Reporting someone, how much info is needed?

debrag

How much info is needed to report someone for claiming benefits when they shouldn't be claiming them?

It's basically for my partners friend who basically wants someone to report on his sister.

What do you need to claim carers allowance etc, what documentation is needed and how do they check claiments? They do not spent 35 hours aweek looking after this person, not even 5!

Surely someone who does no caring for the person they are claiming for, visits them only to get money to do both their shopping and gets the person who is meant to be cared for to visit them to delivery the papers shouldn't be claiming anything. The last straw was when we found out yesterday that the 'cared for' had lost her bank card (thought it was in the house somewhere) and had someone take £500 out of her account (only found out by bank phoning and stopping her account!) and spent it in the shop at the end of the road (and take it out there). They know who took it & the shop keeper say's 'yes xxx was in here twice taking money out'. Bank say they will only give money back if she goes to the police but she won't. Surely she just has to prove she didn't take the money out. The sister also runs up huge phone bill at the house which she pay's nothing to and when she is asked to do anything for the people she is meant to be caring for she says she can't.

Basically we want to report the sister and get the bank to give back the money as she should be able to prove she didn't take it out. Bank will have details & so will shop.

The cared for (mother) will happily say that the daughter is caring for her if anything comes up, after all the debt she's been put in she won't say anything to the daughter and allows her to carry on as she is doing.

veryunsure

If this is as you say, then no matter how unfair and dishonest it seems, I doubt there is anything you can or should do.

The cared-for person won't make a complaint so unless the carer is caught doing something illegal, what is there to complain about?

Pollycat

From what I can see, there are 2 issues:

1. You think someone is claiming benefits fraudulently
2. You think the same somone took money from the 'cared for' person's account without her knowledge/consent

#1
There are details for contacting the National Benefit Fraud Hotline by post, phone and online here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_10026666

This is what the online form asks for:
https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud/

#2
If the bank say they will only refund the money if the 'cared-for' person reports it to the police and she won't, I can't see how this can be moved forward.

debrag

Looking at the carers allowance claim form all the mother has to do is tick a box saying 'yes they care for me for over 35 hrs'. There isn't much that can be done as the mother won't say anything differently unfortunatly. Doesn't matter what the daugther does she can't do anything wrong whereas the son who actually does the caring (only cleaning & cooking thats all she allows), lives with her and pays off all the debt the daugther makes (their phone was cut off at one point + arrears with rent) can't do anything right.

Thankfully the son pays the bills out of his account now.

missyp123

i dont think the banks will give the money back, the sister must have been given the pin details by the mother in order to use the card.

its such a shame that so many family members you are meant to care for theie loved ones do such things

rogerblack

debrag wrote: »

Looking at the carers allowance claim form all the mother has to do is tick a box saying 'yes they care for me for over 35 hrs'. There isn't much that can be done as the mother won't say anything differently unfortunatly.

Technically, she's (the mother) also committing fraud by making incorrect statements on forms.

Possibly unwise to push it.

zaksmum

You have to be very sure of your facts to report anyone.

It could cause a lot of trouble for you.

dseventy

zaksmum wrote: »

You have to be very sure of your facts to report anyone.

No you don't, just a suspicion.

The DWP will work to gather evidence etc.

D70

zaksmum

dseventy wrote: »

No you don't, just a suspicion.

The DWP will work to gather evidence etc.

D70

Surely though, just a suspicion isn't really good enough reason to get the DWP onto someone? What if the person is innocent of any wrongdoing and finds out who reported them? It has happened.

Pollycat

I guess in this specifc instance whether there is sufficient reason to report the cared-for person's daughter or not is irrelevant as the OP says:

debrag wrote: »

Basically we want to report the sister and get the bank to give back the money as she should be able to prove she didn't take it out. Bank will have details & so will shop.

The cared for (mother) will happily say that the daughter is caring for her if anything comes up, after all the debt she's been put in she won't say anything to the daughter and allows her to carry on as she is doing.

It sounds like even if the DWP investigate, the mother will back the daughter up.

pineapple

Re possible misappropriation of money - that would count as financial abuse. There should be a Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Team within local Social Services which is used to investigating cases like this. I'm sure they would respect confidentiality re any whistleblower.
It's not up to the person with the suspicions to build a case or to try to second guess whether anything can be done. Simply report any concerns - job done.