Benefit Fraud

[memoblock]

Does anyone know the procedure if someone is caught doing Benefit Fraud please?

I know of someone who is claiming housing benefits and Job Seekers allowance and has recently started working full time getting paid cash in hand and not declaring their earnings.

I am torn between keeping quiet or phoning the Benefit Fraud helpline...?

What should I do?

I know they say these reports are all confidential, but I would hate this person to narrow it down to me who has reported them because I doubt not many, if anyone else knows such details.

What happens once a phone call is made please?

Does it take long for their investigations to start?

What are their investigations?

What would be the outcome?

Will they be in serious trouble?

I feel mean even thinking about making the call, but it just greaves me to know that they are getting away with it.

Please help!

Thank you.

[redman41]

The info you need is here. It's up to you if you wish to grass someone up..........

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

[chelle7272]

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

Investigators will not get back to you with an outcome, and what happens depends on their investigation.

[lotsafun]

hiya memo, ive shopped someone before and do i feel guitly....heck no although i was very disheartened to find that noothing came of it and they appeared to get away with it. It is confidential, you can iether do it online or by phone. All they need is a name and where theyre working, any extra info is welcomed such as times that they start/ finish etc.
I wouldnt worry too much about being narrowed down, afterall if they are brazen enough to do this then they should be aware of the consequences. There are many decent people who cant stand for people doing this while everyone is meant to struggle on with life by there own means, therefore someone will shop them in time even if you dont.

[jake-the-peg]

They can go to gaol

Asley Mote UKIP MEP got 9 months for Benefit Fraud

So yes it's pretty serious

[LoftyLottie]

Would you report someone who had stolen your possessions.

No different really to report a benefit fraudster. They are stealing from you (and everybody else).

You don't even have to give your name if you don't want to.

They will start investigating quite quickly and keep a look out discretely. If they suspect they will write to the person concerned asking them to come in for an interview. Yes they will be in trouble, but how much depends on circumstances. They are unlikely to be put away!!

[sandyRoe]

How do you know they're claiming benefits, or getting money cash in hand?

[lotsafun]

yeah they will more than likely be told to pay it back thats all, if they stay on benefits it will probably only be at a measly £2 a week or something

[smudge]

If you feel awkward about grassing this person up (altho' I can't see why), p'raps you could send him/her an anonymous letter (obviously typed) to forewarn them that people are aware of their benefit fraud (if that is the case). At least that way, the person has the option of coming clean by informing the benefit office that they are now working, or carrying on until they do get caught!

[memoblock]

Thank you all for your responses..

[27082002]

My husband's Uncle's wife (he died two years ago) has a claim on a property worth over 400K. She is claiming benefits at another address as she is letting her step son live in the property and he pay's her a small rent. i am always grassing them up. They NEVER do anything to stop it. We are working and paying tax to keep these parasites.

[nolaces]

You won't get to know the outcome

[memoblock]

I made the call.

I wish I hadn't.
I'm now riddled with guilt,
It's eating at me.

This is a person I know. A kind of friend even.
I shouldn't have done it.

I can't stop thinking about it.
I feel awful.
I'm in knots inside now.

If I rang the office again tomorrow saying that my call yesterday was made on behalf of someone else who had asked me to ring them, and that it was done maliciously because they had had a disagreement with this person, and the facts I relayed to the call handler were wrong, would they withdraw the report or still go ahead and investigate?

Thank you.

[ummmm]

They'll probably still investigate. How long that takes is anyones guess...

[cherrychapstick]

no i think they will still follow up on it . don't feel guilty about it you had a reason to do it in the 1st place ,

[memoblock]

I feel sick to the core.

How could I have done such a thing. It was none of my business.

This person is desperate for work, has been trying to get a job, I guess this job came along at the right time and they took it for a bit of extra cash to make ends meet.

I should have turned a blind eye.

They're a decent person, I don't think they set out to do wrong, it just happened.
An opportunity came along and they took it.

[ummmm]

They could have signed off though. If it's cash in hand it seems they have set out to commit benefit fraud....

[memoblock]

I didn't have reason though, that's the thing Cherrychapstick, I don't know why I did it.

My heart is racing, I feel sick .

I feel so bad I could cry.

[ummmm]

How long have they been doing it?

[memoblock]

I agree Ummm, it's wrong If they're not declaring their earnings and still claiming, which I think is what is happenning, but it was not my business to take it into my hands and report them.
I've been reading up all night on the consequences.
Some friend aren't I????

[memoblock]

Not long Ummm, only a matter of weeks.