Would you report someone for benefit fraud?

dippy3103

Well it's the investigation teams job to establish if they are committing fraud- and gather the evidence. All your part would be is to point them in the right direction

Morglin

I don't condone benefit fraud, but neither would I report it. Not my style.

However, from working at the DWP, some time back, including the fraud department, I can say two things:

1) If Benefit fraud is reduced, it will not, and has never, resulted in the honest chaps getting more - it doesn't work like that, I'm afraid!

2) Anonymous reports are always taken less seriously, and have much less chance of being investigated then one where the reporter gives their details. This is simply because there are a huge number of hoax reports, with people trying to get their own back on relatives, neighbours etc.,

It should also be noted that, nowadays, governments have a habit of mixing official errors into the so called 'fraud figures'. If departments sorted out their own errors, the 'fraud' numbers would plummet overnight!

As I say, I don't approve of benefit fraud, I wouldn't do it, and if people get caught, then they have to put up with the consequences of that. But, I am not joining in with some sort of government sponsored 'nosey neighbour' scheme!

Lin

sh1981

sh1981 wrote: »

Kissing someone does not make them the father. You have absolutely no evidence. Just because a woman is on benefits does not mean she can not have a life or even so much so as kiss someone other than the natural father of the children. Ridiculous.

Oh wow I..I'm speechless, I finally got my first THANKS in weeks due to this post! Thank you FluffyDuck3! :beer:

sh1981

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

Because she told me she does not work.

What if she's lying? Could it be?

sh1981

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

There are a lot of comments on this thread which are a little bit silly.

Some people assume that you must be jealous or that the person is hard up and just doing their best. Some people think that you are guessing everything. It doesn't seem to occur to people that my knowledge is based on what I have been told by the person in question and with regard to living as a couple, that is what I have observed.

I don't know an exact figure of what this person claims but I know what their property rents for and have an idea of the income and types of benefits she receives. You do not need to know the exact figure to the pound or penny.

At the end of the day if you are claiming as a single parent but are living as a couple then that is benefit fraud, it is immoral and wrong.

As regard's the children's welfare, this is something that has concerned me. The children are 11 and 14. Far too young in my opinion to be left overnight home alone (especially when they are only being left so their mum can go out drinking) but I'm sure others will probably think this is fine.

I don't want to get anyone in to trouble or cause anyone upset or distress if they are not doing anything wrong and I have not reported any of the above but it is something that makes me feel uncomfortable knowing. I'd much rather I didn't know.

You keep saying you have never reported before. You keep repeating that. I..feel..you feel..guilty. Just my observation, my most humble observation.

sh1981

Morglin wrote: »

I don't condone benefit fraud, but neither would I report it. Not my style.

However, from working at the DWP, some time back, including the fraud department, I can say two things:

1) If Benefit fraud is reduced, it will not, and has never, resulted in the honest chaps getting more - it doesn't work like that, I'm afraid!

2) Anonymous reports are always taken less seriously, and have much less chance of being investigated then one where the reporter gives their details. This is simply because there are a huge number of hoax reports, with people trying to get their own back on relatives, neighbours etc.,

It should also be noted that, nowadays, governments have a habit of mixing official errors into the so called 'fraud figures'. If departments sorted out their own errors, the 'fraud' numbers would plummet overnight!

As I say, I don't approve of benefit fraud, I wouldn't do it, and if people get caught, then they have to put up with the consequences of that. But, I am not joining in with some sort of government sponsored 'nosey neighbour' scheme!

Lin

That's what I said!!!!

FluffyDuck3

sh1981 wrote: »

Oh wow I..I'm speechless, I finally got my first THANKS in weeks due to this post! Thank you FluffyDuck3! :beer:

You're welcome.

sh1981 wrote: »

What if she's lying? Could it be?

Sometimes when people ask me about finances, I'm vague or don't tell quite the truth because I don't want to discuss it with them and don't want to tell them to stop being nosey.

Morglin

sh1981 wrote: »

That's what I said!!!!

Go away, Andy, and stop trolling.

Lin :doh:

rozmister

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

There are a lot of comments on this thread which are a little bit silly.

Some people assume that you must be jealous or that the person is hard up and just doing their best. Some people think that you are guessing everything. It doesn't seem to occur to people that my knowledge is based on what I have been told by the person in question and with regard to living as a couple, that is what I have observed.

I don't know an exact figure of what this person claims but I know what their property rents for and have an idea of the income and types of benefits she receives. You do not need to know the exact figure to the pound or penny.

At the end of the day if you are claiming as a single parent but are living as a couple then that is benefit fraud, it is immoral and wrong.

As regard's the children's welfare, this is something that has concerned me. The children are 11 and 14. Far too young in my opinion to be left overnight home alone (especially when they are only being left so their mum can go out drinking) but I'm sure others will probably think this is fine.

I don't want to get anyone in to trouble or cause anyone upset or distress if they are not doing anything wrong and I have not reported any of the above but it is something that makes me feel uncomfortable knowing. I'd much rather I didn't know.

My mum left me alone from 13 upwards to go out with her new boyfriend, sometimes all night. That did not make my home or upbringing any less loving and it didn't do me damage. I would also have been capable of looking after an 11 year old sibling if I'd had one. I'm not sure what the law says about the whole thing but leaving a teenager caring for a pre-teen sibling is hardly child neglect!

If you think she's making a fraudulent benefit claim just report her and get it over and done with. If there's nothing untoward, it won't matter. I think it's a bit unfair to be making snipey comments about how terrible her children's upbringing is, again if you have concerns report them to social services and let them deal with it. Only those without sin should cast the first stone and even then you have no idea if you'd still be quite so sinless if you'd had the same life as she's had!

FluffyDuck3

rozmister wrote: »

My mum left me alone from 13 upwards to go out with her new boyfriend, sometimes all night. That did not make my home or upbringing any less loving and it didn't do me damage. I would also have been capable of looking after an 11 year old sibling if I'd had one. I'm not sure what the law says about the whole thing but leaving a teenager caring for a pre-teen sibling is hardly child neglect!

If you think she's making a fraudulent benefit claim just report her and get it over and done with. If there's nothing untoward, it won't matter. I think it's a bit unfair to be making snipey comments about how terrible her children's upbringing is, again if you have concerns report them to social services and let them deal with it. Only those without sin should cast the first stone and even then you have no idea if you'd still be quite so sinless if you'd had the same life as she's had!

According to the governments recommendation page, parents shouldn't leave a child under 16 alone overnight.

https://www.gov.uk/law-on-leaving-your-child-home-alone