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ShawCrossShark
Original Poster
2,015 posts
104 months
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Firstly let me say that I have mixed feelings about this as I abhor fraud, work hard for what I have and pay my taxes
Someone I know has been caught defrauding the system. Not sure how much for but I am concerned about what will happen.
She has 2 children, one is 18 today and the other 9. Two different fathers who both pay maintenance (I know that they both pay and how much)
She left the father of child no.2 about 6 years ago for someone else. He subsequently turned her over, bank accounts emptied, house reposessed, thousands of pounds worth of debt to the bank, credit cards etc. This happened approximately 3 years ago
She is now in rented accomodation and receives housing benefit as well as tax credits etc. Works 15 hours a week and cannot do more as she would lose so much money in benefits that it would leave her considerably worse off (non skilled manual labour)
The 18 year old was kicked out of college last summer for non attendance. Since this time he has done nothing - not even signed on as he claims he would get nothing as he was under 18. Not much effort to look for work either from what I have seen
She did not tell them that he had left college as she could not see how she could survive on the money that she would then receive. This is where she has been caught out and is the current situation.
Now I know that she has done wrong but do feel some sympathy for her. She is a good mum and the money goes on the kids and paying off the debts that her scumbag ex dumped on her. No car, holidays or big screen TV's here.
I know there will be punishment but does anyone have any idea what she is looking at?
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Oakey
13,826 posts
86 months
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So, when the second kid was 3yrs old she left the childs father for someone else, and that person then screwed her over? Ain't karma a b  h!
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ShawCrossShark
Original Poster
2,015 posts
104 months
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I know, it's not something that I am sympathetic with, more what sanctions she is facing and, more importantly, how it will affect the kids
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andrewrob
1,958 posts
60 months
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ShawCrossShark said: Firstly let me say that I have mixed feelings about this as I abhor fraud, work hard for what I have and pay my taxes
Someone I know has been caught defrauding the system. Not sure how much for but I am concerned about what will happen.
She has 2 children, one is 18 today and the other 9. Two different fathers who both pay maintenance (I know that they both pay and how much)
She left the father of child no.2 about 6 years ago for someone else. He subsequently turned her over, bank accounts emptied, house reposessed, thousands of pounds worth of debt to the bank, credit cards etc. This happened approximately 3 years ago
She is now in rented accomodation and receives housing benefit as well as tax credits etc. Works 15 hours a week and cannot do more as she would lose so much money in benefits that it would leave her considerably worse off (non skilled manual labour)
The 18 year old was kicked out of college last summer for non attendance. Since this time he has done nothing - not even signed on as he claims he would get nothing as he was under 18. Not much effort to look for work either from what I have seen
She did not tell them that he had left college as she could not see how she could survive on the money that she would then receive. This is where she has been caught out and is the current situation.
Now I know that she has done wrong but do feel some sympathy for her. She is a good mum and the money goes on the kids and paying off the debts that her scumbag ex dumped on her. No car, holidays or big screen TV's here.
I know there will be punishment but does anyone have any idea what she is looking at? How much money has she been overpaid? That normally makes a difference in how they treat it. Also I'm assuming she has filled out at least one form since then and not indicated the change in circumstances so they will take a dim view on that too. Best case scenario would be an official warning. This would basically involve her admitting what she has done and it going on record (only with the benefit agency though, not criminal). However, its up to agency weather they offer her this. If it is offered it will be on her record for 2 years, if she is called up for another infringement within the next 2 years she will be taken to court for this one and the future one (as she has already admitted guilt on this one by accepting the warning). The excess benefit will also have to paid back (regardless of which punishment selected) and can be paid in instalments if necessary.
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Eric Mc
67,846 posts
135 months
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Sorry, absolutely no sympathy.
She broke the law.
She got caught.
She has to pay the price.
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ShawCrossShark
Original Poster
2,015 posts
104 months
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Eric Mc said: Sorry, absolutely no sympathy.
She broke the law.
She got caught.
She has to pay the price. I don't disagree Eric. I said I sympathised with her plight, not that she should get off scott free. My concern is for the kids, the youngest one specifically as I am close to this one.
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LordHaveMurci
3,158 posts
39 months
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Send the lazy b d 18yr old out to work, financial woes sorted, no need to defraud the rest of us that pay our taxes & work bloody hard to provide for our families. Sorry but no sympathy from me either.
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Studio117
2,404 posts
61 months
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Eric Mc said: Sorry, absolutely no sympathy.
She was a slag
She committed benefit fraud
She has to pay the price. Efa
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Snowboy
3,453 posts
21 months
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Probably a bit of a b king and a demand to pay it back at a small amount each month. She won’t go to jail. She might get a fine on top of the repayments – it depends on the amounts involved. If she ends up in court she might get some suspended something or other or maybe some community service – but I doubt it. It might even get all sorted internally without any police or courts involved. Just a demand to pay back. I would expect she’ll be invited to go in and have a chat to someone in the benefits office. If she just admits she was short on cash and made a bad error of judgment they might keep it all out the courts. It’s serves nobody to give a large fine to someone who can’t afford to pay it. She has my sympathy.
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GreenDog
1,740 posts
62 months
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What's the view the view like from up there on your high horses ?
I agree that she should have informed the DSS about the change in circumstances but in her situation I can understand why she might have made the wrong decision. To me she sounds like a decent sort who find herself in a difficult situation. At least she's actually working a few hours a week, unlike plenty of scummers who wouldn't even consider that.
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ScoobyDood
954 posts
29 months
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Snowboy said: Probably a bit of a b king and a demand to pay it back at a small amount each month. She won’t go to jail. She might get a fine on top of the repayments – it depends on the amounts involved. If she ends up in court she might get some suspended something or other or maybe some community service – but I doubt it. It might even get all sorted internally without any police or courts involved. Just a demand to pay back. I would expect she’ll be invited to go in and have a chat to someone in the benefits office. If she just admits she was short on cash and made a bad error of judgment they might keep it all out the courts. It’s serves nobody to give a large fine to someone who can’t afford to pay it. She has my sympathy. Exactly this
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KrazyIvan
2,520 posts
45 months
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What advice has she took on the debts that are the reason/excuse, for her current action? Seems a bit odd that the lose of child benefit would have been a difference between enough money and not enough.
Also she only has one child, the 18 year old is now an adult in the eyes of the law, and perhaps she needs to start by kicking his ass in action to start acting like one.
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ShawCrossShark
Original Poster
2,015 posts
104 months
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KrazyIvan said: What advice has she took on the debts that are the reason/excuse, for her current action? Seems a bit odd that the lose of child benefit would have been a difference between enough money and not enough.
Also she only has one child, the 18 year old is now an adult in the eyes of the law, and perhaps she needs to start by kicking his ass in action to start acting like one. Totally agree. Unfortunately I have no influence as far as he is concerned (apart from getting him a job at the bar where I work which he managed to f k up after about 6 weeks, making me look a bit of a t t in the process) It's not the loss of child benefit, it's the effect on housing benefit, working family tax credit, child tax credit etc. combined She has been to citizens advice etc. There is the option to go bankrupt but this may lead to her having issues finding rented accomodation without a guarantor in future. She has gone to the council to seek advice on housing and got nowhere so is in private rented at the moment. A solicitor has been involved with regards to the ex and he (on £39k a year) somehow managed to convince them he can pay her £50 a month back for a car that she bought on her credit card. He hasn't paid for the last 3 months - to55er. He has now married someone else (bearing in mind he left his second wife for the lady involved here) and rumours abound that he is now cheating on wife number 3. Thoroughly nice bloke 
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bigbubba
891 posts
89 months
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Ultimately, I would be prepared to do anything that I had to to keep my family fed and watered. If that meant breaking the law after exhausting all avenues then so be it.
Whilst I hate benefit fraud I can sympathise with her plight.
The 18 year old needs a kick up the arse though or kicking out full stop.
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Pothole
18,291 posts
152 months
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I have limited sympathy for her. The benefits system is poorly set up and poorly managed, but 'everyone' knows their obligations and it sounds from what you've said as if this is genuine fraud, not just an error on her part.
I'm confused at your description of her as 'a good mother'. Her behviour around relationships, parenting decisions and getting herself qualified for better paying work would appear to give lie to that statement.
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RizzoTheRat
8,255 posts
62 months
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The ex has the car she paid for on a credit card? Can't the cc company reposess it?
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Eric Mc
67,846 posts
135 months
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ShawCrossShark said: Eric Mc said: Sorry, absolutely no sympathy.
She broke the law.
She got caught.
She has to pay the price. I don't disagree Eric. I said I sympathised with her plight, not that she should get off scott free. My concern is for the kids, the youngest one specifically as I am close to this one. Can't even sympathise with her plight either. People need to understamnd the consequences of the decisions they make in life. From what you have said, her situation is pretty much of her own making. I can't see anyone else being to blame for what has happened. It's unfortunate for her children but perhaps social services can do something about the youngest. The 18 year old is already on the slippy slope to being a dependent on society rather than a contributer to society. If you want to help out, I would concentrate on the 18 year old to see if there is anything you can do for him.
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TinyCappo
1,404 posts
23 months
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did he tell her he had dropped out?
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ShawCrossShark
Original Poster
2,015 posts
104 months
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Pothole said: I'm confused at your description of her as 'a good mother'. Her behviour around relationships, parenting decisions and getting herself qualified for better paying work would appear to give lie to that statement. Question some of her decisions too, don't get me wrong, it was more to point out that she isn't out every weekend/going on holidays/buying herself stuff I know her kids come first. Uneducated and disillusioned though she is at times her intentions are the right ones.
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ShawCrossShark
Original Poster
2,015 posts
104 months
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Eric Mc said: It's unfortunate for her children but perhaps social services can do something about the youngest. The 18 year old is already on the slippy slope to being a dependent on society rather than a contributer to society.
If you want to help out, I would concentrate on the 18 year old to see if there is anything you can do for him. Like getting him a part time job you mean  See above already done it As for the youngest, social services would be involved over my dead body!
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