I wish she hadnt told me about this...

tracey97

Dilemma - A lady who works with me has told me something which I think might be fraud. I have wotked with her for a long time and its put me in an awkward situation.

Briefly I was telling her about last year when the working tax credits over paid me by a huge sum (£600) and she was telling me that she used to be on tax credits but now her husband claims pension credits. I know, and always have known, that she has a lodger so I said I was suprised he could claim anything with her working and the lodger money....SHE HASNT TOLD THEM ABOUT THE LODGER - HIS RENT MONEY GOES IN TO A BANK DIFFERENT TO THE ONE HER HUSBAND PROVIDED STATEMENTS TO GET PENSION CREDITS.

Now, I dont really know her well enough to be asking much more but I dont like this situation i am in now. Obviously I could be talking well out of turn as maybe her husband is entitled to his pension credits anyway, But why would she have the lodgers money in another account? Surely she would have had to provide these statements.
I feel like I should just keep my nose out and hope she will get found out. On the other hand Im a bit annoyed that I have to repay £600 ...

[Deleted User]

why are you annoyed that you have to repay the £600?
as for the lodger there is such a thing as the rent a room scheme and income from this below around £90 a week isn't taxable that will increase soon to £150 a week,so i don't see the problem,and if i were you id mind my own business

sulkisu

tracey97 wrote: »

Dilemma - A lady who works with me has told me something which I think might be fraud. I have wotked with her for a long time and its put me in an awkward situation.

Briefly I was telling her about last year when the working tax credits over paid me by a huge sum (£600) and she was telling me that she used to be on tax credits but now her husband claims pension credits. I know, and always have known, that she has a lodger so I said I was suprised he could claim anything with her working and the lodger money....SHE HASNT TOLD THEM ABOUT THE LODGER - HIS RENT MONEY GOES IN TO A BANK DIFFERENT TO THE ONE HER HUSBAND PROVIDED STATEMENTS TO GET PENSION CREDITS.

Now, I dont really know her well enough to be asking much more but I dont like this situation i am in now. Obviously I could be talking well out of turn as maybe her husband is entitled to his pension credits anyway, But why would she have the lodgers money in another account? Surely she would have had to provide these statements.
I feel like I should just keep my nose out and hope she will get found out. On the other hand Im a bit annoyed that I have to repay £600 ...

Report her if you feel strongly enough about the situation (and if you are sure of your facts), otherwise leave well alone.

poppasmurf_bewdley

woodbine wrote: »

why are you annoyed that you have to repay the £600?
as for the lodger there is such a thing as the rent a room scheme and income from this below around £90 a week isn't taxable that will increase soon to £150 a week,so i don't see the problem,and if i were you id mind my own business

Income from the rent a room scheme may not be taxable, but is it taken into account when calculating benefits?

I don't know the answer but I'm sure someone on here will provide us with the correct information.

BigAunty

tracey97 wrote: »

SHE HASNT TOLD THEM ABOUT THE LODGER - HIS RENT MONEY GOES IN TO A BANK DIFFERENT TO THE ONE HER HUSBAND PROVIDED STATEMENTS TO GET PENSION CREDITS.

...

I can't answer your specific question, other than to reiterate that the Rent a Room scheme which gives live in landlords a tax free allowance from their lodger's rent does not mean that those claiming benefits are automatically exempt from the income affecting their entitlement.

However, I understand that there are various checks and balances in place in the benefit system that *can* uncover accounts and income not declared on benefit claims and that there is a telephone or online fraud claim.

That said, I understand that fraud staff are understaffed and overwhelmed with cases.

tracey97

yes, i think I'll just leave her to it. The rent a room scheme might mean shes not taxed on it but its claiming a benefit and not declaring an income which is a different case althogther really but I wouldve thought the dwp would have checked for other bank accounts.

anmarj

tracey97 wrote: »

yes, i think I'll just leave her to it. The rent a room scheme might mean shes not taxed on it but its claiming a benefit and not declaring an income which is a different case althogther really but I wouldve thought the dwp would have checked for other bank accounts.

the lodger money should be taken into account for Pension Credit purposes but some of it is disregarded. Unless Fraud is reported then the DWP at time of applicaiton rely on customer declaring the correct details, however with real time information now being introudced, any interest earned on the undeclared account will at some point be picked up and investigated, unless it is not in their names and if it is not then who knows what hornest lies around ...

merlin68

£20 a week is disregarded.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/382513/pc10s.pdf.
Pension credit tops your income up to £226 a week for a couple.
So with his state pension, her wages and the lodger. I don't see how they are getting it.

Podge52

merlin68 wrote: »

£20 a week is disregarded.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/382513/pc10s.pdf.
Pension credit tops your income up to £226 a week for a couple.
So with his state pension, her wages and the lodger. I don't see how they are getting it.

He may not yet be receiving his state pension.

ab1982

Nobody likes a grass, its between her and the social.

molerat

ab1982 wrote: »

Nobody likes a grass, its between her and the social.

Nobody likes a thief either.