Would you report someone you knew for benefit fraud?

paddyrg

Even if you are just suspicious, there is no harm in letting the benefits agency (or whatever they're called now) just verify things for themselves. There may be other circumstances we don't know about and which are not our business, but they are the benefits agency's business, they will want to confirm things discretely for themselves first. They won't makee a move without their own investigations.

DebtHater

I have previously reported someone for benefit fraud, and would do it again.

Report them.

Eastie77

Am sure I'll be flamed for this but I wouldn't report her. The relationship with her boyfriend might not be entirely what it seems and she may feel she needs the security the benefit money brings for whatever reason. In any case, I wouldn't feel comfortable reporting someone to the authorities without knowing the exact nature of their finances and circumstances.

I suppose this really boils down to how you personally feel about benefit fraud. I've never claimed benefits as I've been very lucky in that I've been in almost constant employment since leaving university 10 years ago and I suppose if I'm really honest I feel there are worse crimes than claiming a few extra quid a month than you are actually entitled to (I'm now ducking for cover as the anger towards me flies:)

Pollycat

Eastie77 wrote: »

Am sure I'll be flamed for this but I wouldn't report her. The relationship with her boyfriend might not be entirely what it seems and she may feel she needs the security the benefit money brings for whatever reason. In any case, I wouldn't feel comfortable reporting someone to the authorities without knowing the exact nature of their finances and circumstances.

I suppose this really boils down to how you personally feel about benefit fraud. I've never claimed benefits as I've been very lucky in that I've been in almost constant employment since leaving university 10 years ago and I suppose if I'm really honest I feel there are worse crimes than claiming a few extra quid a month than you are actually entitled to (I'm now ducking for cover as the anger towards me flies:)

I've never claimed benefits either, I'm 57 and in receipt of an occupational pension (taken early 7 years ago).
I pay tax on my pension and get nothing from the State.

I feel very, very strongly about benefit fraud.
It's wrong. Full stop.
I'm all for people claiming what the law says they are entitled to but not for people to claim for money they are not entitled to.

I'm sure it says for anyone in receipt of benefits that you must advise the appropriate authority about any changes in your circumstances.
If this woman has moved her boyfriend in, then her circumstances have changed.

Like DMG, I'm not too sure about the motives of the OP for reporting this woman (I don't think it should matter how much this boyfriend earns compared to what the OP gets) but if she is in receipt of benefits based on her living alone and she isn't living alone, then her benefits should be reviewed.

The OP appears to know quite a lot about what the boyfriend earns and what this woman gets in benefits.
It's up to the department paying the benefits to investigate "the exact nature of their finances and circumstances" and decide if it's fraud.
But they need pointing in the right direction.
Which is where the OP and every other person comes in.

burtons wrote: »

She has 2 kids and is claiming as a single person but her boyfriend lives with her and he is on good money. Now his wage is more a week than all my money put together from my wage my working tax credit and child tax credit. She gets all her rent and council tax paid and she is down the school saying she never goes out or never got any money, now she goes out every weekend and when she has bought something new all her friends knows about it.

I'm all for people getting benefits they actually deserve but in this situation IMO I don't think it's fair to people that are struggling like myself.
So, would you report them or would you just let it slide?

I would not hestitate to report benefit fraud.
If so many people weren't "claiming a few extra quid a month than you are actually entitled to" perhaps the Govt could increase state pensions or not have to increase state retirement age.

The people committing benefit fraud are stealing from YOU!

real1314

Morglin wrote: »

Has she actually told you herself what she is getting, or are you just making assumptions?

If you know she is committing fraud, then report her, but don't do it, if you are just guessing WHAT she is claiming, and how much she is getting.

Lin

If the OP reports it and the woman is not claiming anything, or not claiming anything affected by this issue, nothing will happen.

If the woman has told HMRC that the feller is living there and working, nothing will happen.

If she is claiming to be a single parent however, then there will be an issue.:cool:

pendulum

kajstring24 wrote: »

An ex-housemate was claiming benefits whilst working a 16 hour a week job, he's a mate but he was breaking the law and actually bragging about it.

Are you sure as you can work "up to 16 hours" and still claim a lot of benefits... Did anything happen as a result of your report?

xangeleyes

I feel so strongly about this that I'll read the other posts in a minute
YES REPORT IT!
I have done this in the past. To a family member and 2 friends. Not out of spite, but because it's wrong! One family member is on disability but there is nothing wrong with them! They claim they can't do basic things like walking to the shop and can't clean etc, yet they are out everyday, they decorate, do gardening, and then started looking after kids and being paid for it!
They also dance, speed walk etc. There is no reason they can't work! I reported them but nothing b!oody happened! It's WRONG!
Another was claiming on the dole (incapacity I THINK???) because they have ADHD yet they were working full time. Another told me HOW they cheat the benefit system by pretending they have severe depression and on their 6 month Job Centre checkup they will go in smelly, old make up, not brush their hair etc etc etc.

I've been on benefits, and I hate it.

Someone actually told the benefit fraud team about my Mother in law. She was claiming disability and her boyfriend was working full time but she claimed to live on her own. So she was getting benefits and housing rent paid etc.
They had new TV's every 6 months, they had nice cars etc etc etc.
When they got found out they were mega angry! But why!?!?! THEY DID WRONG !!!!!!!
I hate it when people get angry about things that THEY caused!

Also, to the above post, You can only work up to 16 hrs and claim on the dole. If it's 16hrs or more, you can't claim the dole, but you can claiming tax credits and get help with rent etc depending on what you are making.

OP, report them to the benefit system AND the council.
Report it even if you suspect it and are not 100% sure, because the benefit system will deal with this and be very thorough about it.
I personally wouldn't tell them 'if you don't stop, then I'll report you' because in the meantime, someone may have done it already and they'll assume it was you and all hell will break.
Be anonomous. (sp???)

bluejake

burtons wrote: »

She has 2 kids and is claiming as a single person but her boyfriend lives with her and he is on good money. Now his wage is more a week than all my money put together from my wage my working tax credit and child tax credit. She gets all her rent and council tax paid and she is down the school saying she never goes out or never got any money, now she goes out every weekend and when she has bought something new all her friends knows about it.

I'm all for people getting benefits they actually deserve but in this situation IMO I don't think it's fair to people that are struggling like myself.

So, would you report them or would you just let it slide?

No I would mind my own business. The reasons you give for wanting to report her do not portray you in attractive light.

Incidently, the Royal Bank of Scotland which is owned by us taxpayers paid 300 staff an average of £1.2 million pounds each this year. Five non-board executives shared £21 million pounds. Chief Executive Stephen Hester received a pay package worth £7.7 million. Not bad for the public sector and not bad for three years of losses. I wonder what they will pay themselves if they make a profit?

Puts into perspective her extravagant trips out every weekend.

Unintentional

As a taxpayer. I would report it. Her flaunting it around isn't big or clever and would give me more of an incentive to do it.

dmg24

bluejake wrote: »

No I would mind my own business. The reasons you give for wanting to report her do not portray you in attractive light.

Incidently, the Royal Bank of Scotland which is owned by us taxpayers paid 300 staff an average of £1.2 million pounds each this year. Five non-board executives shared £21 million pounds. Chief Executive Stephen Hester received a pay package worth £7.7 million. Not bad for the public sector and not bad for three years of losses. I wonder what they will pay themselves if they make a profit?

Puts into perspective her extravagant trips out every weekend.

So because bankers are greedy, benefit fraud is alright?