Benefit Cheats....Would You Tell?
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Just lately when talking to folk in general the conversation has often turned to the state of the country, benefits and other related topics.
I have been surprised at how many people know of someone who is cheating the system by working (for a very good wage) and still claiming all sorts. Another person knows an elderly woman who has sold a property for 300k, banked the money and still claims benefits other than the pension to which she is entitled. Another is claiming for a husband who died 3 years ago.
I haven't a clue who these people are otherwise I would be on the fraudulent claims report phone straight away. Would you? We are taught as children not to tell tales but in later life are always being told to tell someone about this that or the other. Well, I am sorry, but I can't stand those who do this type of thing when services are closing down, nhs is buckling etc.
I know morally you’re right but I just can’t report someone I know who’s cheating the system. I must add I’m not a friend of this person. Yes I realise I’m paying via taxes etc but I can’t and wouldn’t know how to report someone.
You have proved my point though. That we probably all know or know off someone who is doing it. I am not petty and would not report silly things (dropping litter, dog poop etc) but I feel very strongly about this as it must add up to billions being wrongfully claimed each year.
Would you report someone you saw stealing your car? Benefit cheats are also thieves but because it is not personal we turn a blind eye. The fraudulent claims hotline would be very easy to find online.
Reporting sometimes is as good as not doing it.
The cops end up saying: "Sorry, we can't do anything about it."
We all know cops are people like us but they have privileges and priorities we don't.
For example, in Texas a female police officer (Amber Guyger) killed an innocent man and she's only getting 10 years in jail. Plus, one of the witness was shot dead too, officially because of a "drug deal" but not many actually believe that to be true. Lynibis
You don't report to the police Rockman but to a telephone benefit fraud line. As for doing their job, it must be extremely hard to know if someone is cheating the system as they cannot spend their time trawling through records and trying to find bank accounts under different names in different places.
I am disappointed with your attitude to thieves but if you don't mind them ripping you off through your taxes etc. then so be it. Who am I to force people to have a social conscience.
Why should we do their job? That's what they're hired for. To know who's genuine and who isn't.
We're also told to recycle stuff ourselves but again, there are people specifically hired to do this.
That said, the police are another issue. They'd rather deal with internet "bullies" than actual criminals on the streets.
And the British Army ads look as though they're desperate for people to join them and they do some of the dumbest and pathetic ads I've ever seen.
I personally refuse to join the army because it only does more harm than good. Leave the Middle East / African countries alone and fix their own ones (e.g. homelessness, knife crime, acid attacks, shootings, domestic violence, etc).
Soldiers don't just fight in war zones. I did a needed and worthwhile job in the WRNS and I am proud of my service to my country. Not sure what that and recycling has to do with benefit cheats though. From previous posts I know you are young and hence your 'why should we do their jobs for them' attitude, but who exactly are them? They are people just like us and we all need to help make the world a better place by doing all we can rather than just take, take, take.
How can benefit cheats sleep at night knowing that they are directly depriving other services of funds to keep going. Especially the elderly, nhs, mental health, social care etc.
The point is, there are too many things wrong in the world and that attitude is nice but ultimately doesn't do much good. Lynibis
If the employees hired to know who should be eligible for it are either allowing it to happen because they get a share of it or legitimately have no idea, that's their problem. Let those folks ["the benefit thieves"] who might be cheating the system fall on their own, it eventually happens.
I'm not saying turn a blind eye. Besides, there are far worse crimes than that – like people getting stabbed, robbed, shot or thrown acid at. These are definitely far more important.
We will have to agree to disagree Rockman. We can do something about benefit cheats but have no way of stopping the last 4 things you mention. Besides which if people were honest in ALL areas life would be so much better but if people couldn't care less they deserve the world they get. Also you could say that there are more important things than every single topic posted on here, doesn't stop people having an opinion.
Okay, we can agree to disagree. And I dare say comparing those four troubled issues which are far more important to fix (the cops could but don't care to so they're sorta useless), it makes this seem a little petty. Lynibis
I would 
I hate the benefits system in general and I think it REALLY needs to change, so only the severely disabled can claim - none of this “I’m depressed so I can’t work” - 1 in 4 people suffer from depression and I reckon a large majority of people work whilst having it, it just gives people an excuse to get out of having to work. ”I’ve been on benefits all my life and never worked because I’m depressed” - I know that people will come at me for saying that but the benefits programmes on TV are full of people saying that. My uncle had throat cancer and was off work for a year during treatment, but he was self employed. he got £60 a week in benefits, which covered his travel to the hospital and back everyday for treatment (in London) and left nothing to live on. he had never been on benefits until this point and had been a tax payer for all his life. Yet how can someone who has never worked a day in their life, get enough money each week to pay for Sky TV, iPhones, playstations, cigarettes, food, alcohol etc - messed up system!
sarahgreen15 very well said, it is disgusting that the true people who are severely disabled and the people who genuinely cannot work are the ones who are struggling to survive on the benefits system. Yet there is the likes of some people who have a child at the age of 15 and never work a day in their life, and then have another child when the first reaches 16 years of age just to stay on benefits.. and then bragging on Facebook about their new Jimmy Choo fragrance etc. It makes me mad when I have worked since the age of 16 and focused on my career, yet rarely do I get to treat myself to designer fragrance! I think the system could do with a shake up so that the people who really need benefits are the ones benefiting!
I agree with you 100%. In fact, it is better to work and have something to get out of bed for if you are depressed. You are hardly going to feel better by lounging around indoors all day on social media or watching tv.
Of course, I am no expert but I wouldn't mind betting loads of people use depression as a get out clause, but I do feel for those who genuinely have mental health problems.
Today on news: 40% more mental health issues among children since 2004. What happened in 2004? Social media began to grip the nation and in the last 10/15 years it has exploded. It's like any addiction, self imposed, so just stop using if it is harming your mental health.
i Totally agree that people should report benefits cheats but it’s a waste of time as the only person who’s gunna benefit from this is the person you’ve reported as a lot of casee these days get thrownout to due to lack of evidence and they get to keep their benefits so I would only report if there’s loads and loads of evidence
But at least when they are reported it will make them think twice and the benefits agency can then keep an eye on them. As sarahgreen15 said, it is sickening seeing benefit CHEATS having a higher standard of living than those who work......that's what depresses me!
Lynibis not always the case with people on benefits having a better standard of living their are loads people who claim who are having to use food stamps and go without food in order to pay bills or feed their children who cant afford anything don't know where this information about those who claim have a better standard of living is coming from but its not true at all i've claimed in the past and i can tell you from personal experience that is definitely not true i know loads of other people that have claimed too that are really struggling. Not everyone who claims in a cheat and not everyone who claims has all the money in the world wish people would get their facts right before talking loads of crap
chelseaturpin that is why I highlighted CHEATS. Those who are earning a good living yet still claiming, as outlined in my original post above. Those examples are real and I could have given more, so on that basis there must be thousands upon thousands of people claiming benefits who are not entitled. This thread is about them, not those who are entitled.
I personally know a guy who lives in a bedsit, had a huge divorce settlement but spent until he had just under 8k left, the maximum you can have in savings in order to claim. He bought a 30k car, a 3k Rolex and a 3k guitar but claims housing benefit and is doing a job off the books. Not fair and not right.
Also you can have 1000 people all earning exactly the same and some will consider themselves poor, some rich and some in between, it depends on whether you manage your money well and whether you drink and smoke.
Lynibis it’s not 8k In saving your can have before you claim as I know someone who’s had 15k in savings and was still able to claim full amount and if you go to the benefits website it tells you that you can have no more than 16k if you want to claim
Maybe it has changed since I heard of the 8k limit chelseaturpin . I have never claimed benefits as I have worked since age 16 and still working now at 66 apart from 2 maternity leaves.
I found out someone was a benefit cheat, they had their rent and council tax paid, were claiming child benefits for children that were working and had a full time job but claimed unemployment benefit and a carers allowance as their partner had a 'bad back' (didn't stop him clearing out gutters or getting under cars etc. They would gladly tell anyone who listened that they were pulling in around £1000 a week between them, went on 3 foreign holidays a year, had two cars and top of the range gadgets, meanwhile I was struggling to keep my house whilst working 45 hours a week at one job and doing 2 part time jobs in the evenings and weekends. I struggled for ages with my conscience, should I call the benefits fraud team, should I leave it and let 'karma' do it's job knowing that OAPs that had worked all their lives were having to decide between eating and staying warm as they couldn't afford both.
In the end the decision thankfully, was taken out of my hands as someone else had reported them, they both served a prison sentence and were ordered to pay back £428,000 that they had fraudulently gained through the benefit system.
I have had to sign on once after a redundancy in the recession and as I had a mortgage I still had to find that money as well as eating, paying bills and getting to and from interviews, I ended up with 30p a day living costs which apparently is OK because you can buy a loaf of bread and a tin of beans (that's what the job centre told me), I would see people signing on dripping in gold with the brand new mobiles, top of the range trainers and then they would either go down the pub or you would see them walking out of the supermarket pushing a full trolley. The whole benefits system is flawed, when you have people working and struggling to survive and then people who know how to cheat the system, it's a complete farce, yet I would still find it hard knowing whether to inform the authorities or not
I think it is hard because we are brought up not to be a snitch, telltale, Rat etc. And yet with all the bullying going on kids are now being told to tell, quite rightly. I find it hard that people find it hard to tell on benefit cheats, they have no right to go around flaunting the wealth they gain from hard working taxpayers, as in the example you give.
I sincerely hope your situation is now much better.
Lynibis it was the repercussions I was more concerned about, wouldn't hesitate to report now
People are quick to complain about those benefits cheats and yes they should be reported but would you be quick to report someone working and hiding money e.g not paying taxes and keeping their money in bank accounts abroad you wouldn't be as quick to report them I think it's works both ways
I think the difference is...you probably wouldn't know about those people as they are unlikely to brag about it. Also there is not much anyone can do if the money is in overseas accounts.
Lynibis a lot of people on benefits don't brag either you just hear more of it in the news that they are also working or falsely claiming
Maybe read chelseastevens1 dilligaf above who said the person she spoke of gladly told everyone, plus the several I know of obviously have spoken of their cheating. I do feel as if you are deliberately misunderstanding what I say. Once again I repeat, I am talking of benefit cheats, not those on benefits. Plus I did not say anything about those on benefits bragging, I said those evading tax and having overseas accounts are unlikely to brag about it.
Lynibis I am not deliberately misunderstanding at all i am just stating my opinion as it works both ways not just to those on benefits.
This is a very emotive subject and I like to think I would report someone if I knew but I do wonder if I would in reality. I think it is sometimes too easy to turn a blind eye but benefit fraud is so detrimental to most of us, whether we are working or on benefits ourselves. I suffer from bi-polar and due to my illness I have had to reduce my hours to 3 days a week. If I have a particularly bad episode which lasts about 6 months then my agoraphobia kicks in too and life becomes virtually impossible. At one stage I had to leave a job and claim ESA because of it. I was referred for assessment by one of their doctors who decided that despite being pretty much unable to leave the house I was fit for work. My benefits were stopped immediately, a decision they reversed after appeal but I wonder if genuine claims would be dealt with in this manner if there weren't so many people taking advantage of a poor system. I also find it utterly frustrating when people get signed off so easily for stress or depression, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy and yet so many people feel happy to exaggerate their feelings of being cheesed off to either get signed off work or claim benefits. This casts a shadow on everyone who truly suffers from mental health issues.
We hear of lots of people suffering at the hands of the benefits agency like yourself. It is disgusting that you have to jump through hoops to get what you are clearly entitled to. I hope things are better for you now.
To be frank I am shocked by the couldn't care less attitude towards problems like this and do not feel it can be classed as trivial when it costs the nation millions per year, possibly billions.
The general public, like myself, cannot do anything about kids stabbing each other, cops shooting someone in another country, pollution and global warming (apart from our small contribution to recycling etc.). But we can and should do something about things that affect our daily lives. We would report a person stealing a car, burgling a house...so why not benefit cheats? We can keep the streets clean outside our own homes, recycle, walk instead of drive when possible, be kind to others, help our neighbours, join volunteer groups like homeless projects, age concern etc. So much we could do which would ultimately make drastic improvements to everyday life. But it seems apathy and selfishness rule supreme.
Speaking with a friend yesterday we both agreed that we are glad to be old and not too long until we shuffle off this mortal coil. Life could be wonderful but while our fellow humans are consumed with hate, wrong doing, apathy and couldn't care less attitudes life will never improve. Contrary to some opinions we need to start with the small things and we will see a ripple effect.
Lynibis I think we can agree that there are a few things we have similar views on and this is one of them. I respect the fact that you shouted CHEATS so that nobody could take your point the wrong way. I have absolutely no grievance with people who receive benefits but I would have no guilt in reporting a fraud. They are a drain on our, already, poor resources and I resent my contributions making their lives easy. I have the same feelings about social housing and the tenant sub-letting. It's just immoral
I was asking my mum about this as she has a friend whose son in law is on disability (due to a heart condition which has improved so doesn't need to be on it anymore but hasn't informed them) but still works cash in hand at a pub. My mum would love to report him but doesn't feel she could do that to her friend. Her friend however has already reported him! The friends daughter filled in the paperwork as she knew exactly what to say to get the maximum claim possible. His mum still gets a carers allowance despite the fact she lives 7 hours away from him and uses the money to pay for her wine.
I think the benefits system is wonderful for those who genuinely need it but like you I can't stand people who cheat the system, especially when we go out to work and are being taken advantage of.
I hope he gets caught out I have a friend who's epileptic and it effects her ability to find work and was told that as she doesn't have seizures everyday that she is unable to claim a penny of disability which i think is unfair she still has seizures on a weekly basis and has said she would rather work even a work from home job so she has family around in case of a fit.
chelseastevens1 I hope he gets caught too! It is awful when someone like your friend who should be on disability can't claim a penny and yet people like him are able to take advantage! If she has seizures on a weekly basis and I'm assuming it could happen any day of the week, then how can she go to work when she doesn't know if she could have a seizure that day, plus what if she gets hurt whilst having a seizure in a work place? She is the type of person that the benefit system really let's down.
Yes I would. It infuriates me that people think it's ok to cheat the system when genuine people who have disabilities struggle on the amount they receive
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