Would you report someone for benefit fraud?

dippy3103

CCFC_80 wrote: »

I don't buy the argument at all that if people didn't commit benefit fraud there would be more money for genuine claimants. Millions of pounds in benefits are not genuinely claimed which balances it out. So do people think that unclaimed money goes back into the system.Definitely not. If no-one committed benefit fraud the money saved would probably go somewhere else like overseas aid.

It might also go towards schools or hospitals.

dippy3103

Sniggle wrote: »

My partner wanted to report someone anonomously, but when he enquired he was told that it is only anonymous until (or if) it goes to court. If that should happen your identity would be revealed. Is this the case?

It can be. But only if he gave his details.

In the event of a prosecution then (depending on if they plead guilty or if they are charged with an either way offence) then the material gathered during the investigation becomes disclosable- meaning the defence get copies. There are some exceptions to this but this is the rule of thumb.

However if your boyfriend is anon then all they will see is that.

Viberduo

going_nowhere_fast wrote: »

I just had to pick myself up off the floor, you made me fall over laughing...

You are clearly a little confused if you need to make assumptions about me.

The person I had in mind when starting this thread lives with her children and boyfriend in a house paid for by everyone who pays tax. The housing benefit pays all but £50 of the monthly rent. She does not work, I have no idea if her partner does or doesn't. Seeing as he is not claiming the benefits I really do not care.

The person in question owns an expensive car - one which drinks petrol and is very expensive to tax, she also goes out every weekend drinking.

The two adults regularly shout at the children, in fact i have overheard the boyfriend telling his girlfriend that he is "fkcing sick of those kids". This was said in front of the children who by this point are understandably very upset. The mother then shouts and her children and goes out to have a good time drinking with her boyfriend and mates because she is a hardworking soul who needs a bit of a break.

The children are left to fend for themselves.

This person is lying to the authorities in order to claim maximum amount of benefits to fund their own lifestyle, not to put food on the table.

Please do not insult me by making presumtions about me, just ask to get the correct facts,

Wow thats crazy, I have to top up by £120 a month my rent, it should only be about £80 but they decided I was overpaid many years ago and instead of contacting me decided to take £10 a week off me, plus £10 a week from my jobseekers for the council tax portion and you have someone getting away with what you said! so I pay £190 a month towards rent and council tax and my ESA only comes to £280 per month so I have £90 a month to live off for food, utilities, travel, etc. If it wasnt for the fact I am a non smoker and drinker and live off reduced food I would barely survive, to me a 40p bottle of cola every day or so is my treat! or a £10 takeaway that lasts about 4 or 5 days!

That is why I would not report everyone doing fraud unless its in a similar situation to that person, I knew someone who worked cash in hand, claimed jobseekers AND went to college full time and claimed how poor they were all the time!

CCFC_80

dippy3103 wrote: »

It might also go towards schools or hospitals.

Fair point, even perhaps into defence spending, a new royal yacht or giving MP's another well deserved pay rise:D.Purely speculative,.At least you tend to agree it wouldn't go back into the genuine claiments pockets.

dippy3103

CCFC_80 wrote: »

Fair point, even perhaps into defence spending, a new royal yacht or giving MP's another well deserved pay rise:D.Purely speculative,.At least you tend to agree it wouldn't go back into the genuine claiments pockets.

Yep.

At what point would you suggest benefit fraud is not acceptable? The £10 per week mentioned earlier in this thread? Someone working and earning £20 per week? £30? £50? £100? £500?

Nobody knows where the money would go in reality. But the fact is if everyone took more than their fair share then there would be less to go around. If the rules were not enforced then more people would claim money they are not entitled to.

trollopscarletwoman

dippy3103 wrote: »

It might also go towards schools or hospitals.

Yes, or cruise missiles that Cameron was prepared to throw at Syria at a million pound a throw.

But parliament stopped him.

But he persecutes our helpless none the less.

trollopscarletwoman

dippy3103 wrote: »

Yep.

At what point would you suggest benefit fraud is not acceptable? The £10 per week mentioned earlier in this thread? Someone working and earning £20 per week? £30? £50? £100? £500?

Nobody knows where the money would go in reality. But the fact is if everyone took more than their fair share then there would be less to go around. If the rules were not enforced then more people would claim money they are not entitled to.

What a poor view of human nature you have.

Even the DWP own figures give an EXTRAPOLATED benefit fraud figure of 0.5%

CCFC_80

dippy3103 wrote: »

Yep.

At what point would you suggest benefit fraud is not acceptable? The £10 per week mentioned earlier in this thread? Someone working and earning £20 per week? £30? £50? £100? £500?

Nobody knows where the money would go in reality. But the fact is if everyone took more than their fair share then there would be less to go around. If the rules were not enforced then more people would claim money they are not entitled to.

It's not acceptable at all, but please lets not kid ourselves with the continuous argument that if there was no fraud more money will go back into the genuine claimants pockets.


As stated in my earlier post more money goes unclaimed then that is paid to fraudulent claims.


Unfortunately if there is any spare money in the state coffers, benefit claimants will be a low priorty as to where it would go.

sooty&sweep

Yes I'd report them and if they are leaving children home alone I'd report them to social services too.

True we don't know where this saving will end up and you personally may not approve of what its used for.
However there is a massive national deficit which is leading to massive cuts which are hurting alot of people. People deliberately cheating the benefits system is feeding into this and hurting people.

Jen

dippy3103

CCFC_80 wrote: »

As stated in my earlier post more money goes unclaimed then that is paid to fraudulent claims..

Always baffles me how the state comes to either of those figures (bear with me on this).

How can they truly know "fraud" losses? Fraud by it's very nature is covert- so exactly what do they best those figures on? The same goes for unclaimed benefits? If those people have not made a claim then how can the government (or anyone else) know truly that those people were or were not entitled.

I know a lady of 74 who is riddled with arthritis (she's a relative) and certainly would qualify for AA - she struggles with basic tasks because of it. She is also as stubborn as they come so won't claim AA or visit a Dr - she's scared they will take away her independence and having grafted all her life in an old folks home she's determine to stay out if them.. But as she's not been to the dr how can the government know that she should be claiming it?

That's a very long winded way of me saying I am not convinced by either stat as I can't see how he government can know!