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Would you report someone you knew for benefit fraud?
Comments
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I do believe that Benefit fraud is a drop in the ocean compared to tax evasion, but that doesnt make it right does it?
I have reported 2 people in the past, that I worked with. Basically for boasting about what they were getting and claiming things they shouldnt have been getting in the circumstances. One was forced to pay some money back and I never heard about the other one
I wouldnt hesitate to do it again:heartpulsOnce a Flylady, always a Flylady:heartpuls0 -
I do believe that Benefit fraud is a drop in the ocean compared to tax evasion, but that doesnt make it right does it?
I have reported 2 people in the past, that I worked with. Basically for boasting about what they were getting and claiming things they shouldnt have been getting in the circumstances. One was forced to pay some money back and I never heard about the other one
I wouldnt hesitate to do it again
Well done you. :T0 -
Generally I get the impression that some people see things in black and white, there's right and there's wrong, there's law abiding and there's criminal. And in their minds there is a huge gulf in between.
A lot of the time they achieve this by classing the small wrong things they do, such as speeding or overstaying on a parking meter as not wrong at all. Witness people getting angry over the idea that some prisoners will get the vote.
In reality there is a sliding scale, with rapists and murderers at one end shaded black, and those who behave perfectly at the other shaded white. There is no explicit cut off between being criminal and not criminal - or if there is it is right up there next to the white zone, on the other side of where most of us are.
I'm not saying this means that no-one should be criticised - of course not. I disapprove of the idea that "we all do it" means "don't criticise". I would agree with reporting benefit fraudsters, as they have done something wrong. I just would not get excited about them taking my taxpayers money, and keep a sense of proportion about it.0 -
Nope, not me.
It's condoning benefit fraud and I feel so strongly about people claiming what they are not entitled to that I just couldn't do it - not even if it saved me money.
I'd rather pay the going rate for whatever job I wanted doing.
What about paying a mate cash who IS working but doesn't necessarily do what you are paying him for as a main living? I'll give an example I haven't used him myself but I know someone who is a very good plasterer but he does something else full time. I would just hand over the cash and think nothing else of it but he's not going to be declaring it to the tax man is he?
Having said the above, I actually doubt I would use someone unemployed but doing foreigners - in fact I worked with someone once who would offer her husband out for a bit of decorating or whatever but I never took her up on it cos I knew he'd never worked an honest day's work in his life and knew how the play the system. It just didn't sit right with me.0 -
I'm not saying this means that no-one should be criticised - of course not. I disapprove of the idea that "we all do it" means "don't criticise". I would agree with reporting benefit fraudsters, as they have done something wrong. I just would not get excited about them taking my taxpayers money, and keep a sense of proportion about it.
I think the people getting excited about it (and taking it out of proportion) are those who disagree that she should be reported and are assuming everyone who disagrees with their view is a Daily Mail reader, are those who are telling posters to 'get a grip' and those bringing up all sorts of ways the Govt are 'losing' more money than by benefit fraud.
Most of the people who think the OP should report this woman are sticking to the facts (as reported by the OP):
she is claiming benefits and has someone living with her, therefore she is breaking the law.
As I've said in a previous post, I personally can't stop the funding of the Royal Family through the Civil List, I can't stop Britain from going to war, I can't stop bankers being paid obscenely large bonuses, I can't make billionaires pay tax - but none of those things have any bearing on the question the OP asked:Would you report someone you knew for benefit fraud?0 -
Someone i knew? No i would not, i know the meaning of the word "pals"Owed out = lots. :cool:0
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"Someone you know" is not necessarily a friend.
I "know" the woman across the road, but she's not my friend (or pal).
Still wouldn't report them, the extra savings from taxes would only go to over paid MP's anyway, i would gain nothing from reporting anyone.Owed out = lots. :cool:0 -
Still wouldn't report them, the extra savings from taxes would only go to over paid MP's anyway, i would gain nothing from reporting anyone.
As I've said in a previous post, I personally can't stop the funding of the Royal Family through the Civil List, I can't stop Britain from going to war, I can't stop bankers being paid obscenely large bonuses, I can't make billionaires pay tax AND I can't stop MPs being overpaid (although I'm not sure I agree with you about what happens to any repayment of fraudulent benefit claims or any surplus money if benefits are stopped as a result of being reported).
You personally might gain nothing from reporting someone but how do you know that the money mentioned above wouldn't benefit someone who really deserved it?0 -
I haven't reporting anyone - but I think I would if i knew they were seriously defrauding the tax man.
I wouldn't report someone for doing a bit of cash in hand work on a infrequent basis, like a tradesman, who does a few jobs every so often for friends etc. Its better than them sitting on the sofa all day and might instill some work ethic, and its also too much hassle to sign off and sign back on again after a weeks work etc. In this respect I think the earnings disregard should be increased from the current £5 a week!
I also wouldn't report someone, who has worked all their lives and then was made redundant, and they maybe do a few hours a week cleaning, driving etc, without declaring it - I don't really begrudge my taxes paying them a wee bit extra for a while until they get back on their feet
Those i would report - are the one's with no work ethic, with no intention of ever working, claiming sick beneifts when not entitled, claiming as a single parent when not etc etc.
And no-one made me judge and jury of those fraudently claiming benefits, it's just the way I feel about it!Weight loss challenge, lose 15lb in 6 weeks before Christmas.0
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