Going bankrupt with benefit fraud debt

Minkym00

@gary83 you won’t find guidance as it’s up to the CPS to decide to prosecute. They will, thankfully, know a lot more about the actual situation than you.

gary83

We're clearly never going to agree. By the title of the thread the OP admits to her "benefit fraud debt", she willingly admits to claiming benefits as a single parent despite actually not only being in a relationship but married, she lied to take over £24,000 in benefits which she wasn't entitled to.

We've had three trains of thought;

A) maybe it wasn't technically actually benefit fraud and should all be just forgotten about with a bankruptcy.

benefit fraud is ok if you're in an abusive relationship/ it was just "ducking and diving" like the rest of us.

C) lying about her status to get a massive amount of money that she wasn't entitled to was wrong & isn't ok.

I'm the only person that's been told they should be ashamed of myself in this thread, even though it's not my actions the CPS would have an interest in.

I think it's sad that the actual victims here are not only the taxpayers & the system that gave her that money in good faith and are now only seeing £30 a week being returned. It's also all the other people who actually need the benefits system and are entitled to the financial safety net it provides who suffer from being tarred with the ill feeling and stigma caused by people who cheat the system.

What would happen if everybody that had ever been in a abusive relationship, or suffered any other misfortune decided it was ok to carry out benefit fraud? How would the system cope with the added pressure? How would you all justify raising taxes to cover it?

Finally I think yes there absolutely should be consequences for large scale fraud like this, if nothing else to provide a deterrent to stop everyone getting away with it.

[Deleted User]

gary83 wrote: »

We're clearly never going to agree. By the title of the thread the OP admits to her "benefit fraud debt", she willingly admits to claiming benefits as a single parent despite actually not only being in a relationship but married married, she lied to take over £24,000 in benefits which she wasn't entitled to.

We've had three trains of thought;

A) maybe it wasn't technically actually benefit fraud and should all be just forgotten about with a bankruptcy.

benefit fraud is ok if you're in an abusive relationship/ it was just "ducking and diving" like the rest of us.

C) lying about her status to get a massive amount of money that she wasn't entitled to was wrong & isn't ok.

I'm the only person that's been told they should be ashamed of myself in this thread, even though it's not my actions the CPS would have an interest in.

I think it's sad that the actual victims here are not only the taxpayers & the system that gave her that money in good faith and are now only seeing £30 a week being returned. It's also all the other people who actually need the benefits system and are entitled to the financial safety net it provides who suffer from being tarred with the ill feeling and stigma caused by people who cheat the system.

What would happen if everybody that had ever been in a abusive relationship, or suffersed any other misfortune decided it was ok to carry out benefit fraud? How would the system cope with the added pressure? How would you all justify raising taxes to cover it?

Finally I think yes there absolutely should be consequences for large scale fraud like this, if nothing else to provide a deterrent to stop everyone getting away with it.

Totally agree with everything you say. I've been in very similar situations with controlling partners, also have severe and chronic mental health condition and have never felt the need to commit benefit fraud or any other crime.

Willing2Learn

Foxton30 wrote: »

Hi,

I’m new here and is desperate need of help.

7 years ago I left my abusive ex husband. Throughout our marriage and relationship I claimed as a single parent. This was due to me having zero financial help from ex and him taking whatever I was getting. I was in an awful position, my mum had just died (I was 19) and I was raising two children practically alone. I’m not trying to excuses but I was in a horrible situation.

Fast forward im now happily married with another child.

I live in his mortgaged house.

I don’t work but have started volunteering. I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.

Hi Foxton30 :hello:

I just wanted to say that I hope you have not been scared off by a few judgemental posts. You have reached out for advice, support and guidance, yet some people have chosen to judge you. If you read all the posts though, then you will see that Minky, fatbelly and Debt Doctor are asking some excellent questions that require answers. There have been supportive posts from 1 or 2 others too.

I think you should feel pride with your active contribution to your community by way of your volunteering. I also think you have done well to bring up your children in spite of you being in an abusive and controlling relationship with your ex-husband. Don't blame yourself for anything. It sounds like you were only trying to survive... Are you getting any support from your Community Mental Health Team regarding your BPD diagnosis?

If you are reading this, then I ask that you start a brand new thread in the Debt-Free Wannabe forum. You will not be judged over there. You will only get support and advice. Any unfair posts will be deleted. We can help you. Don't give up with this forum!!

fatbelly

There is always a way forward but sometimes we have to ask questions to work out what the best way forward is.

There are around a dozen strategies for dealing with debt of which bankruptcy is only one. I agree the dfw board is more appropriate.

I believe this thread can now be locked. It looks as if the OP has given up on it anyway.

MissMollyJ

Willing2Learn wrote: »

Hi Foxton30 :hello:

I just wanted to say that I hope you have not been scared off by a few judgemental posts. You have reached out for advice, support and guidance, yet some people have chosen to judge you. If you read all the posts though, then you will see that Minky, fatbelly and Debt Doctor are asking some excellent questions that require answers. There have been supportive posts from 1 or 2 others too.

I think you should feel pride with your active contribution to your community by way of your volunteering. I also think you have done well to bring up your children in spite of you being in an abusive and controlling relationship with your ex-husband. Don't blame yourself for anything. It sounds like you were only trying to survive... Are you getting any support from your Community Mental Health Team regarding your BPD diagnosis?

If you are reading this, then I ask that you start a brand new thread in the Debt-Free Wannabe forum. You will not be judged over there. You will only get support and advice. Any unfair posts will be deleted. We can help you. Don't give up with this forum!!

Excellent post and I wholeheartedly concur. I hope the OP comes back and gives this another try. OP there is now some recognition societally about financial abuse as an integral part of abusive relationships - it’s getting there. You’ll be ok - move over to the DFW board which sounds like it has better systems of moderation.

Jono987

This forum really isnt the best place for questions such as this, even though it should be as its money saving advice! People are unnecessarily nasty on here, i see it time and time again.

Unfortunately as you have been advised, if the debts were PROVEN to be fraudulent, you cant include them in BR. 16K debt is really not that much on the grand scheme of things (obviously its not good), has the interest been stopped on the debts? If the interest has been stopped, getting a NMW full time job and using say 30% of it to service your debt and you could have it all paid off in 5 years.

If they are still adding interest on i would recommend looking into a DMP with stepchange.

I think the best way forward is continue making the payments and try to transition from volunteering into working full time.