Impartial Advice Required

[soozie2003]

My sister has a 3 bedroomed council house which she sub-lets to her daughter, parner and baby, they cover the rent. My sister moved in to her boyfriend's house about a year ago, she claims incapacity benefit (Depression) and also claims housing benefit which also covers the rent. She got a cold weather payment on the property of �400 in the new year and instead of giving it to my niece for the central heating oil she spent it on a holiday for herself!
She has had about �85.00 per week in housing benefits for about a year that i reacon she was not entitled to. What would you do?
I spoke to my niece about it and she said that her mum doesn't see she is doing anything wrong. I cannot talk to her myself about it as she is very intimidating and we would fall out over it, but I also donot think that I could report her to the DHSS as she would be in serious trouble and my niece would be made homeless. But it makes me so mad that I pay my tax so she can play the system.
What would you do?

[tamborine]

Would you rather your tax was spent on illegal immigrants? Live & let live, I say.

[mrs_overall]

As a taxpayer I would have no hesitation in reporting them anonymously.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefit s/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/BenefitFra ud/DG_10014876

[elmtree]

If your neice had rented off the council she would not have expected them to buy the oil for the heating.
Families

[sandmaster]

I would report them - but it's your sister - I wouldn't report my sister. But I would tell her what I thought!!

[sqad617]

Sounds like the UK, no wonder foreigners cant wait to get in.

Obvious....SHOP HER.

[New Judge]

It is no good getting mad about it if you are not prepared to do anything about it.

Where this trouble begins is that your sister is not entitled to sub-let the property of which she is the tenant. It is estimated that about one in seven council (or housing association) properties is not occupied by the tenant. The owners of the property (i.e. the council or housing association) decide who has the tenancy, not the tenant.

You do not make it clear what rent her Housing Benefit covers. Since your niece is paying the rent on the council property your sister should be living in I assume you mean she uses her HB to pay the rent in her boyfriend�s place. No doubt he�s claiming HB as well.

Your sister has not only vacated a council property which should be allocated by them to somebody else, but she is receiving HB and tax free rent.

This sort of behaviour is costing taxpayers an absolute fortune and needs to be reined in. You should, as mrs_overall recommends, report your sister to the DSS and the council.

Unfortunately, my advice is not impartial. I pay hefty taxes to support lifestyles such as those enjoyed by your sister and I get extremely annoyed when I hear such tales.

[TCL-MUMPING]

These facts do not add up. You said the sister gets Incapacity Benefit and got a cold weather payment of �400 in January. The current rate for Cold Weather Payment is �25 each week so you must mean the Winter Fuel Payment which is �400 but that is only for those who are aged 80 or over. If the sister is 80 or over then she can not be getting Incapacity Benefit.

I think there is a wee bit confusion about the benefits in payment here.

[soozie2003]

Her boyfriend's house comes with his job at a utillity company, he is un aware of her fiddling as far as I know.
Where we live anyone claiming FIS, Income Support or incapacity benefit are entitled to a one off winter fuel payment, regardless of age, this year it was �400.00. My niece has just had a baby and is claiming maternity allowance but my sister will not let her claim for housing benefits because then she would have to stop her claim and they would all loose the house then. I know i should just report her but they come down quite heavily on benefit cheats here, I would hate to be responsible if she ended up going to prison.

[TCL-MUMPING]

Where in the country do you live because this is what the DWP site says

"Winter Fuel Payment is an annual tax-free payment made to eligible people aged 60 or over to help towards their winter heating costs. People aged 80 or over are paid an extra amount. It is a lump sum and in most cases is paid automatically, but some people will need to claim. It is a regulated payment and not subject to a budget. As long as you fulfil the conditions below you will be paid."

[soozie2003]

I live in the Isle of Man, we have our own DHSS, which is similarlarly run to the UK but not the same, we have our own government here. As I said if you claim means tested benifits you are entitled to a winter fuel payment. Do I shop her or not?????

[mumstheword1]

Yes you should for 2 reasons.

1. It is sooo wrong what she is doing on so many counts

2. If you don't it will eat you up and will no doubt affect your health in the end.

I understand that it maybe painful to do this to your own flesh and blood but she is obviously not thinking about anyone but her self. If she was harming her children or something along those lines you would not hesitate, whatever way you look at it she is breaking the law and you cannot allow it to continue.

[wolf63]

She WILL be caught. ... eventually, one way or another.

It might be better to encourage her to do so now than leave it until the amount owed is high enough that she may face a custodial sentence if it is taken to court.