Hi IMs
I have recently become aware that two of my inlaws are committing fraud with centrelink/taxation office/child support. One has employed the other 'off the books' so she isn't having to declare an income to effect her payments, on the basis that the other 'takes tax out' and pockets it instead. I understand that she is a single mum and it's tight etc, but everyone else has to do the right thing. Plus she is declaring she has the child full time which is not the case. I'm aware you can report things anonymously. I morally feel I should report, as My husband has tried to speak to them and they wouldn't listswn. Should I report it?
Reporting centrelink fraud
Reporting centrelink fraud
Posted in:
Life Lessons
4 Replies
Tough one. If she is only working a few hours a week I wouldn't even consider reporting it. The effort to claim how much you work for a few hours work a week is bloody ridiculous (although I've always reported). How likely is it that they will assume it was you or your husband that told? If it's more like 10 + hours and coupled with the other info I'd be really tempted to dob them in. There was data released to say that the majority of people do the right thing and this person gives everyone else a bad reputation.
If my family or husbands family were doing this, I wouldnt report it. Why, because they're family. Yes, they are illegally taking from the system and shouldn't be, so help them first, offer to help her look for a proper job or to at least get her kid back into full time care - some people do anything and everything when theyre down in the dumps/ broke. Try and help and talk before you run off reporting them. If they dont take notice of what you're saying, then I guess you can dob in your in laws - you must not like them very much.
No, screw it! Report them! It doesn't matter WHO they are, they're pocketing money you don't get to pocket because you do the right thing & they don't. I once knew someone doing the same thing & wanted to dob them in. Everyone tried to tell me I was 'jealous'. Jealous of what? Breaking the law! Not livig fairly so that others get a fair go too! Definitely not jealousy. Report them & stuff them. When they get in trouble it's their own fault, not yours. If they were doing the right thing in the first place it wouldn't have come to this - family or not.
Before you report it, look at her situation... Is she struggling to buy food for her child and new clothes/shoes whilst paying bills? Or is she sporting the brand new iPhone and designer handbags? I know I was struggling financially to put food on the table and pay the bills, so sometimes it was one or the other... Why has she said she has the child full time? Is she claiming child support she's not entitled to or is it in case of a custody battle? Is it for schooling purposes? If she's just flat out rorting the system, report it... If she's doing whatever she can to make ends meet, leave it alone... In the end it's your call, but it's not always black and white...