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

Tr@cker

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.
Many have been subject to investigation, yet all state that they are separated as why else would they have their own place of abode. Yes we all know that it goes on, but if they are actually maintaining two separate homes, with all mail etc being sent to them at the addresses, how would you prove that they are in fact living together?
By coincidence I was chatting to the boyfriend of one of my friends this morning. He has just sold his house and is now in the process of looking for a single room in a shared house which will be his 'new home'. They actually are in a relationship with children involved, yet the only connection between them appears to be the times he sees his kids, babysits them, and stays to look after them when they are ill.

They are not maintaining separate homes. He is registered as living in his parents home. She is the sole registered tenant in her own place.

They're together every night bar none and most of the days too.

Tr@cker

zagfles wrote: »

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.

I can think of no other reason than a scam for registrations at different addresses.

If it looks like poo and it smells like poo........

SingleSue

AbbieCadabra wrote: »

even if you do report them, don't think it's guaranteed that anything will happen. a friend of mine has reported at least 2 people & nothing whatsoever has happened. everything that was reported was accurate & up to date, involved council tax, benefit & tax fraud, nothing done about either case...

My next door neighbour keeps complaining to other neighbours regarding her complaints about my misclaiming benefits and the lack of action by the authorities.

She is also 'absolutely sure' the information is accurate and up to date...except in reality, it is all assumption.

She assumes that because I have a crutch to walk very short distances and a wheelchair, that I am claiming disability benefits, so when she sees me put out the wheelie bin or bring the shopping from my car (horrendously slowly and in much pain), then I am one big fraud.

The reason why the investigation has never gone very far (despite her reporting me several times now for misclaiming DLA), is because I have never claimed disability benefits for my disabilities!

Mind you, she is, in a round about way, saving the government money...I'm too blooming scared to try to claim any help, or a blue badge etc for my disabilities now, I would be constantly worried that my every move would be logged and investigated.

BillJones

Indie_Kid wrote: »

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

Yes, that's how criminal investigations work.

You do not know if someone is innocent or not before the investigation, and so it is a the "suspicion" not "proof" level that you need to report things.

I'm quite disappointed to find that there are people on here who woudl not report this sort of thing. I know that there are many people in the country with poor morals, but it's always a bit depressing to be presented with it so starkly.

Edited to add, as to the person who'd not do anything if they heard what sounded like a serious assault happening next door, I can not even imagine how selfish you'd have to be to ignore this sort of evidence.

dundeediva

Yes I would 100%. why not?

Morglin

Tr@cker wrote: »

A married couple living together full time, both unemployed and who you know to be claiming at separate addresses.

I believe there's quite a difference of income but dont know exactly how much.

I personally find it a moral dilemma but readily understand why many hardworking, honest people wouldn't think twice about reporting them.

Would I report them?

No, but I do know of an MP that was scamming, overclaimed £46000, and who the government basically let off Scot free, if that helps.....:whistle:


Lin

Indie_Kid

Morglin wrote: »

Would I report them?

No, but I do know of an MP that was scamming, overclaimed £46000, and who the government basically let off Scot free, if that helps.....:whistle:


Lin

And did you report them?

dippy3103

This whole MP's get away with it thing bugs me. They absolutely shouldn't but just because they do it doesn't mean that other frauds should not be dealt with. The overall loss in benefit fraud is far higher (and yes I know tax evasion is even bigger but that's not the matter at hand either).

confuseddaughter_2

Tr@cker wrote: »

They are not maintaining separate homes. He is registered as living in his parents home. She is the sole registered tenant in her own place.

They're together every night bar none and most of the days too.

It doesn't matter if it is a rented flat or house or even living with parents. If he has an address that for all intents and purposes confirms that he lives there, then he can't be living with his girlfriend. You can't be treated as living in two places at the same time.


It may well be a scam, but unless there is evidence to show that it is a scam and that he isn't living with his parents, there is nothing that can be done.

heartbreak_star

Of course I would report them.

HBS x