Charged with Benefit Fraud - Any advice?

BorisThomson

venison wrote: »

I know someone (not I might add a relative) who is currently doing a short sentence in prison having done one last year and they say its not as bad as they expected, but its still prison.
OP have you got a decent solicitor? and is this a first offence? also what sums of money are involved?

Five people at Nottingham prison have committed suicide in one month. They might disagree with your acquaintance.

Andy, don't worry about not being able to repay the debt whilst you're inside, you've got forty years left before you retire, plenty of time for your criminal gains to be recouped.

Andy500

kingfisherblue wrote: »

If you've stolen £40,000 over a period of five years, you deserve prison. I know someone who embezzled money (about £25,000) and was imprisoned for around eight months. When he came out, he had an electronic tag. Unfortunately he did not have to pay the money back to the company that they stole from.

I have no sympathy for thieves, and stealing from the government is no excuse. It is still stealing.

Regarding telling your family - you should tell them before someone else does. Yes, they will be ashamed of you, but that's a chance that you took. Maybe you could use it as a lesson to teach your son that being a criminal is not a good thing, and show to him how much you regret it - but only iof you truly mean it. You might want to tell his mother first, so that she is able to be there. After all, it is his mum who is likely to have to deal with any problems that arise as a result of your offence.

Not looking for sympathy. I know I have to face the consequences of what I've done.

My ex already knows about it. Things aren't good between us now but she has agreed to let me see him tomorrow and I am going to try and explain to him what I did and what might happen to me. Am still working out what I am going to say to him. Will be a hard conversation and I don't want to scare him or for him to think bad of me.

Mr.Generous

Andy, Where do you think the government gets its money from, and when they have to make decisions on spending - like not funding someone's treatment for example, do you think thieves defrauding the system have played a part in it?

trigger_fish

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Andy, Where do you think the government gets its money from, and when they have to make decisions on spending - like not funding someone's treatment for example, do you think thieves defrauding the system have played a part in it?

A very small one if the Office for National Statistics are to be believed-0.7% benefit fraud figure.

Granted its part of it.

trigger_fish

Andy500 wrote: »

Not looking for sympathy. I know I have to face the consequences of what I've done.

My ex already knows about it. Things aren't good between us now but she has agreed to let me see him tomorrow and I am going to try and explain to him what I did and what might happen to me. Am still working out what I am going to say to him. Will be a hard conversation and I don't want to scare him or for him to think bad of me.

OP

I'm curious as to how you ran up this £40,000 fraud figure.

What components and so on.

tomtom256

trigger_fish wrote: »

A very small one if the Office for National Statistics are to be believed-0.7% benefit fraud figure.

Granted its part of it.

That's only proven fraud though, i.e. that which gets identified.

What about all those that sail under the radar and never get found out?

just_trying

Andy500 wrote: »

Not looking for sympathy. I know I have to face the consequences of what I've done.

My ex already knows about it. Things aren't good between us now but she has agreed to let me see him tomorrow and I am going to try and explain to him what I did and what might happen to me. Am still working out what I am going to say to him. Will be a hard conversation and I don't want to scare him or for him to think bad of me.

You've stolen a massive amount of money. Now you want to lumber a 8 year old of what you've done, and you don't even know what's going to happen. Yes, you should pay it back plus more. You're a thief and knew what you were doing. Dad stole money, he might be going on holiday.

trigger_fish

tomtom256 wrote: »

That's only proven fraud though, i.e. that which gets identified.

What about all those that sail under the radar and never get found out?

No, it isn't.

It's extrapolated benefit fraud-what they think give or take what has gone on using statistical models.

Carrieanne

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Andy, Where do you think the government gets its money from, and when they have to make decisions on spending - like not funding someone's treatment for example, do you think thieves defrauding the system have played a part in it?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're suggesting the government operates on the revenue it raises, It doesn't, If it did the national debt wouldn't stand at £1.7 trillion, or whatever fantastic sum it currently stands at.

Andy500

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Andy, Where do you think the government gets its money from, and when they have to make decisions on spending - like not funding someone's treatment for example, do you think thieves defrauding the system have played a part in it?

I know all that. I was in the Army for 4 years and know there were cuts, I know that back home there were plenty of people working the system but only a few get caught/

trigger_fish wrote: »

OP

I'm curious as to how you ran up this £40,000 fraud figure.

What components and so on.

Thats what hey sat. It's made up of JSA and rent payments. It works out about £8000 a year

just_trying wrote: »

You've stolen a massive amount of money. Now you want to lumber a 8 year old of what you've done, and you don't even know what's going to happen. Yes, you should pay it back plus more. You're a thief and knew what you were doing. Dad stole money, he might be going on holiday.

I would prefer not to tell him anything about what i done. But I normally see him every weekend so if i ma in orison for 18 months or more i need to tell jim where i will be or why I am there