Went to the CAB, they told me what I could claim for (as I had no idea), filled out all paperwork, signed on, and bing bang bosh..... it was that simple.

I won't go into figures of what is and what isn't covered by benefits, but what we do get we get by on and that's all we do..... just about.

As for getting a job, that's been far harder. the job centre don't give two hoots when you go to sign on, I think I'm in there an average of 4 - 5 minutes a time. I'm into the hundred's of jobs applied for and I'm a skilled man. Thing's are looking up this year, I've been getting more replies to applications and this interview Monday could be right up my street. Fingers crossed.

That's because to meet their (stupid and pointless) targets the staff only get five minutes (if that) to "sign people" and release the payment as well as look up appropriate vacancies. It's impossible to do properly.

The main advisors (new claims and restarts or whatever they might be calling them these days) have a bit more time.

You could ask to be referred to one. If you've been out of the job market for some time they get extra target points if they can find something for you. Sometimes they get to hear of things that are not otherwise well known.

Had my 6 month 'return to work' interview (yes, the irony was completely lost on me) where some bloke waffled off some prepared speech about how to look for work etc. At the end I asked if there was a fork lift truck course or similar I could do, and was told there was such a course available from the very first day you're out of work. They said they'd call me the following day to confirm.

They call the next day only to tell me "you haven't been out of work long enough to be eligible for the course".

Yeah, I have every faith in the Job Centre in helping me! And I am being ironic.

I think there are a number of reasons why people don't report.

Firstly there is the thought that the claimant (who might know you) would find out, and the resulting repercussions might be unpleasant

Secondly, there is the thought that (in the big scheme of things) if you drop someone in the sh*t that at some point in your life, the same would happen to you.

Thirdly there is the 'schadenfreude' (sp?) element that you would be taking enjoyment out of causing someone elses adversity.

None of these reasons are particularly justifiable for not reporting I guess.

The people who were cheating whom I have given as examples are mainly from the 80's and early 90's. If I had my time again, I think I would grass them up.

Odd. When I was doing the job (2003/04) 6 months signing** brought an almost compulsory referral for something - depending on the advisor's approach.

Fork Lift courses were so popular that there were hardly any vacancies.


** Aside from training places through the job centre's usual resources, there are other payments available to pay for things that might help.....bus passes, a bike, driving lessons if transport would make a difference, for example. Maybe even training if people found their own courses. Food Hygiene courses at the local college were quite common.

I had a bloke who wanted to get into something to do with railway tracks that needed some sort of safety certificate. That made more sense to me than the usual nonsense I was required to do for bloody targets, so I broke off from that and looked to see what I could find on the net. We found the right course in a place where he could attend.

I have no doubt when you were working there the number of people out of work wasn't this high and the time available to deal with people was longer. You were probably (compared to the people I've had to deal with there) one of the few who actually did something to help. I am not alone in my view of how disinterested the job centre are, a few of my other friends sign on at different centres and they get the same joy.

As for getting on a course that would help find work, I asked about doing the CSCS card and street safety courses to open up avenues. The response I got was "Sorry sir, but you'll need at least 4 written offers of employment to say you'll get a job to be eligible to get funding."

Seriously, in this current climate and the number of people out of work what employer is going to do that?

My hubby asked me not to. He knows all these people for ages and feels it would be wrong to report them...
Even if I/we do, it's only the first system abuser in my story (disabled benefit receiver) who could easily be proved wrong doing as it's hard to prove someone working for cash or have lots of saving abroad/in cash.

Social security system is asking to by cheated, it' just too easy. One could be registered at Job centre for 20 years receiving tiny JSA and no one ever asks how on earth you cant find any job all these years and survive on 50 a week or a woman could "accidently" have 4 kids outside marriage and no one would ask "hello, who is/are the father/s and why wouldnt they support you?...

And is it right that us taxpayers are supporting them?Sorry but so what if your husband has known them for ages.I thought if you grassed people up it was kept confidential???Those taxes could be put to better use,not support people who can't be assed working,and that includes women who so called "accidently"fall pregnant.Sorry no sympathy from me!

There are confidential information lines you can call to grass on benefit cheats.

However, as someone else said, it's not easy to actually get sufficient evidence to hold up in court. I used to work at the "dole office" (1970s) and the Fraud Department had a very low success rate. Lots of night work (imagine gettng paid to go out to nightclubs and pubs, where a lot of benefits cheats used to work), often with no luck. Their stories when they actually caught someone in the act were priceless, though!

It certainly sounds like a few things have changed then. The only conditions when I was 'advising' were being at a disadvantage...that included being unemployed for 6 months, English as a second language, living in (supposedly) deprived areas...that sort of stuff.

I even knew of a case where someone got money for an expensive bottle of perfume to aid her self confidence at prospective job interviews.

Part of the problem is, once again, meaningless targets. Fraud staff have them relating to a number of proven fiddles.

Consequently they focus on easily proved cases...reported not received cheques being traced and they have the signature on or the check on employer wage records that shows a wage increase of a fiver not declared...that sort of thing.

The ongoing fiddle...cohabiting, undeclared work...first of all it needs people to report such things, then it needs prolonged surveillance ops and other enquiries, witness reports etc and then costly court proceedings where people get a slapped wrist and then aren't even ordered to repay the full money overpaid.

Staff trying to do something about the bigger stuff will miss their targets as a result and could lose pay.

SO IF my wife and i move back from spain (she is a pensioner 64 i am 62 )i have kept our heads above water!! by working and savings!! (this money has now run out!!) we have a caravan 22ft in a field which is really illegal what can we claim for?? in spain here we are EXSISTING !! ON 360EUROS PM!! good advice would be helpful

Best speak to the CAB to get the advice for your situation.

Pension Credit is £198.45 for a couple.

Any income you already have - such as your state Retirement Pension due at 65 is brought up to that level.

If you have an entitlement to Pension Credit (because there is a shortfall in your income and the £198) you would qualify for maximum Housing Benefit for rent.

That's the basic info.

No details are given on the informant/s. Not even the genders of the person/people who reported the fraud.

Fraud it theft and should be reported.

What really gets me is that the fruadster/s get a letter and if they admit to their crimes straight away, they just get a slap on the wrist. Yet all the evidence has been gathered to convict them! That practice needs to be stopped.

Don't forget that all parties are now calling for tax credits to be stopped, so be careful on basing your life decisions on tax credit benefits.

All the tax credits came in in about 2002(ish) and any government in power now, needs to borrow from overseas investors to keep these benefit payments going. The annual benefit bill to the county now exceeds income tax received for the first time and makes the one off bank bailout look like a drop in the ocean.