Charged with Benefit Fraud - Any advice?

David_Aston

I'm sorry, is it me. The op, if not a troll, is a 29 year old man who admits to three previous convictions, plus this fraud. Surely, time in prison is all that is left for him in our justice system?

tomtom256

Alice_Holt wrote: »

I would have thought it difficult to fraudulently claim JSA. Given that the JC would require attendance at meetings / training sessions / work providers / evidence of work search. And certainly after 1 year the JC would expect increased effort. The % of claimants on JSA for 5 straight years must be quite low.
I suppose it the OP could have been working ad-hoc cash in hand, with no records on bank accounts / HMRC records or, more likely, engaged in illegal activities.
In which case (assuming he's not a troll), he has also defrauded HMRC as well as the DWP.

HB would be easier I suppose, given a plausible story and faked paperwork. At least he didn't have to present himself at the HB offices every week.
But the HB fraud detection rate is increasing I understand as more info is shared between depts. HBO may be able to confirm my understanding.

The benefit that criminals usually tried to defraud was DLA. Borrow a wheelchair; fake a GP's letter, etc etc. That gave the government a handy excuse to introduce PIP and the dreaded WCA.
Which led to - DWP decision letter - 'The paramedic HCP is sure the MSE shows you are now completly well and no longer have psychosis, severe depression, etc...' And complete misery for many, many disabled people. Thanks, in part, to criminals like Andy (assuming it's not a wind up).

Nope with shift work etc it is fairly easy to defraud JSA, same as with ESA etc.

I investigate this daily and have a 40+ plus case load like most investigators in the DWP.

We just scratch the surface.

parkrunner

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.

1.1% and increasing

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-201617-preliminary-estimates

parkrunner

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.

Government money is our money so effectively you've stolen from us, the general public.

trigger_fish

parkrunner wrote: »

Government money is our money so effectively you've stolen from us, the general public.

Too often that argument is used by curtain twitchers.

trigger_fish

Quite often you read posters saying that cash in hand work is prevalent yet I see little evidence of it.

Others might have a different view.

haras_nosirrah

I have reported someone for benefit fraud. Do I regret it - absolutely not and it was my duty to report it due to the job I do.

couple I saw for a mortgage and they were claiming tax credits in just her name as a single parent to one child. I told them they needed to finish the claim as they wouldn't be entitled to it (between them they were earning 80k a year as partner was on 60k a year and she was on 20k. They were then getting an additional £660 a month in benefits) so certainly greed not need.

I told them to stop and didn't report it at that time - didn't use the tax credit income on the mortgage application. Two years later they came back for a remortgage and had a second child. Still getting tax credits. Tax credit had been updated for child number 2 and yet still she was down as a single mum. I reported it that time to my compliance department who I believe reported it on.

I gave them an opportunity to stop it themselves which they chose not to do.

trigger_fish

haras_nosirrah wrote: »

I have reported someone for benefit fraud. Do I regret it - absolutely not and it was my duty to report it due to the job I do.

couple I saw for a mortgage and they were claiming tax credits in just her name as a single parent to one child. I told them they needed to finish the claim as they wouldn't be entitled to it (between them they were earning 80k a year as partner was on 60k a year and she was on 20k. They were then getting an additional £660 a month in benefits) so certainly greed not need.

I told them to stop and didn't report it at that time - didn't use the tax credit income on the mortgage application. Two years later they came back for a remortgage and had a second child. Still getting tax credits. Tax credit had been updated for child number 2 and yet still she was down as a single mum. I reported it that time to my compliance department who I believe reported it on.

I gave them an opportunity to stop it themselves which they chose not to do.

When I got my mortgage in 2004 my lender wouldn't include tax credits as affordibility. But I suppose credits, rightly or wrongly, have become ingrained in the system.

David_Aston

I'm assuming curtain twitchers is derogatory. If you mean nosy, the wife and I deliberately don't have kitchen curtains, in order to stay up to date with the street's doings! Anyway, I completely agree with parkrunner's comment.

trigger_fish

David_Aston wrote: »

I'm assuming curtain twitchers is derogatory. If you mean nosy, the wife and I deliberately don't have kitchen curtains, in order to stay up to date with the street's doings! Anyway, I completely agree with parkrunner's comment.

Absolutely.

His ex-partner hasn't reported the OP out of any moral or social conscience. And neither do the majority of those who pick up the phone. Its done out of mischief. And I don't buy this idea of 'if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear'.

The incompetence of government agencies is well known in this forum.

In the OP'S ex-partner's case it could well backfire.

She will have to explain to their son why her 'information' (I have harsher words for that) possibly put his Father in prison.

Better have a good memory as well whoever does this kind of thing.

Seems ironic as well pointed out by at least one poster that she MIGHT have benefited from the fraud-isn't life strange!