Do I report a family member to DWP for benefit fraud?

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Mi3hael

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I’m in a bit of a moral dilemma.

I’ve just found out that a family member claims £113 a week in disability benefits as she claims she cannot dress herself and cannot tie her shoe laces - so she needs assistance each morning and night.

This person does have a slight personality disorder and was slower to learn these skills as as child, taking an extra year or two to develop these skills than most children. However there is no issue now, she is now 21 and absolutely fine.

It’s not really an option to talk to this person directly without it turning into a major issue, so I guess I either leave it and watch her take over £400 of tax payers money each month - which should be being spent the on the NHS, police or schools etc.

There it’s a way of anonymously reporting her, I would be able to provide good sources for the them to put a good case together - writing this it sounds like my mind is made up but has anyone been in anyone simular position or how can it look to my faith to guide me

Thanks in advance,

Michael
 
If I were aware of fraud, I would probably report it. Sounds like you are not speculating or relying on second hand information, but rather that you have concrete knowledge of the situation.

Remember, your report will lead to an investigation. But, the investigation is what will determine whether the benefit is legitimate or not. They will not take away the benefit if it is legitimate. They will take it away if it is not. If it is not legitimate, you have done the right thing as you are correct the money could go to someone who does need it.
 
Why not confront your family member about it and ask them why they’re still drawing it and that they should withdraw from claiming the benefit if they no longer are entitled to it? They may have a reason you’re not aware of that they’re still claiming it. Rather than jumping to throwing them to a government investigation and likely destroying your relationship with them?
 
Going behind her back to report her is not nice!

I would confront her and ask her about it and if her reply indicates that she is claiming fraudulently, then I’d calmly tell her that she needs to report it, stop claiming or I’d report her.

Thus, you give her the chance to make things right.
 
If you talk to the family member first, and she doesn’t make things right in regards to drawing the benefi, and then you report her, it’s no longer anonymous reporting. She’ll know it was you.
 
Mi3hael said:
It’s not really an option to talk to this person directly without it turning into a major issue, so I guess I either leave it and watch her take over £400 of tax payers money each month - which should be being spent the on the NHS, police or schools etc.
l
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If the UK Is like the US there is all sorts of fraud in social welfare. There is all sorts of fraud and waste at all level of our government. Reporting one person, if it is fraud, would do absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I’d be pretty reluctant to report a family member. The government supposedly has tough vetting procedures for everything. For once I’d take them at their word. If you are convinced it is fraud talk to the family member and leave it to her conscience. If you are really worried about fraud go investigate other areas of your government. I’m sure you’ll turn up much worse.
 
I guess the dilemma the OP feels she is in is that

a) by keeping quiet, is she colluding with the sin of theft

b) if she reports it anonymously, is she being a backstabber and betrayer.

What would Jesus do - this is the question you should ask yourself.

I believe Jesus would confront the offender and give them a chance to make things right or face the consequences of reporting it herself.

In addition, if the offender is eventually caught out by the authorities and investigations reveal that OP knew what was going on, OP becomes legally culpable.

So. I suggest confronting her and telling her to make things right or you’ll report it yourself.
 
I’m confused. If this family member claims she needs to pay someone to tie her shoes, doesn’t she have to provide a reciept or some sort of proof that she has paid someone to tie her shoes in order to get the money? I suspect one of two things are going on here. Either the family member has more issues going on that require a night nurse that she isn’t telling you and are none of our business or she is taking the money despite not needing the night nurse to tie her shoes and that will come out and take care of itself. I don’t think I would get involved.
 
Mi3hael said:
I’m in a bit of a moral dilemma.

I’ve just found out that a family member claims £113 a week in disability benefits as she claims she cannot dress herself and cannot tie her shoe laces - so she needs assistance each morning and night.

This person does have a slight personality disorder and was slower to learn these skills as as child, taking an extra year or two to develop these skills than most children. However there is no issue now, she is now 21 and absolutely fine.

It’s not really an option to talk to this person directly without it turning into a major issue, so I guess I either leave it and watch her take over £400 of tax payers money each month - which should be being spent the on the NHS, police or schools etc.

There it’s a way of anonymously reporting her, I would be able to provide good sources for the them to put a good case together - writing this it sounds like my mind is made up but has anyone been in anyone simular position or how can it look to my faith to guide me

Thanks in advance,

Michael
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If she has a personality disorder she’s not fine.
She may not intend to defraud anyone.
Obviously some physician signed off on her “condition” and need to collect benefits.
I wouldn’t be so quick to blow a whistle without all the pertinent facts, which, could actually be none of your business.
 
How closely related is this family member?

During a lengthy investigation, your involvement might well come out. Would coming forward be worth a permanent familial conflict?

ICXC NIKA
 
exnihilo said:
If the UK Is like the US there is all sorts of fraud in social welfare. There is all sorts of fraud and waste at all level of our government. Reporting one person, if it is fraud, would do absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I’d be pretty reluctant to report a family member. The government supposedly has tough vetting procedures for everything. For once I’d take them at their word. If you are convinced it is fraud talk to the family member and leave it to her conscience. If you are really worried about fraud go investigate other areas of your government. I’m sure you’ll turn up much worse.
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That’s a good idea, let’s all ignore any fraud we come across because reporting one person “would do absolutely nothing”. Maybe if a few more people reported people instead of thinking it won’t make a
difference, it would actually make a difference.

It’s like not reporting an assault because murders happen, it’s about having an moral conscience
 
pianistclare said:
If she has a personality disorder she’s not fine.
She may not intend to defraud anyone.
Obviously some physician signed off on her “condition” and need to collect benefits.
I wouldn’t be so quick to blow a whistle without all the pertinent facts, which, could actually be none of your business.
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Urgh - it’s comments like this that puts people off ever posting on these boards. I’ve asked a serious question not asked for an argument
 
Thanks everyone I’ll have a good think and consider the points raised.

Michael
 
Mi3hael said:
Urgh - it’s comments like this that puts people off ever posting on these boards. I’ve asked a serious question not asked for an argument
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Nope. You asked for opinions, and I gave you mine.
It’s posts like yours that start arguments. :rolleyes:
I’ll unsubscribe. But honestly, examine your motivation.
 
You can always try the ‘planting a seed’ angle (assuming as you say, all things are well).

See if you can get a discussion to blossom that allows you to point out the greatness of doing what is right over the world’s teaching of get as much as you can, any way you can.

Don’t even bring up her situation specifically.

She may connect the dots, she may not, but you did your planting.

Another angle is you go in a learning mission to her or someone that knows the situation well and learn some why’s that you may not know.

Many people might not even know that they have to be the ones to inform the giving department that they are not in need any longer (assuming that is the process).
 
I think it’s doubtful that Mi3hael would be implicated if the relative were caught.
 
I agree with pianistclare. She might have a mental or emotional disorder that is not obvious to everyone that doesn’t allow her to work. I know I have tons of disabilities that I don’t care to mention to my relatives that are not obvious to most people.

Usually the government evaluates disabled people on an on-going basis in case their condition improves. Extensive documentation and medical records are used to prove the disability as well as patient exams and interviews. Don’t worry, no one ever got rich from disability payments.
 
exnihilo said:
If the UK Is like the US there is all sorts of fraud in social welfare. There is all sorts of fraud and waste at all level of our government. Reporting one person, if it is fraud, would do absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things.

I’d be pretty reluctant to report a family member. The government supposedly has tough vetting procedures for everything. For once I’d take them at their word. If you are convinced it is fraud talk to the family member and leave it to her conscience. If you are really worried about fraud go investigate other areas of your government. I’m sure you’ll turn up much worse.
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It is not logical to simultaneously believe that “there is all sorts of fraud in social welfare” and yet to also contend that it is most reasonable to take the government “at their word” on whether or not their vetting procedures are effective. It is one or the other or something in-between, but both extremes cannot be true at the same time.

It is also not logical to contend that “reporting one person, if it is a fraud, would do absolutely nothing.” What other kind of reporting is possible? Should someone have to round up several cases of fraud before they ever say anything?

Air pressure comes from gas molecules hitting an object one at a time. Criminals are usually arrested, convicted and sentenced one at at time. The seven billion people in this world came into it one at a time–even those who came into it as twins arrived one at a time! Likewise, anything that makes the world more just, even in just a small way, is worth doing, because most of the good accomplished in this world is accomplished not in a sweeping way, but in small increments that seem inconsequential when taken by themselves. Buildings can be destroyed in one explosion; they are built largely by driving one nail or adding one beam or installing one window at a time.

If the relative seems like a reasonable candidate for disability payments, I would not bother a social worker because you believe the official category is wrong. If the relative seems to be avoiding doing productive work she is entirely capable of doing by lying to those who have limited resources to give to people in actual need because those needy people truly cannot work, then it is possible to lodge a concern (rather than an accusation) that this person claims to be getting payments for an incapacity that she manifestly and admittedly does not suffer. If it turns out she was lying to you about the true nature of her incapacity rather than lying to the government about it, it is still fair that she bear the consequences of her lying.
 
EasterJoy said:
It is not logical to simultaneously believe that “there is all sorts of fraud in social welfare” and yet to also contend that it is most reasonable to take the government “at their word” on whether or not their vetting procedures are effective. It is one or the other or something in-between, but both extremes cannot be true at the same time.
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No, both aren’t consistent. But I’d go with it over anonymously reporting a relative based on a suspicion.
EasterJoy said:
It is also not logical to contend that “reporting one person, if it is a fraud, would do absolutely nothing.” What other kind of reporting is possible? Should someone have to round up several cases of fraud before they ever say anything?
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It’s hyperbole. My point is you aren’t going to make any real difference. If you are doing it because you think you will you are wrong. That by itself doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Also, if you are doing it to make the world more just there are others places I’d start.
 
pianistclare said:
If she has a personality disorder she’s not fine.
She may not intend to defraud anyone.
Obviously some physician signed off on her “condition” and need to collect benefits.
I wouldn’t be so quick to blow a whistle without all the pertinent facts, which, could actually be none of your business.
Click to expand...
This is it, right here.

This comment that I am making below, is not directed at anyone here.

Sometimes I think that people generally are under the mistaken assumption that assistance of any kind is just easy to get and is then just handed out just as easily, when that really isn’t how it works, and when that isn’t true.

Proof/documentation for the benefits/application process, has to be provided by the person applying for them.

Editing to add that when someone is applying for a benefit program, they have to provide whatever information is required of them for that program, too. That’s what I mean by proof/documentation.
 
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