Charged with Benefit Fraud - Any advice?

Andy500

I got charged with serious benefit fraud, I've admitted what I've done and don't blame anyone but myself. I think my ex girlfriend reported me after we had a bad split up. Being honest I probably knew that the day would come when it would happen but just hoped that I would keep getting away with it. I had debts and it just seemed the easiest way to deal with them. I got arrested at home one morning and now am dealing with the consequences.

Because of the amount and the time period involved I'm told that I will almost definitely get a prison sentence. For any normal person I think the thought of going to prison seems like the end of the world. In the last few weeks I've heard about all the riots and drugs and it seems like hell. I don't know anybody who has been in prison so have no idea what it is really like. I don't understand it when you hear of people not going to prison after stabbing someone because they are too intelligent or really short sentences for assaulting people that they are so hard on benefit fraud.

I've never hurt anyone and know what I did was wrong and already feel so bad about it that prison isn't going to help. I could start paying the money back but it would take a long time, It doesn't make sense to me that you send people to prison for claiming extra money and then it costs much more money to keep them locked up. I think community service would be better as it wouldn't cost the same, I would still be earning and doing something good for the community.

I still have to tell my family about what is happening. I am 29 but am still close to them. My Dad is ex police so that makes everything harder. I also have a 8 year old son with my ex who I will have to tell but don't know how to without scaring him or thinking bad about me. I see him most weekends so being apart will be so hard. I don't think I would want him to see me in prison.

I don't know if anybody on here knows anybody who has been through anything like this or has any advice about how to deal with this. I am too ashamed to tell anybody in the real world so far but know I will have to as I am in court in 2 weeks.

nannytone_2

you feel and because you were caught!

if you hadn't been reported you would still be fraudulent claiming.

have a nice break inside and do yjr tight thing when you come out.

you got what you deserved. sorry

xylophone

You might ring The Samaritans.

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/contact-us?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlNOmzJSC1wIV1hXTCh1MlA8qEAAYASAAEgJ4bPD_BwE

Alice_Holt

http://www.firsttimeinprison.co.uk/

http://prisonconsultants.co.uk/general/going-prison-first-time-cope/

https://www.wikihow.com/Deal-with-Being-in-Prison

http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2012/10/exchanges-from-the-curb-the-first-week-in-prison/

BorisThomson

Andy500 wrote: »

I got charged with serious benefit fraud, I've admitted what I've done and don't blame anyone but myself. I think my ex girlfriend reported me after we had a bad split up. Being honest I probably knew that the day would come when it would happen but just hoped that I would keep getting away with it. I had debts and it just seemed the easiest way to deal with them. I got arrested at home one morning and now am dealing with the consequences.

Because of the amount and the time period involved I'm told that I will almost definitely get a prison sentence. For any normal person I think the thought of going to prison seems like the end of the world. In the last few weeks I've heard about all the riots and drugs and it seems like hell. I don't know anybody who has been in prison so have no idea what it is really like. I don't understand it when you hear of people not going to prison after stabbing someone because they are too intelligent or really short sentences for assaulting people that they are so hard on benefit fraud.

I've never hurt anyone and know what I did was wrong and already feel so bad about it that prison isn't going to help. I could start paying the money back but it would take a long time, It doesn't make sense to me that you send people to prison for claiming extra money and then it costs much more money to keep them locked up. I think community service would be better as it wouldn't cost the same, I would still be earning and doing something good for the community.

I still have to tell my family about what is happening. I am 29 but am still close to them. My Dad is ex police so that makes everything harder. I also have a 8 year old son with my ex who I will have to tell but don't know how to without scaring him or thinking bad about me. I see him most weekends so being apart will be so hard. I don't think I would want him to see me in prison.

I don't know if anybody on here knows anybody who has been through anything like this or has any advice about how to deal with this. I am too ashamed to tell anybody in the real world so far but know I will have to as I am in court in 2 weeks.

Being honest

:rotfl:

I've never hurt anyone

You know all the genuine claimants that get a hard time in the media, from the DWP and the government? That's because of people like you. You have done more harm than you will ever know.

TELLIT01

Irrespective of what you've been told about the likely outcome, it is only an opinion at this stage. There seems to be no real pattern to whether or not prison sentences are handed down. I've seen cases where 10s of 1000s of £ are involved and the culprit seems to get away with little more than a slap on the wrist and others where the amount is far smaller and a prison sentence is given. That may well be down to other information which is not made available to the public or not printed for one reason or another.
You do need to tell your family before the court case. It will be a much greater shock to them if then only discover you have been given a prison sentence after the event.

Andy500

BorisThomson wrote: »

:rotfl:
You know all the genuine claimants that get a hard time in the media, from the DWP and the government? That's because of people like you. You have done more harm than you will ever know.

I know that but what I mean is I think it's much worse if I had of assaulted someone or broke into a house and stole. I know it's still wrong but it is government money.

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Irrespective of what you've been told about the likely outcome, it is only an opinion at this stage. There seems to be no real pattern to whether or not prison sentences are handed down. I've seen cases where 10s of 1000s of £ are involved and the culprit seems to get away with little more than a slap on the wrist and others where the amount is far smaller and a prison sentence is given. That may well be down to other information which is not made available to the public or not printed for one reason or another.
You do need to tell your family before the court case. It will be a much greater shock to them if then only discover you have been given a prison sentence after the event.

Well I'm just going on what the police and the solicitor said. The amount is big enough and ot was over 5 years. I have admitted it and will be pleading guilty so just hope that might help. If I do stay out of prison I will be the most grateful person ever. I wouldn't mind any other punishment.

Yes I will have to tell them. I'm just trying to find the right time as I know how upset they are going to be and the same with my son. I know whatever happens it will be in the paper where I am and it's not going to be easy.

Prinzessilein

Andy500 wrote: »

I know that but what I mean is I think it's much worse if I had of assaulted someone or broke into a house and stole. I know it's still wrong but it is government money

.

...and that is not a very good attitude to have.

It is money, however you look at it and try to rationalise it...you stole it.

You knew it was wrong and you continued to do it over 5 years.

Having said that, you may still be lucky and get a non-custodial sentence.

Whatever happens, learn from your mistake.

epm-84

Andy500 wrote: »

I know that but what I mean is I think it's much worse if I had of assaulted someone or broke into a house and stole. I know it's still wrong but it is government money.

And we're constantly hearing about funding cuts, benefit freezes, pay caps for public sector staff etc. because the government is short of money, which affect the most vulnerable people most. You could argue stealing from the government is like stealing from a charity.

Alice_Holt

Prinzessilein wrote: »

You knew it was wrong and you continued to do it over 5 years.

Having said that, you may still be lucky and get a non-custodial sentence.

Whatever happens, learn from your mistake.

That's the difficultly for me - it must have been carefully pre-planned and implemented. It continued single-mindedly over a long period, and only came to an end when an ex-partner informed on him. It's likely the motivation was greed rather than need. Had his ex-partner not informed, doubtless he would still be defrauding the tax payer and genuine claimants.

He, rather disingenuously, compares it with assault. But assaults can be often carried out in the heat of the movement and in response to a perceived threat.
A better comparison for him to use in an attempt to diminish his culpability would be the premeditated murder of a family member in order to gain a life insurance payment.

His actions contribute to the "murder" of the safety net system for social security - an understanding that society has a responsibility to support and care for those in need. By exploiting this system he has given credence to those who would dismantle the welfare state.

There are people in prison for far less - shoplifting to provide food for the table.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/couple-charged-stealing-out-of-date-tesco-5687720

epm-84

If it is the ex-partner who's reported him and she knew about it years ago could she not face criminal charges as well?