Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime and it costs the nation around £750million per year, which equates to £80 stolen from each household every year.
Benefit fraud is a criminal offence which is why the Benefits Service has a dedicated and professional Counter Fraud team who investigate benefit fraud. If we gather evidence proving that someone is committing benefit fraud, we may prosecute, as well as recover any overpaid benefit.
There are many different types of Housing & Council Tax Benefit Fraud here are just a few.
Working and claiming
This is where fraudsters are getting Housing and or Council Tax Benefit on the basis that they are not working (possibly because they are getting Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support).
Not telling us about a partner
This fraud usually involves a claimant who is on Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit who hasn’t told us about their partner who is working.
Not telling us about non-dependants and/or sub-tenants
This is where someone getting Housing or Council Tax Benefit fails to tell us about other adults (possibly grown up son/daughter who are working) living in the property who will affect their entitlement to Housing or Council Tax Benefit.
Not telling us about all income
This is where a fraudster fails to declare any or all of their income in order to obtain Housing and or Council Tax Benefit
Not telling us about property/savings/capital
This is where a fraudster is getting Housing or Council Tax Benefit and doesn’t tell us about either savings, capital or the ownership of the property or land elsewhere (for which they may be getting rent).
False claims by home owners
This is where the owner of a property states that they are paying rent to live in what is in fact their own home, usually inventing a fictitious landlord to do so.
Failing to declare change of address
Where a claimant fails to tell us that they have moved and is still continuing to accept payments of Housing Benefit for their previous address they are committing fraud.
Not living at an address but claiming benefit for it
This occurs where a person is claiming for an address that they do not live at. This type of fraud can occur with the involvement of the landlord of other tenants.
Landlord Fraud
This is where the landlord continues to receive benefit paid directly to them when the landlord knows that the claimant has moved out of their property. Where the landlord has more than one property there is the potential to move tenants round without telling us.
There are many other ways in which landlords or claimants are defrauding the system you can help us combat Benefit fraud. If you think you know something contact us.
What are reasonable grounds for suspecting benefit fraud?
You may know someone who claims benefit, but you see them leaving home every morning at the same time and returning home in the evening. This may suggest they are working. You may hear someone bragging in the pub about how they are “cheating the system”. You may know someone who is a lone parent and claims benefit, but you are aware of a partner living there who is in full time work.
If you have any suspicions, let us know.
How do I report benefit fraud?
You can report fraud on-line by clicking on the link below or you can call our Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 1697451.
Any information you give us is strictly confidential and you don’t have to give your name and address if you don’t want to.
