Would you report someone you knew for benefit fraud?

Tupperware_Queen

I would and have in the past.

Whether the rules are 'right' or not, they are the rules, which we all have to play by.

Pollycat

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.

Whilst 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) if this woman is fraudulently claiming benefits then she SHOULD be reported. She's breaking the law!
Your analogy about banks and benefit fraud is not really (imho) relevant.
We can't do anything about the bankers' bonuses (if I could I would) but we CAN stop benefit fraudsters - and we SHOULD stop them.

WeeBabyDoll wrote: »

It sounds to me like there is some bitterness in the air? She has 2 kids, and if she is reported she will have to pay back all the money she claimed and a huge fine, eviction, possibly prison. Are you really willing to do that? It doesn't affect you at all. It's a dog eat dog world with the economy at the moment and any extra cash is a blessing. Plus the benefit system is going to change soon. Morally it is wrong, but would you not do any to give your kids and yourself a nice life.

This woman knows what she is doing wrong, all the things you mention like paying back the money, fines, eviction and possibly prison are the possible consequences of benefit fraud.
Claim benefits that you're not entitled to - suffer the consequences if you get caught.

Any extra cash that you are not entitled to is not 'a blessing' - it's a crime.
If so many people weren't claiming a few extra quid a month than they are actually entitled to perhaps the Govt could increase state pensions or not have to increase state retirement age - so it DOES affect the OP - and YOU - and ME.

The people committing benefit fraud are stealing from every honest person.

SingleMumOf2_3

I was thinking about this.. as a year ago I reported someone for the same reason. The said person got caught... benefits were changed etc... a few months later and she was back doing it again. Has been now for 8 month or so. So part of me wonders.. should I even bother reporting again.. as obviously there is a way to "fool" the system.. or the people doing the checks were too lazy to sort it. Really irritates me when a genuine single mum like myself has had to go bankrupt to clear debts from a previous marraige.. struggles often to just be able to buy my children presents for birthdays and christmas'. Yet you have people fooling the system.. buying flat screen tv's and xbox's etc... and even bragging about it to their friends and neighbours!!
If like others have said you want someone on here to report them.. there is no link back to you (not like there is anyway because its anonymous). But I would do it for you if you like.

kajstring24

pendulum wrote: »

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?

Sorry, I may not have been clear at first, he was claiming job seekers allowance, so my experience may not relate as closely to the original thread as I thought.

My point was that he didn't declare his hours when he worked them, he was close to the knuckle, but he did work up to and above 16 hours depending on what was available. As he worked supply it wasn't a regular occurrence, but he did have a 3 or 4 week stint doing the work and not letting the job center know. He was working as a supply instrumental too, so he would earn up to £20ph. After a full days work for a couple of weeks it soon started to total up along with his JSA.

I was training to be a teacher at the time and struggled to make ends meet, this lad had dropped out of the course and managed to make a living, unqualified and receiving money unfairly from the government.

He got a letter shortly after I reported him stating that his payments had been suspended pending an investigation. I don't think he received anymore money after that.

uk-tyler

I'd report her, because I'm worried about the example that her actions set for her children.

After all where is the incentive for her kids to become good citizens and work for a living when they see their mom illegally claiming and living a good life?

I'm beginning to despair about the future of our communities when people act like this, and people (including some of the posters on here) seem to think it is acceptable.

cajef

I would report them without any hesitation, at the end of the day it is my and other peoples money that we have paid in tax that they are stealing, it is no good saying it is only a small amount, it all adds up and the money these people steal could be used for other things like the NHS etc.

Oldbiggles

If someone regularly took money off you, would you do everything you could to stop them?
Well that is exactly what benefit cheats are doing.
Its your money they are receiving . If less money was being paid out in benefits, we would all be paying less tax.

:question:

WeeBabyDoll

I am genuinly shocked....I would NEVER dream of reporting anyone. IOkay so what they are doing is morally wrong...but try talking to them about it first before you go and possibly destroy a family.Those poor kids, they will miss their mum when she is in prison. If she doesnt go to prison then those poor kids are going to have nothing anyway - because she will be paying a HUGE fine.

liney

WeeBabyDoll wrote: »

I am genuinly shocked....I would NEVER dream of reporting anyone. IOkay so what they are doing is morally wrong...but try talking to them about it first beforeyou go and possibly destroy a family.Those poor kids, they will miss their mum when she is in prison. If she doesnt go to prison then those poor kids are going to have nothing anyway - because she will be paying a HUGE fine.

What they are doing is not just morally wrong, it's illegal, and the only person responsible for 'destroying the family' if someone ends up in prison is the person who made the fraudulent claim.

At what point do you think Mom or Dad deserves to go to prison for their crime? Fraud and theift are obviously ok... drug dealing? Rape? worse?

If you break the law you take the consequences; don't hide behind the kids.

MothballsWallet

WeeBabyDoll wrote: »

It doesnt affect you at all. I would do absolutly anything for my family.

Yes it does affect all of us - this is taxpayers' money being given out to (purportedly) help people, yet if they are claiming more than they are entitled to, or claiming incorrectly, based on their circumstances, then it is wrong.