Money Moral Dilemma: Should I report couple fraudulently claiming benefits?

rogerblack

confuseddaughter wrote: »

I know many young couples that are effectively 'married' to each other, have children together, yet are registered and live at different addresses.

And this is permitted within the regulations - if they have never lived together, maintain separate houses, then they are two single people from the perspective of much benefits legislation.

Even if they are married, and have children, share finances and have a public relationship.

In addition to being in a relationship - they have to be living together.

confuseddaughter_2

rogerblack wrote: »

And this is permitted within the regulations - if they have never lived together, maintain separate houses, then they are two single people from the perspective of much benefits legislation.

Even if they are married, and have children, share finances and have a public relationship.

In addition to being in a relationship - they have to be living together.

Absolutely!


That is why none of them have been found guilty by the DWP of 'living together' and faced penalties for benefit fraud.
For the sake of about £50 a week plus household expenses, between them they are able to receive a lot more from the various benefits and reliefs.

zagfles

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I used to know someone who was reported, investigated and found innocent. In that time, her benefits which she was supposedly claiming when she shouldn't have done, were stopped. Hardly "no harm done".:mad:

Some people get arrested, charged, and even spend time on remand and are then found not guilty. Does that mean people shouldn't report suspected crimes?

zagfles

enfield_freddy wrote: »

Atos included in that? they have stolen/not paid corporation tax therefore stealing from the UK taxpayer

So report them.

zagfles

NYM wrote: »

If you are sure of the facts, then there is no dilemma...

Why would you need to be sure? A suspicion is enough - just like with any crime. Just tell them what you know. It's then down to the authorities to investigate whether there is actually a potential crime worth investigating.

Indie_Kid

zagfles wrote: »

Why would you need to be sure? A suspicion is enough - just like with any crime. Just tell them what you know. It's then down to the authorities to investigate whether there is actually a potential crime worth investigating.

And put an innocent person through hell because you put 2 and 2 together and got 5?

zagfles

Indie_Kid wrote: »

And put an innocent person through hell because you put 2 and 2 together and got 5?

You don't "put 2 and 2 together". You tell what you know. It's then down to the DWP/HMRC/police or whoever to put 2 and 2 together, not you.

If you heard a massive argument next door, a loud thud and then silence, you go round but no answer at the door, all curtains closed, what would you do? Ignore it in case nothing serious had happened? After all you can't be sure, can you? Or do you phone the police so they can investigate?

confuseddaughter_2

zagfles wrote: »

You don't "put 2 and 2 together". You tell what you know. It's then down to the DWP/HMRC/police or whoever to put 2 and 2 together, not you.

If you heard a massive argument next door, a loud thud and then silence, you go round but no answer at the door, all curtains closed, what would you do? Ignore it in case nothing serious had happened? After all you can't be sure, can you? Or do you phone the police so they can investigate?

Me? I'd keep well out of it - it's none of my business or my problem if the couple were knocking seven bells out of each other.

comeandgo

While I have once intervened in a domestic fight there is no way I,d tell on anyone I thought cheating the systems. I had absolute proof there was trouble but I don't think you would have enough knowledge of the couple involved in paperwork fraud to be sure you were correct and to be the cause of an unsuccessful investigation would not sit well with me.

zagfles

comeandgo wrote: »

While I have once intervened in a domestic fight there is no way I,d tell on anyone I thought cheating the systems. I had absolute proof there was trouble but I don't think you would have enough knowledge of the couple involved in paperwork fraud to be sure you were correct and to be the cause of an unsuccessful investigation would not sit well with me.

It might not even need an investigation. If the OP is sure the couple are living together but not sure they're claiming separately, and he reports, what'll happen? If they were claiming jointly the DWP will realise that straight away and find there's nothing to investigate. If they're claiming separately then the OP was right to instigate an investigation.