Cheating the benefit system -- why is it acceptable .

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:26 am

Ok, Spot's post got me thinking and instead of me foaming at the mouth and derailing his thread i'll ask the question here: Why do people think it's acceptable to cheat the benefit system we have here in the UK (or the US ...anywhere really).

This, along with drink driving and domestic violence is one of my pet hates and i've reported a couple of people over the years for it ...namely a guy in prison who received benefits for four years :-5:-5:-5...... yeah that pissed me off bigtime

Why do people think of it as not really a crime ??????

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:45 am

Hi Pants. Thanks for a good topic.

I don't know about the UK but I think I can sum up a common American attitude when I say the government screws us badly enough that people often feel justified in cheating the system. I'm not saying it's right, just trying to shed some light. People will say cheating the system isn't cheating the govt, it's hurting the people who pay taxes but I'm not so sure of that myself. The govt taxes us for everything anyway and screws us by wasting our money on $600 toilet seats for the Pentagon, a war we may or may not actually need to be fighting, White House china and renovations for every stinking president, political perks, ridiculous, wasteful and often useless programs, etc, etc. So for that matter, when someone cheats the system it's seen as a form of "sticking it to The Man," a far lesser crime than the outright robbery the US government performs on a daily basis.

theia · Post by **theia** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:47 am

pantsonfire321@aol.com;744459 wrote: Ok, Spot's post got me thinking and instead of me foaming at the mouth and derailing his thread i'll ask the question here: Why do people think it's acceptable to cheat the benefit system we have here in the UK (or the US ...anywhere really).

This, along with drink driving and domestic violence is one of my pet hates and i've reported a couple of people over the years for it ...namely a guy in prison who received benefits for four years :-5:-5:-5...... yeah that pissed me off bigtime

Why do people think of it as not really a crime ??????

I don't think it is acceptable. Surely to falsify a claim for benefit is fraud? And if people didn't try to cheat the system, I'm sure the claim forms would be simpler for genuine claimants to complete.

Galbally · Post by **Galbally** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:47 am

But it is a crime, its called fraud and people go to prison for it, in fact far more people go to jail for that, then big business people like Conrad Black or Robert Maxwell, or Nick Leeson who defraud businesses and government for 10s of millions.

mrsK · Post by **mrsK** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:16 am

pantsonfire321@aol.com;744459 wrote: Ok, Spot's post got me thinking and instead of me foaming at the mouth and derailing his thread i'll ask the question here: Why do people think it's acceptable to cheat the benefit system we have here in the UK (or the US ...anywhere really).

This, along with drink driving and domestic violence is one of my pet hates and i've reported a couple of people over the years for it ...namely a guy in prison who received benefits for four years :-5:-5:-5...... yeah that pissed me off bigtime

Why do people think of it as not really a crime ??????

I think it is because they have paid taxes when they have worked & when they need to go on Social Security[Australia] they think they are entitled to get what they can for nothing.

Makes it really hard for the genuine people who need the benefits.

I gives me the cranks as well Pants.

So do people who rorte insurance companies,don't even get me started on those types:mad::-5

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:25 am

People need to realise that cheating on benefit is not only fraud but thieving from the tax payer and your neighbour.

We operate a benefit system in this country to protect the vulnerable and as a help up for people down on their luck or cannot work for other legitimate reasons.

People who cheat are thieving from us all and should be publicly humiliated through a prison sentence and made not only to pay back the money but interest on the amount and do community work with the vulnerable to teach them why what they have done is wrong.

I have no problem with other nationals entering Great Britain as long as they can pay for themselves. If I wanted to emmigrate I have to prove I have a job, x amount of money and also I have to be able to pass a point system.

Here we just keep on letting in thousands upon thousands that go straight on to benefits and take up all the housing etc....We get bugger all:-5:-5:-5

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:35 am

pantsonfire321@aol.com;744459 wrote: Ok, Spot's post got me thinking and instead of me foaming at the mouth and derailing his thread i'll ask the question here: Why do people think it's acceptable to cheat the benefit system we have here in the UK (or the US ...anywhere really).

This, along with drink driving and domestic violence is one of my pet hates and i've reported a couple of people over the years for it ...namely a guy in prison who received benefits for four years :-5:-5:-5...... yeah that pissed me off bigtime

Why do people think of it as not really a crime ??????

If you can recieve food stamps for free then sell them for half price to a needy family you can go get yourself some free beer.

Whats wrong with that ?

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:10 am

They do it because they can. We allow them to get away with it is just that simple.

I was on SSI for 10 years broke my neck and was disabled that long. I saw it all and it was ugly. I could have abused the system 10 time over but never did. There are them that will, and them that won't and it doesn't get any simpler than that.

Of course if we stop them then it wouldn't happen as much, but that would make sense now wouldn't it. :-5

I will say I was glad it was there when I needed it. All I wanted to do was recover and get back to work, which I did Amen..

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:54 am

Because there are lazy people out there. It's easier to get free stuff, than to find a job.

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:28 am

Galbally;744464 wrote: But it is a crime, its called fraud and people go to prison for it, in fact far more people go to jail for that, then big business people like Conrad Black or Robert Maxwell, or Nick Leeson who defraud businesses and government for 10s of millions.

Not very often they do . Many many year's ago (my ex- sis in law) claimed she was a single parent and lived alone with her two kids, yet the reality was she was working cash in hand (as a Child minder) and the guy she lived with was earning excellent money as a Mechanic , even had his own garage . When they got caught all she had to do was pay it back a couple of pounds a week ....i think she should of been treated much much harsher but sadly everyone who does it nowadays only has to give out a sob story . Fraud is Fraud what ever angle you look at it and the people that do it are scum.

:mad::mad:

I think prison is quite fair ......anyone disagree or have a better option ???

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:45 am

I think that maybe they do it because it is hidden crime.

When they defraud insurance companies or benefits they cannot know who they are defruading it is just a whole lot of desks that come under the title "insurance company" or "benefits department".

However, I am sure that those who do it would not dream of burgling somones house or shoplifting at the corner shop, in the majority, although I am sure that some may also do that, because that make the crime so much more personal to know that you targetted "mrs Jobes" or "mr smith".

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:47 am

Cigna Health (or lack of) Care

http://www.courant.com/business/hc-cign ... 3896.story

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:16 am

yeah...their "hearts go out"...sure they do. So easy to say.

Mystery · Post by **Mystery** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:51 pm

It should never be acceptable. Benefit/welfare systems should be for those in positions of great need, and more often than not, should be temporary. Most of those that do not abuse it suffer even more because of the lazy good-for-nothings that are just out to get a hand-out. You should not be allowed to lie around collecting money/benefits if you're perfectly able to work. And furthermore, you shouldn't be able to get those benefits if you don't need them. The system is seriously flawed, but it seems to never get any better.

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:33 pm

Mystery;745596 wrote: It should never be acceptable. Benefit/welfare systems should be for those in positions of great need, and more often than not, should be temporary. Most of those that do not abuse it suffer even more because of the lazy good-for-nothings that are just out to get a hand-out. You should not be allowed to lie around collecting money/benefits if you're perfectly able to work. And furthermore, you shouldn't be able to get those benefits if you don't need them. The system is seriously flawed, but it seems to never get any better.

Exactly, temporary - not for people to claim for the rest of their bloody life . It also really does **** me off knowing that people can get it for being too FAT to work or for being a junkie ...how is that acceptable. I read in the paper the other day that there are people claiming incapacity benefit because they are unable to work because they have a Gambling habit ...i mean WTF :-5:-5:-5