Benefit Cheat Dilemma

[Lilac-Neet]

I have an acquaintance who was once ill with M.E and was looked after by the state financially. She still insists that she is really poorly. She found out that if you have schizophrenia you get even more money and soon she became schizophrenic. I have suspected for some time that she is not as ill as she makes out. She has a very active social life. Going out fairly regularly drinking / dancing, scuba diving on holiday etc. She has a woman who comes to clean for her who is paid through Direct Payments. She also drinks heavily and smokes cannabis every day (having no qualms about driving the motobility vehicle under the influence of either) so hopefully you can get a rough picture of her character. My question is am I just jealous that I have to work hard for my money and do my own cleaning etc? Or do I have a moral obligation to pass information onto the benefits cheats investigators and let them decide if a person with M.E and asthma is still capable of scuba diving / dancing etc?

[Scarlett]

Listen to your conscience. You can anonymously write in with your concerns and then leave it with the benefits people. I was just turned down for Emplyment Support allowance recently (incapacity) and I can't walk at all, have ulcerative colitis which means my joints are continually inflamed and giving way, and have 3 slipped discs in my back. Working is very hard for me, but I keep it up and have moved into a room and let my house out so I can reduce my working hours. What I would give to be able to just leave the house and walk down the road in the wind and rain! So, if this lady is fit enough to go on holiday and go drinking and dancing etc, then to be honest, she ought to be making the effort to have some sort of job, even if only part-time like me.
Don't be afraid of speaking your mind- it is up to the system to decide if she is too ill to work etc. but you can do your bit and raise awareness of her situation.

[sacha.86]

this has bothered me. I am on benifits due to mentle health problems and i assure you i do not have the quality of life this woman has. Its up to you what you do but personally i would be very tempted. If she really has mentle health problems why is she not doing everything possible to help herself? Eg keeping away from drink and drugs? This post is really irratating me i hope in one way or another she gets whats coming to her

[missmuppet]

Hi, i have chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as ME), trust me this lady cannot possibly dance, scuba dive etc if she genuinely had this illness. I work part time (in an office), it's not a physical job but that's it for me, i have no social life, don't do anything around the house, have to have a holiday every six weeks (just a holiday from work, not a trip) and this is the only time i can fit in things like shopping, socialising or even walking my dogs. She sounds like a scoundrel and i wouldn't hesitate to inform the benefits agency!