Benefit Fraud

Kim1965

 Is it the norm for people on benefits to go on two foreign holidays a year?
I was under the impression living on benefits was tough. Of course family members could pay for such excursions, I didnt feel the comment was made out of jealousy. The op believes geuine people need benefits. 
 

Pollycat

Kim1965 said:

 Is it the norm for people on benefits to go on two foreign holidays a year?
I was under the impression living on benefits was tough. Of course family members could pay for such excursions, I didnt feel the comment was made out of jealousy. The op believes geuine people need benefits. 
 

I have no idea if it's the norm. I'm not on benefits.

As some posters have pointed out, not all benefits are means tested.

Are benefits simply given out without any check of eligibility?
It sounds like the OP thinks so.
As someone who had to appeal a rejection for Attendance Allowance for my elderly Mum, that certainly wasn't my experience.

The OP also talks about rumours that his partner's friend's partner (can we get much further away?) isn't living with her.
I really don't believe that rumours should form the basis of a benefit fraud complaint.

We all read things differently.
I read it that the basis of the reporting was jealousy about spending and holidays

I too believe that "genuine people need benefits".
But I also believe that reporting someone for potential benefit fraud should be based on more than the OP seems to know.

p00hsticks

Kim1965 said:

 Is it the norm for people on benefits to go on two foreign holidays a year?

As others have pointed out, the particular benefit being discussed (Disability Living Allowance) is not means tested. Nor is PIP (Personal Independence Allowance) or Attendance Allowance. You can be in full time employment and/or a multi-millionaire and still claim those benefits. 

And of course, although many claimants object to the term, State Pension is also officially classed a Benefit. 

Muttleythefrog

Exodi said:

Well the replies to this thread to an unexpected turn:

OP: 'I suspect someone is committing benefit fraud'
MSE: 'Snitches get stitches'

Yes they might be wrong... but they might also be right, I honestly do not understand the arguments for not reporting it...

If people should only report if they had 100% undeniable rock solid 'hand-in-the-cookie-jar' gotcha evidence, no-one would ever get found out.

Nah... I think they've received sound advice plus obviously general concerns. Those concerns are worth raising not least as this seems second hand information (and the Op themselves uses the word "rumours" regarding one potentially relevant fact re cohabitation) and the Op's partner is right in the middle and herself could be affected by these matters - perhaps she is better placed to make such a report.

Obviously the theme of the thread unless I've read it very poorly has been that if they think there is fraud then report it... you'll always get some range of responses. But there are caveats to that... including that many reports of such fraud turn out to be based on jealousies (and there is some psychological evidence of that I'd suggest here) and misunderstanding of the benefits system (and there is evidence of that I'd suggest here)... plus the person reporting is not going to be kept in the loop of investigation or outcome as they would be if say they were reporting being the victim of fraud to police. There's several different possible frauds in this case and so reporting appropriately seems likely necessary.

I'm always wary when I read things like "What is the likely hood of someone being charged with benefit fraud?" as that implies to me they're weighing up whether to report or not and that hesitation takes me to your post.... note the first question was not 'how do I report suspected benefit fraud' or 'should I report suspected benefit fraud' it was actually a question that suggested this was a psychological question not a pragmatic one.

I have some other concerns if indeed what the Op says about the 'fake disabilities of child' is accurate... this would imply to me a parent that is themselves either unwell or abusive. As so often though in these cases the documents and reality might be very different than presented or outsiders believe.

kaMelo

p00hsticks said:

Kim1965 said:

 Is it the norm for people on benefits to go on two foreign holidays a year?

As others have pointed out, the particular benefit being discussed (Disability Living Allowance) is not means tested. Nor is PIP (Personal Independence Allowance) or Attendance Allowance. You can be in full time employment and/or a multi-millionaire and still claim those benefits. 

And of course, although many claimants object to the term, State Pension is also officially classed a Benefit. 

A sublle but important difference is that state pension is a contributory benefit.

Muttleythefrog

Kim1965 said:

 Is it the norm for people on benefits to go on two foreign holidays a year?
I was under the impression living on benefits was tough. Of course family members could pay for such excursions, I didnt feel the comment was made out of jealousy. The op believes geuine people need benefits. 
 

Not likely the norm. Although of course now vast numbers of households on benefits have people in work - the most recent data I think suggests around half of Universal Credit claiming households have someone in work. Those households getting disability related benefits could be getting notable extra money and as pointed out those such benefits are not means tested... in fact David Cameron when Prime Minister used to get DLA for his now sadly long deceased son. Personally I think there are indicators of jealousy and anger in the two posts of the Op.... neither of course relevant to the matter on the table which is several potential lines of fraud.. however so many of these such fraud reports are likely based on jealousies and misunderstanding of actual circumstances and benefit rules and that might feed into the fact most end up in NFA status... no further action.

Spoonie_Turtle

Kim1965 said:

 Is it the norm for people on benefits to go on two foreign holidays a year?

Does it matter?  Even if it's not, edge cases exist and doesn't automatically mean they can't possibly be entitled to the benefits they claim.

As already pointed out, the two benefits mentioned are not actually means-tested so the money they have available to spend is irrelevant.

Muttleythefrog

kaMelo said:

p00hsticks said:

Kim1965 said:

 Is it the norm for people on benefits to go on two foreign holidays a year?

As others have pointed out, the particular benefit being discussed (Disability Living Allowance) is not means tested. Nor is PIP (Personal Independence Allowance) or Attendance Allowance. You can be in full time employment and/or a multi-millionaire and still claim those benefits. 

And of course, although many claimants object to the term, State Pension is also officially classed a Benefit. 

A sublle but important difference is that state pension is a contributory benefit.

..that you can get even if you've never worked...i.e. you don't pay the contributions yourself. Genuine contribution based benefits like new style ESA mean you absolutely have to have worked recently before the claim.

HillStreetBlues

From a personal perspective of a "disabled" person.
I feel fraud it terrible, the cost is huge, not only the money, but every disabled person can be tarred with the same brush, especially those with hidden disabilities.
But the worry can be all it takes is one malicious report and a flawed investigation to cause the end of the benefit.
The DWP gets it wrong, just look of how many of their decisions get overturned at a tribunal.
So it's scary for them just to be able to stop a benefit by keeping it in house.
Any stopping of benefits should have to go though an independent body (such as a tribunal) before it is stopped.