when she finds out she has been reported she be accusing anyone and everyone under the sun.

johnnyboyrebel

Another thought after reading some replies is that it is all very well saying "this is fraud and as I am a do gooder I would never fraudelently claim benefits like this" however this kind of attitude will not actually get you anywhere. The UK is a mess and is showing no signs of changing any time soon. If you think there will be a day that only valid benefit claims will be made by genuine sick and disabled people then think again. We are overrun by lazy, workshy scumbags who will claim anything they can in order to avoid them actually doing some work (in my town, every "bum" has a dog as they actually get a little extra benefit money to keep the dog fed, does it go on the dog - no. does it go on drugs/alcohol - yes) so the morale high ground may make you feel better however it wont make the slightest bit of difference as wherever someone is rightfully busted and made to pay back or simply has benefits cut then another 2 lowlife losers will step in their place. For this reason, we may aswell all put claims in where we can as if its good for the goose..... This may sound wrong but you cannot beat them so may aswell join them, all us taxpayers have paid more than enough over the years so rather than working are asses off and carrying on giving money away (to an invisible black hole) then grab back what you can, it is ours!

The government make it too easy to be a lazy bum in this country so realistically we can report people until we are blue in the face (and I promote this as and when) but inevitably the only way to avoid the joke that is the UK is getting out of the country to brighter horizons.....

yvonne13_2

A neighbour of mine was reported for claiming housing benefit to pay his morgage. He had put his name down as the landlord and his wife that he lives with was claiming the benefit plus others. When he found out that he had been caught out he attacked his next door neighbour saying he was jelous and the police had to be called to calm matters down.

I felt sorry for the man as he was innocent it was the old lady that lives next door to me that rang the benefit fraud line. She is a very straight laced lady that will report you on anything.

Fardlephoom

Going back to the OP:

I think you need to check the details. For example HE has the money, SHE does not. If they split up she would be in the lurch. I think you need to check the legalities of this before you get up in arms. For example, if he was not living with her and giving her expensive gifts would you still want to report her? It sounds like he has just moved in, hardly that he has been living there for years.

Check the legalities and in the meantime why not just be happy for her?

Pollycat

Fardlephoom wrote: »

I think you need to check the details. For example HE has the money, SHE does not. If they split up she would be in the lurch. I think you need to check the legalities of this before you get up in arms. For example, if he was not living with her and giving her expensive gifts would you still want to report her? It sounds like he has just moved in, hardly that he has been living there for years.

Check the legalities and in the meantime why not just be happy for her?

But you are supposed to report a change in your circumstances as soon as it happens - so it doesn't matter that he's just moved in.
The fact that he HAS moved in is enough to change her circumstances.

If they did split up, she would just report another change in her circumstances.

As for being happy for her, it sounds like the OP thinks this woman is rubbing her nose in it.....

burtons wrote: »

It does affect me as we had a letter saying our rent is going up by £4, now i will be worse off as my wages haven't gone up. She was at the school friday say that she is going to have her hair cut and it's going to cost £80.

.....which I personally think is the wrong justification to report somebody for benefit fraud.

Fardlephoom

Pollycat wrote: »

But you are supposed to report a change in your circumstances as soon as it happens - so it doesn't matter that he's just moved in.
The fact that he HAS moved in is enough to change her circumstances.

If they did split up, she would just report another change in her circumstances.

As for being happy for her, it sounds like the OP thinks this woman is rubbing her nose in it.....

.....which I personally think is the wrong justification to report somebody for benefit fraud.

And we all know that once the money has been lost if her circumstances change the money will instantly come back! (yeah right).

As for rubbing her nose in it, it really depends on motivation. "I have won a holiday" - a friend will be happy for me, someone else may feel I am gloating, but the words are the same in either case. Frankly the OP sounds more jealous than anything. Give it a couple of months and see what the situation is then.

Pollycat

Fardlephoom wrote: »

And we all know that once the money has been lost if her circumstances change the money will instantly come back! (yeah right).

I'm not commenting on how the system works (or doesn't), just on what you're supposed to do.

Fardlephoom wrote: »

As for rubbing her nose in it, it really depends on motivation. "I have won a holiday" - a friend will be happy for me, someone else may feel I am gloating, but the words are the same in either case. Frankly the OP sounds more jealous than anything. Give it a couple of months and see what the situation is then.

I've said (more than once) that I don't agree with the reasons the OP gave for wanting to report this woman.

But benefit fraud is fraud, regardless of the circumstances,

Arg

Just because the DWP says it is doesn't mean it's so.

qetu1357 wrote: »

Of course it costs more to prosecute benefit cheats than it saves.

It also costs more to prosecute a murderer, a rapist, a mugger or a child abuser that it saves too.

Should we not prosecute them either?

Your missing the point that benfits are a monetary issue while your other crimes aren't.