What is it with folk "taking advantage" of the system? Do they know what they are doing to this country never mind the people that actually do deserve the benefits? I've just heard a story about some people that really shocks and sadens me. One of the people claims incapacity benefit and yet maintains an active interest in a failry active hobby. There is more to the story, but it disgusts me to talk about it any more.
I was wondering what other peoples views were?
Cam

It all depends on there disabilty and what they do in the active hobby.

I'm on Incapacity Benafit as I can't work due to pain and can pass out without warning at any time.
Some days I can walk and "act" normal but other days I can't even pour myself a cuppa.

Yet I still try and wak my dog every day even if it's just to park to sit on the bench whilst he's running round like a loney.

Dog walking can be seen as an active hobby yet to me it's my life line and only thing stopping me wasting away.

I don't know how people manage it actually - I've never managed to get even all the benefits I ought to be eligible for, but maybe I just don't have enough "front"!

As far as being involved in an active hobby......mea culpa.....but even if they amputated both my legs I'd still be out on a rig! It doesn't mean I don't find it pretty difficult, and I've been told by more than one doctor to stop doing it, but generally people telling me not to do things tends to make me more likely to do whatever it is! 

You go girl

Sock it to 'em big man 

Personal view - no issues with those who deserve it receiving it, i.e. Catherine, nothing personal PyscoFalcon, just do not think I know you, so best not to comment !!!
but those who do not, then

• 1 - Stop the benefits
• 2 - Charge then for fraudulent claims and wasting resources and other peoples time
• 3 - Claim back the illegally gotten gains, with interest

IMMHO 

Cya
E 
www.sleddog.info

Thanks Ewan,
Sorry Catherine / PyscoFalcon, I did not mean to offend you. I am purely commenting on people that (as Ewan says) do not deserve beneficial help in any way, shape or form as they are lying.
I know a few people that would rather be able to work again and earn a living than claim benefits. But the honest truth is, they would not be able to survive without them and physically cannot work any more.
Please, I am only commenting on the true fraudsters.
Cam

I know a woman who is active in my other breed, who, a couple of years ago was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining £30,000 in benefits while working as a self employed cleaner. (The case was reported in the Dog Papers) She claimed that she had only been funding her son's drug addiction as she was afraid of what might happen to her son if she didn't. (Funny that during the years she was claiming she had several trips to Scandinavia and imported a few dogs, not to mention all the dog shows she went to).
She was found guilty and given a prison sentence. I believe she served about 6 weeks.
Since then I haven't even been able to bring myself to speak to her, although most of the people in the breed treat her like nothing happened.
The way I see it though is, as a taxpayer, it was my money she stole. (And I can't afford to import dogs or make trips to Scandinavia). 

I know exactly where you are coming from Sharon. It makes my blood boil
This has been a bug bear  (is that how it's meant to be spelt?) of mine for a number of years now.
Having, like you, worked all my life and paid into the system, it really upsets me when I see how much those sort of people get away with while I work all the hours to make ends meet and be able to do a bit with my dogs
Will get off soap box now as am getting vertigo from the height
Suz

I rented my flat to a co-worker of mine to find out after I managed to get her out of my flat, which she trashed cost me £6000 to repair the damage, that wait for it she was claiming incapacity allowance she was on income support and had forged a letter to the housing benefits saying she was me and claiming £500 a month rent money from them. When i found all this out i phoned the benefits fraud line who took all the details said the would investigate and guess what she is still working and they are still sending letters to my flat telling her that she has met the criteria for maximum benefits. I still can't believe it. So much for the goverments hard line. I worked out she was geting nearly £3000 a month all in.
Callum   

I was working in Lapland 2 years ago doing this Santa Seeker trips. They basically arrive for the afternoon, sit on Santa's lap, see some reindeer, sit on a large husky sled(all the family) for 500m then go home.

Two women and their kids came on the sled and as we took off they shouted out "if only the dss could see us now"

They nearly S##t themselves when the sled driver leans over and in a Scottish accent jokes that I would report them!!

I have not been able to visit back home for a few years and these guys can spend up to 1000 pounds per person for a 1 day trip to Lapland

Ali

I am DEFINITELY doing something wrong!! 

Yeah we must be. I don't get that per year never mind per month.

Took 2 years of fighting with the DWP with hospital notes, scans and x-rays before they accepted me onto IB.

Hey Catherine,  My mum used to work for the DSS (now works for revenue and customes) so i'm sure she has some good advise to help you get the benefits you deserve.

think the trick is to get your foot in the door. its hard work getting anything out of them but once you do you can really take the piss if you want to.

Ive worked since i was 11 ! now iam a mature student getting into debt lol cos i stupidely pathed my ex's career instead of my own??? When i needed the goverment though there were there and althou it was temporary until csa kicked it my years of paying taxes seemed to have been a bit worth while. The thing that got my goat is women who have piles of children claim single parent doss about all day, do some night jobs and claim dla and then have the father of their children come in with a wage pack! the minute i left a job in london and moved miles away without a job to be with my partner i wasnt entitled to anything as he was my boyfriend but the dutch women who claim incapacity and was married to another service man got all benefits going plus working in the local chippy! her husband musta been on 28k . I think once people get there feet under the table they keep them there unless they wanna buy a house  and noadays with the housing market i dont know what will happen.
I also travel a lot and once met a women who claims everything under the sun even the social workers paid for her holiday  and she still managed to get 50 euros off us until her benefits went into her bank account! me and my ex worked out she musta got at least 30k plus.
Was talking to a benefit fraud investigator who is also a musher and i was saying if he was on comission lol!!! There are a lot of people out there though that are honest and people who will lie to get what they want and then there are some who just cannot get out of the rut there in. Its a toughie this one, but goverment rules and prison sentances are scaring people and tax breaks and childs tax are getting britain out of this slump! but there will always be fraudsters,part of the world going round

Seems to me that since I got my blue badge, that the car parks as shows for disabled people is as full as the normal one, I have to say that I took the company I was working for when I broke my knees to court, I had to give up a stupid amount of money in the settlement because I refused to give up my dogs and showing, Even with all the x-rays scans etc that proved I have grade 3 arthritis and that I will need both knees replacing. they reduced the settlement.
Me I won't give up what I have and every day is a bonus. I have worked since I was 14 years old and what they pay me is a mere drop in the ocean to what I have paid in taxes etc. So even though I show my dogs and yes it hurts like a B***h, that is what gets me out of bed everyday, So why should I give up either
Terry