Benefit scrounging
Long ago, some mates, my ex and I were scamming the council to pay our rent. There were four of us living in a two bed house (we converted the lounge to be an extra bedroom, and the ex and I were in one room together). We were all unemployed, and claiming the 20 quid a week minimum that the DSS used to give out to people who didn't have enough NI contributions - none of these people had ever managed to get a job for any length of time.

The combined rents of these individual "bedsits" came to a bit more than the rent for the property - the housing benefit didn't cover the whole rent, but it was close enough for us to scrape by.
The ex was the official tennant, and we all rented off her.

Anyway - the council inspector turned up out of the blue one day, and wanted to see the place.
He quickly spotted that the ex and I were cohabiting - so my rent was going to my other half.
We both got called in for a hearing - housing benefit has to be stopped, and the overpayment must be payed back.

The ex pointed out that if we'd claimed as a couple, for the whole rent of the property, then the council would have had to pay out more.

Our interviewer stops, and looks at his notes. Then he says "Aren't you {NAME}'s daughter? I know {NAME}, he's in my lodge."

We were dismissed, and carried on as usual for another six months or so (till I got a job and rented legitimately).

{NAME} is now on his City Council. My ex went on to be a fairly successful madam.
( Invisible Wizard - 10th Level Nerf-herder, Sat 5 Jul 2014, 11:06, 4 replies)

It's people like you that have ruined this once great country.

( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Sat 5 Jul 2014, 23:02, closed)

By claiming less than we could have?

( Invisible Wizard - 10th Level Nerf-herder, Sun 6 Jul 2014, 13:30, closed)

You monster.

( monster munch person, man, woman... camera... TV?, Mon 7 Jul 2014, 8:58, closed)

No - YOU monster:
ME Little Faith.
( Invisible Wizard - 10th Level Nerf-herder, Tue 8 Jul 2014, 19:28, closed)