Reporting fraud?

weavedribbon

This has to be a hypothetical question for now.

If you had good friends who you KNEW for absolute certain aren't being fully honest and therefore claiming money they're not entitled to, what would you do? I would feel so torn because part of would be angry that they would do this and do it knowingly, not seeing how morally not ok it is. On the other hand, if someone were a close friend who struggles for money regardless though, would it even be morally ok to report them?

TELLIT01

If they are such close friends the sensible thing to do initially would be to tell them to stop because the likelihood is that they will get caught eventually. If they then continue to claim I would have fewer doubts about reporting them.

pmlindyloo

I would have no hesitation in reporting someone who was 'hiding capital/savings', who was doing work for cash in hand but if the benefits involved were disability benefits - DLA/PIP/ESA then I would be very careful about reporting as there may be something that I was unaware of - for example, many medical conditions may be 'hidden', or variable but would meet the criteria for disability benefits.

weavedribbon

As somebody who has a hidden disability myself and does "permitted work" all above board I know only too well how important not making assumptions is! I have constant paranoia people are going to report me for benefit fraud because I talk about "work" or because they think I've lied to get PIP, despite knowing I've filled in the permitted work form and it's all within the limits and that I got Pip based on my actual genuine needs. part of my issues is anxiety though so maybe that's why I stress about it!

If someone in receipt of PIP were to have a lengthy hospital admission then it affects the benefits right? I know it affected mine and beyond 4 weeks I didn't receive it until I was discharged and went home. I just figure it's pretty important to tell DWP things like being in hospital long term. Thank you both for your responses, if the situation arose maybe firm words with the friends would be stage 1 and perhaps a warning that it can't just be ignored.

IAmWales

It's not a question of morals, they are breaking the law. Would you report a thief? That is what your friend is, you must report it.

pmlindyloo

weavedribbon wrote: »

As somebody who has a hidden disability myself and does "permitted work" all above board I know only too well how important not making assumptions is! I have constant paranoia people are going to report me for benefit fraud because I talk about "work" or because they think I've lied to get PIP, despite knowing I've filled in the permitted work form and it's all within the limits and that I got Pip based on my actual genuine needs. part of my issues is anxiety though so maybe that's why I stress about it!

If someone in receipt of PIP were to have a lengthy hospital admission then it affects the benefits right? I know it affected mine and beyond 4 weeks I didn't receive it until I was discharged and went home. I just figure it's pretty important to tell DWP things like being in hospital long term. Thank you both for your responses, if the situation arose maybe firm words with the friends would be stage 1 and perhaps a warning that it can't just be ignored.

Do the people realise that they should have reported the hospital stay?

To be honest I have some sympathy with this as I think it is quite a 'daft rule'. Not condoning the failure to report, by the way. You do need to report change of circumstances.

If it is an award of PIP which gives a mobility car then loss of this car have a devastating effect on the family. Unable to visit etc etc

Even the loss an award of PIP care can be financially difficult if transport costs to hospital are not met by other means. Plus, lets be honest, lots people use their PIP as part of their household income rather than on specific disability costs. (Please don't take offence for those who do use it for particular disability costs ) and the loss of it can be difficult.

Not knowing the family's particular circumstances I won't comment further but can imagine this is rather a difficult one to call.

w06

quite, I've very little sympathy for fraudulent benefit claimants, but the effect of being hospitalised on disability benefit payments is very difficult. Seems especially unfair now that the benefits of children in hospital are treated differently from those of adults in hospital

weavedribbon

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Do the people realise that they should have reported the hospital stay?

To be honest I have some sympathy with this as I think it is quite a 'daft rule'. Not condoning the failure to report, by the way. You do need to report change of circumstances.

If it is an award of PIP which gives a mobility car then loss of this car have a devastating effect on the family. Unable to visit etc etc

Even the loss an award of PIP care can be financially difficult if transport costs to hospital are not met by other means. Plus, lets be honest, lots people use their PIP as part of their household income rather than on specific disability costs. (Please don't take offence for those who do use it for particular disability costs ) and the loss of it can be difficult.

Not knowing the family's particular circumstances I won't comment further but can imagine this is rather a difficult one to call.

Thank you for this post. It's really helpful and I'm glad you have some understanding/sympathy and can see why it's hard. I don't think it's a particularly well thought through rule because, as you say, the consequences for people can be huge. and let's face it if someone has been in hospital over 4 weeks for whatever reason they're clearly not having the best of times!! People forget that there's often other costs of being in hospital too such as having pets cared for and travel to/from the hospital for relatives. A rule is a rule I know but it is really tricky. Maybe I should just mind my own business and stop worrying about it! Thank you for all your advice.

Attila_the_Bun

I don't grass on people (what goes around, comes around..) but as others have said, they'll probably get caught at some point if they're being really blatant about it.

I've known a couple of people who were cheating the system. One got caught but no action taken, as they couldn't prove it, and the other got away with it. I'm not sorry I didn't snitch on them. Not my business, and I'd have felt guilty if I had.

trigger_fish

If you go down the grass route make sure you have both a good memory and a tightly closed mouth which doesn't open after a few pints.

Think of the bigger picture.



Let the investigators do the investigating.

trigger_fish

weavedribbon wrote: »

This has to be a hypothetical question for now.

If you had good friends who you KNEW for absolute certain aren't being fully honest and therefore claiming money they're not entitled to, what would you do? I would feel so torn because part of would be angry that they would do this and do it knowingly, not seeing how morally not ok it is. On the other hand, if someone were a close friend who struggles for money regardless though, would it even be morally ok to report them?

People have been hanged to death.

Our justice system was certain of guilt when in fact innocent.

More than once sadly.