Guy claiming PIP

[Milzy]

This fella has a house he rents but has been living with his fiancée for about a year. He became very unwell & had to stop work. As he’s renting a house & can’t work he claims PIP. If he declared living with the other half he’d lose money.
Do you think it’s a bit of a cheeky trick or is it fair game playing the system. He has some kind of savings & is picking up a new Porsche later in the week. The land lord is getting loads of money for an empty house. Live & let live?

 

[Electric_Andy]

You don't always know the full story I guess. And what would happen if he was reported? Maybe nothing. Maybe lives would be affected more negatively than you imagine. I'd not really care about it, unless they were blatantly too healthy for pip and conning the system

 

[Drago]

What money would he lose? Employment status, savings and living arrangements aren't taken into account for PIP.

Some kind of rent subsidy benefit, UC perhaps? I'd stay out of it unless there's very clear evidence of actual criminality.

 

[MontyVeda]

This fella has a house he rents but has been living with his fiancée for about a year. He became very unwell & had to stop work. As he’s renting a house & can’t work he claims PIP. If he declared living with the other half he’d lose money.
Do you think it’s a bit of a cheeky trick or is it fair game playing the system. He has some kind of savings & is picking up a new Porsche later in the week. The land lord is getting loads of money for an empty house. Live & let live?

It is a bit cheeky but it's no different to some very wealthy people playing the system by exploiting a few tax loopholes.

In the great scheme of things, benefit fraud has far less impact on the public purse than tax evasion/avoidance.

The new Porsche suggests that this fella might be doing a bit of both.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

….tax evasion/avoidance.

One is illegal, one isn’t. An ISA is one example of tax avoidance that is sanctioned by the government.

 

[MontyVeda]

One is illegal, one isn’t. An ISA is one example of tax avoidance that is sanctioned by the government.

As is claiming non-dom status when they're not really a non-dom.

Perceived legality doesn't always make avoidance right, hence them being 'loop holes'.

I wouldn't call an ISA a loophole.

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

When I lived in Liverpool, my then fiancée worked for the benefits office. I found out she she was actively schooling friends and family on how best to cheat the system.

The final straw for me was when she herself got a fine for falsely claiming to be exempt from paying for prescriptions.

Individually benefit cheats generally don’t cost the country a lot but, when it is wide spread, then every tax payed is being taken for a ride IMHO.

 

[Milzy]

People will be doing far worse. I’d never report it. He was in intensive care for a while & paid stamp for years. When you’ve nearly died maybe milk it a bit more until you’re 100% back.

 

[bikingdad90]

If you are on the higher rate of PIP you get a mobility allowance which can be put towards the Mobility Scheme instead of given as cash and you can get almost any car on a lease; some luxury brands included however you may need to make an upfront payment.

PIP is also a benefit that isn’t means tested as it’s to compensate for those with a long term health condition or illness which means they can’t work. It is supposed to be akin to a salary in lieu of working and therefore it doesn’t matter what your income, savings or living position is. However, that said the person you are living with might be effected if on UC as you need to declare it.

 

[mickle]

This fella has a house he rents but has been living with his fiancée for about a year. He became very unwell & had to stop work. As he’s renting a house & can’t work he claims PIP. If he declared living with the other half he’d lose money.
Do you think it’s a bit of a cheeky trick or is it fair game playing the system. He has some kind of savings & is picking up a new Porsche later in the week. The land lord is getting loads of money for an empty house. Live & let live?

He's not claiming PIP because he's 'renting a house' or 'unable to work'. He's receiving PIP because he's entitled to it, because he's disabled. His savings, his car ownership and his living arrangements are irrelevant.

Makes me wonder if people look me and my newish motability car and think I'm living the life of Riley on £460 PIP a month. Its worth mentioning that PIP is notoriously hard to get. You have to be very unwell to qualify for it.

 

[Accy cyclist]

If he can afford to buy a new Porsche he's seriously taking the piss!! Claiming housing allowance while living with someone elsewhere is also taking the piss! I'm surprised he isn't subletting the house he gets housing allowance for to seriously take the piss even more! It's folk like this who make it difficult for me when we keep hearing about those on PIP and Universal Credit 'faking it' with the government now snooping on bank accounts etc.