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Benefit fraud

Benefit is for the needy not the greedy. The minority who claim benefits they are not entitled to are costing the country millions of pounds. It does not pay to commit fraud and the chances are that fraudsters will get caught out. The Fraud Act 1997 also gives councils the power to impose a fine or to administer cautions.

If people did not steal benefit there would be more money available to help those with genuine need. Those genuinely entitled to benefit would not be inconvenienced in having to regularly prove their circumstances in order to prevent fraud.

Benefits fraud includes:

  • Making false statements or providing false documents
  • Providing inaccurate, misleading or incomplete information
  • Failing to report a change in circumstances that might affect benefit entitlement
  • Allowing or causing any of the above to happen, in order that benefit is paid to any person, including landlords

If you think someone is claiming benefits to which they are not entitled you can:

Please provide as much information as you can about the person and why you think they are committing benefit fraud. The more information you provide the better. The law says that we must have good reason to investigate a person. All information given will be treated in the strictest confidence and you don't have to give your name.

By working together like this we can cut down on the number of people claiming benefit fraudulently. Fraudsters are taking advantage of the most vulnerable in our society, those we are committed to support and help.

  • National Fraud Initiative

    All local authorities are required by law to protect the public funds they administer. They may share other information provided to them by public bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.

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