Benefit Fraud

dekaspace

It depends but generally yes, I had a drug dealing neighbour who was "on the sick" for many years but always had wads of £20 notes in drawers in his property and had expensive stuff so would report him (and the drug dealing)

The tricky thing is controlling frames of mind of fraudsters, some people could be struggling to make ends meet for example so takes a cash in hand job for a few hours a week, then their benefits goes up a tiny bit so they just break even with bills and basic food and the cash in hand job which may be under £20 a week is the difference between paying for a treat now and again or repairing something faulty.

Eventually they may build up the cash in hand money so they have hundreds even over a thousand saved up so at which point they don't need the cash in hand work they just keep it for extra money to me is when it becomes taking the mickey a bit especially if a local 4 hour a week job came up that paid the same money as cash in hand (if not more) which could lead to full time employment.

Mojisola

chelseablue wrote: »

I am definitely going to report, 100%

I have a day off Monday, so will have the time to phone (as Im sure it involves being on hold and going through a lot of details)

https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud/

chelseablue

Mojisola wrote: »

https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud/

Thank you, I thought it was phone only

Redlady.....

catkins wrote: »

It's often not just "earning a few quid on the side" though is it? I think a poster said this person must have had over £20,000 already that they are not entitled to. How many other people are there cheating the system for just "a few quid" as you put it?

I have reported someone for benefit fraud and no, I have never exaggerated an insurance claim.

I seem to know a few people who cheat the benefit system so there must be a pretty large number across the country.

I have only ever reported one though. That was partly because I was positive I knew all the facts and, to me, the person concerned was taking the ****. They were claiming that they could not work because of a bad back but were buying large items of furniture and managing on their own to get the bulky and usually fairly heavy items into their car or even up on to the roof rack! They were then selling them on.

They were doing so well at this that they bought a holiday home in Portugal and would go for holidays at least 4 times a year. They also had 2 vehicles, one for the transporting of furniture and a really nice open top sports car.

The thing that made me decide to report them was when they went to Australia twice in one year, one of the times for 6 weeks!

It turned out that they had got away with a pretty large sum of money. Originally it looked as though a prison sentence was for definite but then they were diagnosed with cancer and that was changed. They had to sell their house (large house worth quite a lot of money) and their car. I think they also sold their holiday home.

That paid the bulk of it but they are still paying so much back each month. They now live in a small 1 bed flat

If you're going to quote me, at least use the whole post and highlight the part that you wish to answer.

"I'm old now and have found the biggest fraudsters work in offices, own business's and run themselves ragged looking for tax dodges. That's without even counting the 'frauds' committed by multi nationals. Now if we could stop all that fraud.....we'd be an even richer country and pay more dole (not sure how much it is exactly but I'm sure it's quite low)"


The part you've cut (above) is central to my thoughts on the whole system. I see fraud of a far greater degree in all of the above, plus.... MP's fraudulent claims, celebrities with off shore tax havens,
and then there's the banks who have cost us far, far more than any amount of dole fiddlers.

I'm sure the 20bn unclaimed benefits offset the amount fraudulently gained. It doesn't make it right, but I can't see any of the other frauds mentioned above being offset by anything.

I despise the newspapers and ministers who are telling me to report benefit fraud. There's not one of them I respect, while they turn a blind eye to the wholesale fraud that is going on at the top;

System

It depends

I had a friend who was in an abusive relationship, they claimed separately as he'd told her if they didn;t he'd dump her and she was scared of ending up alone and homeless (she has Mh issues). Instead of reporting her i supported her in getting away from the nasty piece of work. She still feels terrible for what she did but i think in her situation i;d have been the same. She works now and pays NI and tax so although it doesn't make up for it, she was inbetween a rock and a hard place.

JIL

Pollycat wrote: »

Can you give an example of 'receiving cash in error'.

Thanks

When claiming a means tested benefit and a change in circumstances leads to an overpayment. Have a look on DWP debt management web page on gov.uk.

JIL

If you phone I don't think there will be a wait, it's a hotline.

You need to be clear he uses his mother's address and have that address if possible.
Do you know who he works for? Is he the father of the children?

There is a lot of work behind the scenes linking them as a couple before any observations take place. You don't need to give your name.
Facebook, school contacts, credit reference agencies can be used.
Did you know you could also report them to the council if they are getting the rent paid direct? Again this can be anonymous.

It's a lot of money per month. Why can't they just claim tax credits and housing benefits as a couple? And be honest about themselves. Theft is theft.

Morglin

Caroline_a wrote: »

Many years ago I knew someone who investigated benefit fraud. Someone said that they watch the house, and certainly at this time he used to do this for fraud cases. They also at that time (although it may have changed now) had the power of entry into people's houses any time of day or night and I remember him telling me that they would go very early in the morning, go upstairs and feel under the bedcovers to see if it was warm on both sides! Yuk....

Wouldn't be a job for me I have to say, but I do agree that in the case that you've cited they are well aware of the rules and the consequences of being found out too.

I would report them.

Well, I worked for them 30 years ago, and it never happened then!

Nowadays, they receive many reports, can only bother with a small percentage, and as staffing has been cut, have limited success.

Most investigation is via social media or bank accounts, or they may ask a reported person to come to the office with documents etc.,

Surveillance is very expensive and not used that much nowadays..

They tend to concentrate on the 'large frauds' or the stiff involving organised gangs.

They have no power of entry without police presence or a court order.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3681737/Benefit-fraud-jumps-500million-just-year-despite-ministers-pledges-crackdown.html

Lin

redpete

Redlady..... wrote: »

The part you've cut (above) is central to my thoughts on the whole system. I see fraud of a far greater degree in all of the above, plus.... MP's fraudulent claims, celebrities with off shore tax havens,

both examples that have been extensively reporTed, investigated and punished.

and then there's the banks who have cost us far, far more than any amount of dole fiddlers.

Partly due to risky but not illegal behaviour supported by poor regulation, regulation now far more rigorous and behaviour changed.

Pollycat

JIL wrote: »

When claiming a means tested benefit and a change in circumstances leads to an overpayment. Have a look on DWP debt management web page on gov.uk.

Ah.
So an error of omission by the person claiming.