Punishment for faking an accident and then claiming benefits.

[CitizenSmith12]

I have an aquaintance - not really a friend - who claims to have faked an accident in the supermarket where she worked, in front of her managers, and then pretended to have injured her back. As a consequence the supermarket is now paying her a monthly income for life, in addition to the money she receives in benefits. She even has a blue disabled badge for parking.

It's possible she's exaggerated the story out of some sort of misguided bravado but I have seen her rock-climbing, ice-skating and carrying people on her back so she's guilty of at least benefit fraud.

If she was caught would she go to prison? If so for how long? I'm not going to report her because I don't want to be responsible for ruining her whole life but I thought if I told her what the consequences were she might come to her senses and give it up.

[sandyRoe]

She may be pulling your leg.

[Hopkirk]

I would shop her. i'm fed up hearing about these lying scroungers.

[marval]

I would shop her as well.

[factor-fiction]

Based on what you've said I get the impression you are not particularly certain of the facts and don't know the person particularly well so I suggest you shouldn't get involved.
I doubt having a quiet word would make any difference.
But really it's your call

[wolf63]

It is possible that it could be true - she could have been awarded early retirement on health grounds. She would get a company pension for life and any miraculous recovery would not affect it once it has been awarded.

But - I got early retirement due to health problems from the civil service and it is not a simple process. It took a year for my stuff to be sorted out.

[wolf63]

If she has a blue badge then she will be getting DLA and that is a whole different matter. If she is not disabled by her back injury then she should not be getting it.

But she could be disabled and unable to walk but still able to climb cliffs. It is not as straight forward as it seems.

If you report her the DWP might take time to video record some of her activities. They will investigate it fully and it will take time to do this.

[CitizenSmith12]

@factor30 & SandyRoe I'm certain of the fact she is living off benefits because she pretends to have a bad back, she actually boasts about it. I've known her for a coupe of years as we have several friends in common. Recently she started dating a very close friend of mine which is why it concerns me. In reality I'm not going to do anything about it because my friend would kill me but I'm still curious to know what would happen if I did shop her.

[factor-fiction]

If the DWP investigate and are satisfied it was fraud she could have to repay some of the money and may get a prison sentence (although that's unlikely).
I think it's right to report fraudulent claims but only if you are pretty certain of the facts.

[jno]

you can report them anonymously

http://www.direct.gov...efitFraud/DG_10014876

[CitizenSmith12]

Wolf63, She's in her late 20s and to all appearances is fit and healthy. She doesn't even pretend to have a bad back in front of anyone else. She said she just fakes it to the doctor. I don't really want to report her I'm just trying to find out what the punishment would be if someone did.
Also would the punishment be more severe if she has defrauded the supermarket and the DLA?

[owdhamer]

Years ago whilst working as an engineer in a plastics factory we had a new starter who we called bluto, bluto was a big lad but absolutely useless,he asked for a day off and was refused, so deliberately burnt his arm nothing serious , but got his day off ,the week after the firm asked for volunteers to leave . he collected £1500 on top of his wages for a months work ,crime does not pay?

[lcg]

if she boasts...she deserves all she gets! shop her!

[karenmac60]

Wolf - a blue badge doesn't mean she is getting DLA. Mr mac has had a blue badge for years and has never received a penny in benefits.

[EDDIE51]

Take a video of her rock climbing and carrying people then send it to the 'Sun' newspaper they love stories like this. She will be on page 1 next week never mind page 3 .

[sandyRoe]

Would the supermarket where she is supposed to have had this accident really pay her a monthly income for life?
If someone has a serious accident in the workplace they sue their employers and if the court finds in their favour they are awarded a lump sum.
Are you sure she's not pulling your leg?

[welshlibranr]

shame on you!.......you should report her, friend or not!.........she is a fraudster!.........We are all paying for these cheats!...

[SpikeyBush]

Karenmac how did he get a blue badge? Until my left knee is fixed I can't bend it, I can still walk after a fashion but it would make it so much easier to have a wider parking bay to get the door open fully. My GP told me that someone with a missing head was not disabled enough to get a blue badge in her experience.

If my car didn't happen to be an automatic I'd be screwed, and end up at home watching Richard & Judy whilst claiming benefits from all you hard working taxpayers.

[wolf63]

karenmac - I didn't know that. I assumed that an award of DLA would be needed to prove some sort of mobility problem. I learn something new every day. :-)

How do you 'prove' the need for the badge?

[EDDIE51]

Reading this again I am starting to think your friend is telling stories.
A supermarket or anyone would NOT pay some one an income for life. How do they know she will not get better in a year or two? If the injury is so bad she can never work again she would have got a lump sum compensation not a monthly income for life.

[starone]

I used to know someone who came back from holiday every year and claimed immediately on his holiday insurance for stolen goods, damaged goods, or anything else he could think of including personal injury. In the end the Insurance Company got wise to him and put up his premiums. He always made a profit though before they did this and probably after.