Benefit cheats,

why aren't the Benefits people checking more thoroughly before giving away money.

Probably because tory cuts to the Civil Service over the past 14 years and privatisation of some of the DWP's functions have led to short cutting and the employment of poorly trained staff.

Considering the number of benefit claimants annually and the fact that benefit fraud runs at about 7% of the total I really don't think it's worth more than passing mention and certainly shouldn't encourage demonisation of all bona fide claimants.

The benefit system is far from generous and the level of fraud is very low. The Telegraph newspaper does enjoy winding up their readership.

Ilovecheese

The benefit system is far from generous and the level of fraud is very low. The Telegraph newspaper does enjoy winding up their readership.

People often say this, but how do they know? By definition, the only cases known about are those that have been found out. And as stated, resources for lengthy investigation are limited and stretched.

The subject often crops up on MN, and the most common reaction to anyone saying that they know someone is definitely on the fiddle, is MYOB, or ‘Keep your beak out! - a favourite MN expression. Which makes me assume that it’s often under-reported. (Or that those who say it are on the fiddle themselves…)

And there are always a few who say they know of people who are blatantly on the fiddle, and are even quite open about it.

Some of the time would have been during Covid, when the whole benefits system was a shambles.

I was self-employed when lockdown was announced. As my tutoring business involved face-to-face contact and GCSE and A level exams were cancelled with no notice, I had no income apart from small occupational pensions. I wasn't eligible for any government help for various reasons. My pensions didn't cover my rent and essential bills. I had a very small amount of savings, but they didn't last long, so I applied for Universal Credit. It was all done online. I stated honestly my income, savings and rent, but nobody ever checked. They were able to cross check my pensions income with HMRC, but that was it.

Ilovecheese

The benefit system is far from generous and the level of fraud is very low. The Telegraph newspaper does enjoy winding up their readership.

have a look at the
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15046293/Benefits-cheat-40k-Universal-Credit-holidays.html
'Miss Holiday' benefits cheat, 58, who sponged £40k in Universal Credit payments to go on so many trips pals joked she clocked up 'more air miles than Air Force One' is spared jail

www.gbnews.com/news/benefit-fraudster-miss-holiday-spared-jailBenefit fraudster dubbed 'Miss Holiday' by friends due to constant trips abroad spared jail

Fancy thinking The Telegraph would be the only place carrying this item...... Also BBC news Sky News ect ect

To be fair, the Daily Mail and GB News also enjoy a good wind-up.

How many pensioners could have received WFP based on her fraudulent claim?

Astitchintime

How many pensioners could have received WFP based on her fraudulent claim?

200

Do they pay enough to go on holiday?

growstuff

To be fair, the Daily Mail and GB News also enjoy a good wind-up.

oh for goodness sake!

If all people read are the Daily Mail and its slightly posher cousin, The Telegraph, they will have a very skewed version of national and international events. I make a point of reading a variety of views.

Difficult to get worked up about it when there’s so much waste everywhere, whether it’s benefit cheats or WFP to those who don’t need it. What difference does it really make where the money goes.

There's a big difference to receiving something you're legally entitled too but don't need, and committing fraud to obtain something illegally.

Smileless2012

There's a big difference to receiving something you're legally entitled too but don't need, and committing fraud to obtain something illegally.

Is there smileless? both are cheating, both are taking what someone else may really need So what you re saying basically is if a shop assistant gives you £5.00 in change instead of £1 it’s ok to keep it because it’s not your fault she made a mistake !!!
In my eyes both are wrong although one illegally wrong and one morally wrong but still wrong

lemsip

growstuff

To be fair, the Daily Mail and GB News also enjoy a good wind-up.

oh for goodness sake!

I gather you don't agree.

I would imagine the Benefits department rarely see these people as everything is online or phone, and with the amount of benefits they are dispensing, they must be incredibly busy.

Oh, let me think; it was Labour MPs who voted down the proposal that benefits should be reduced.

eazybee

I would imagine the Benefits department rarely see these people as everything is online or phone, and with the amount of benefits they are dispensing, they must be incredibly busy.

Oh, let me think; it was Labour MPs who voted down the proposal that benefits should be reduced.

Eh? Hmm ... let me think. Is that the same Labour government which keeps being criticised for abolishing the WFA and making changes to PIP?

Is that the same Labour government which has refused to abolish the two child cap or increase the Local Housing Allowance?

Smileless2012

There's a big difference to receiving something you're legally entitled too but don't need, and committing fraud to obtain something illegally.

Starmer would absolutely agree with you.

Legally, you can do any number of unpleasant or immoral things.

But no matter. Starmer’s at pains to point out when he finds himself questioned on dubious dealings that he followed the law, so it’s all okay.

Thing is, Starmer seemingly no morals.

He just substitutes the law, and thinks that’s an acceptable substitute. It’s not.

*has

What's that got to do with benefit cheats?

It’s hard to get annoyed about the cheating when there’s so much waste in the system anyway. What difference does it really make whether it’s one benefit cheat or loads of people receiving WFA when they don’t need it and don’t use it for the intended purpose - which is also cheating the system.

MadameFeuveral

It’s hard to get annoyed about the cheating when there’s so much waste in the system anyway. What difference does it really make whether it’s one benefit cheat or loads of people receiving WFA when they don’t need it and don’t use it for the intended purpose - which is also cheating the system.

I get annoyed about benefit cheats.

MadameFeuveral, not everything is the fault of Mr Starmer, however much you might want it to be.
I am unable to access the newspaper report, but unless all of this lady's fraud has been in the last few months, then she offended under the Conservative government.
Is it the fault of Mr Sunak- Ms Truss- Mr Johnson? I am no fan of Mr Johnson, who has shown himself to have a flawed moral code by lying to Parliament, but I would hold him responsible for fraud he did not commit.