Benefit Fraud

savalittle.

I hope you did the right thing?

chelseablue

JIL wrote: »

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.

Morning All


Yes I did the right thing and reported yesterday, if they choose not to investigate that's up to them, but at least I tried.


In answer to the above, I gave his mothers address and where he works.


He is the father of 1 of the children


I don't know if the rent gets paid direct to the landlord or if the money goes to her first.
Do all councils pay direct to the landlord?


Don't know how far they'd get if they asked the credit ref agencies, he doesn't have a credit card or loan.

Dill

Did they take your name when you reported these people?

chelseablue

No I didn't give my name

chelseablue

Regarding the housing benefit fraud, this is what our local council website says:


Please note that xxx xxx Council no longer investigates benefit fraud - this is now the responsibility of the Department of Work and Pensions.

martinbuckley

I had to take 3 months of unpaid leave to care for my wife after her bone-marrow transplant, who was then told that despite being unable to work for 12 months, she would receive no ESA, no PIP, and I would receive no Carers Allowance. To add insult to injury, we had to make our own arrangements for a 100 mile round trip to the hospital twice a week for four months.


Would I shop someone who is stealing money from those who are in need of welfare support? Hell, yes!

Dill

martinbuckley wrote: »

I had to take 3 months of unpaid leave to care for my wife after her bone-marrow transplant, who was then told that despite being unable to work for 12 months, she would receive no ESA, no PIP, and I would receive no Carers Allowance. To add insult to injury, we had to make our own arrangements for a 100 mile round trip to the hospital twice a week for four months.


Would I shop someone who is stealing money from those who are in need of welfare support? Hell, yes!

I think you should have appealed the decision.

The last sentence confirms my suspicion that most informers have an axe to grind.

gayleygoo

I would not report someone for benefit fraud. If I reported everyone I knew for every crime they committed, I'd have few friends left :rotfl: It's not my duty to police that, and if the police or HMRC are interested they can do they legwork on finding out themselves. Mostly, I think that many people who report these things are bitter and envious of someone not having to work as hard as they do.

OP, if this person is a friend or family member who you may talk to again at some point in the future, please consider the effect you will be directly having on their lives, particularly if there are children involved. It could put current and future jobs at risk, cause sudden financial insecurity - years of investigation can be tough on family life, I've watched friends go through it (and they did nothing wrong). Don't make the decision light-heartedly!

marleyboy

I cannot imagine anyone telling me they are committing benefit fraud. Possibly because they fear I might grass them up. Not that I am likely to ask them if they are in the first place.

Mojisola

gayleygoo wrote: »

It's not my duty to police that, and if the police or HMRC are interested they can do they legwork on finding out themselves.

Mostly, I think that many people who report these things are bitter and envious of someone not having to work as hard as they do.

I think it is our duty as part of a society to report things -

if you saw someone robbing a neighbour's house, would you just ignore it?

if you saw a hit-and-run accident, would you give information to the police about the car or just keep your head down?

if someone talks about all the extra money they make from benefit fraud, you're really happy to let them get on with it?

Rather than the people who report things being bitter and envious, I think people who don't probably have lower moral standards and can see themselves doing the things the fraudsters/criminals are doing.