Benefit Fraud

[kelfoan]

Do you think Benefit fraud is a 'real' crime or just an accepted way of life. What punishment should fraudsters be given. Do you think Social security are doing a good job to combat Benefit fraud

[sandbach99]

Benefit fraud is stealing money from the tax payer and although only a few people are prosecuted a lot of people have to repay the benefit they have obtained illegally. Having said that an awful lot of people falsely claim benefit because the benefit rules are too complex, and likewise a lot of people fail to claim their entitlement either through ignorance or in the case of one benefit because it is virtually impossible to claim.
Regarding punishment, do you imprison the single parent who worked a few hours each week to try and make ends meet, if you do the state may have to pick up the bill for the children being in care.

Some people are continually shunted from unemployment to invalidity benefit and back dependent on the governments targets, this causes a lot of distress and extra work for everyone.

[malaise]

I think it's a very real crime, and the perpetrators are noting more than greedy, lazy ars****es.
We've also spent the last 5 months trying to legitimately claim for backdated Housing Benefit and have been messed around due to our council's complete and utter incompetence. So it ****** me off moreso when I hear about people claiming benefits that they have absolutely no entitlement to, while I'M paying for it.
Punishment should be a fine, deductable from future wages, and blacklisted from the benefits service.

[yummymummy]

I agree with malaise, especially having worked in benefits for a while. It would have to depend a bit on the situation though, but certainly they shouldn't be able to profit from it, either now or in the future.

Unfortunately, detection of the fraud does depend a lot on people dobbing others in and I think DWP need to make a lot more enquiries into new claimants and more regular checks.

[saintjohnny]

I also once worked for the old Benefits Agency (now DWP) and I came to the conclusion that although defrauding the taxpayer (i.e me) is absolutely wrong, it was always the least educated, least well off people who tried to do it. I guess if the benefits system was simpler and more generous, but at the same time stricter and more rigorous, people would not be as inclined to defraud the state.

[sandbach99]

I worked in the benefit agency for about 20years, at first claims to benefit had to be made in person and the benefit clerk filled in the form from the given answers, the clerk had been given fraud awareness talks and body language talks, if you thought some-one was lying you read the declaration to them warning them they could go to prison if it was later found their answers were incorrect. A large number of wouldbe claimants who walked out at this point without signing the claim form. Then some bright spark decided this was demeaning to the claimant and interviews were abolished enabling fraudulant claims to continue.
Another "fraud" was the person who started work and had to work upto 4 weeks for their wages, they should apply for a loan which would take most of the time up instead they continued to claim benefit, is this person a benefit cheat?.

[clancyblob]

Fundamentally I agree that claiming Benefit when not entitled to is fraud and takes from the tax-payer who grafts away. However, the system is so cumbersome that some low level fraud seems inevitble. There is high unemployment in this area, and lots of people sign up with employment agencies. They are then called in when temporary vacancies arise, often for just a day or two in a poultry factory. There is no indication whether the work will last one shift or 2 months. If they "sign - off" when they start work, and the job stops in a day or two, they will have to re-start a claim. This now requires getting through to a call centre to begin the process, and I have sat with the phone ringing for 6 HOURS (with an annoying message saying "Jobcentre Plus is here to help you get work or training. Your call is imortant to us and will be answered shortly"!!!). Getting through results in a phone call back a few days later, then papers being sent out to you for you to sign The whole shambles can take 2 weeks before entitlement is agreed. So, do you sign off, or work for a few days to see if the job is going to continue? I know what I'd probably do.....