Would you report someone for benefit fraud?

SailorSam

tomtontom wrote: »

You seem to have misunderstood your role as a juror. You were there to decide if he was guilty on the facts of the case, which you acknowledge he was. It was then the role of the judge to consider the severity of the case and any mitigation. Perhaps best to get yourself excused from future service and leave it to people who can follow simple instructions?

When we went into the jury room all twelve of us were evenly split. Then we started talking about it. So maybe if i should have excused myself, the others should have as well.

SailorSam

NYM wrote: »

:huh: Seems incredibly heavy handed of the DWP to prosecute someone for not declaring £10.00 p/w private pension :undecided

It went on for several years so the final figure was a couple of thousands.

going_nowhere_fast

FluffyDuck3 wrote: »

So they're living together but he is registered as living at a different address?

Yes thats right. The person in question does not work because their income is sufficient purely on housing benefit, tax credits, child benefit, and whatever income support they receive (not sure what that benefit is called sorry). Im presuming if they declared their partner living with them these would be reduced to take in to account the partners income.

There are a lot of positive responses to reporting it. Strange how doing that feels wrong somehow and makes me feel guilty.

trollopscarletwoman

NYM wrote: »

The more that some take that are not entitled to it...the less there is for those that are.

If you really believe that then your as daft as the comment.

Newly_retired

I do think you need to be absolutely sure of the facts before reporting someone.someone I know has lost her Pension Credit and therefore her Council Tax reduction, because a neighbour reported her for having a partner, when in fact he is a lodger.
She has not been interviewed or anything, so is assumed to be guilty with no chance to defend herself, and now has mounting debts. Is that fair?

dippy3103

NYM wrote: »

:huh: Seems incredibly heavy handed of the DWP to prosecute someone for not declaring £10.00 p/w private pension :undecided

For it to go to crown court it would need to be the more serious charge (there are two main benefit fraud offences, one is triable only in a magistrates court and the other is either way which can go to Crown) and the more serious charge is only used if there are real aggravating factors or if it had gone on for a very very long time- years.

What did he get?

dippy3103

Newly_retired wrote: »

I do think you need to be absolutely sure of the facts before reporting someone.someone I know has lost her Pension Credit and therefore her Council Tax reduction, because a neighbour reported her for having a partner, when in fact he is a lodger.
She has not been interviewed or anything, so is assumed to be guilty with no chance to defend herself, and now has mounting debts. Is that fair?

If she hasn't been interviewed I can't see how they reached that decision.. The customer is invited to interview without fail in those investigations

going_nowhere_fast

Newly_retired wrote: »

I do think you need to be absolutely sure of the facts before reporting someone.someone I know has lost her Pension Credit and therefore her Council Tax reduction, because a neighbour reported her for having a partner, when in fact he is a lodger.
She has not been interviewed or anything, so is assumed to be guilty with no chance to defend herself, and now has mounting debts. Is that fair?

How on earth can that happen?! I would expect someone to be investigated properly, I hope she got it resolved in the end and they compensated her for all the problems they caused.

BillJones

NYM wrote: »

:huh: Seems incredibly heavy handed of the DWP to prosecute someone for not declaring £10.00 p/w private pension :undecided

Seems incredibly telling that a person would commit fraud over £10 per week...

BillJones

trollopscarletwoman wrote: »

If you really believe that then your as daft as the comment.

Where do you think that the money comes from that you and your friends hold out your hand for?

Do you ever consider that real people have it taken from their wages?