Benefit Fraud

Whilst we recognise the majority of people using our Benefits service do so properly and honestly, we must also realise that some people commit fraud with the intention of receiving benefit that they are not entitled to.

The prevention, detection and investigation of fraud in the borough is the responsibility of our professionally-trained Investigation Team, who examine allegations of Benefit Fraud received by the Council.

Please browse the following links for more information about Benefit Fraud:

• How does Benefit Fraud affect me?
• What kinds of Benefit Fraud are there?
• Our Prosecution Policy
• How do I report Benefit Fraud?
• Change of Circumstances

If you suspect anyone of committing Benefit Fraud in respect of Housing or Council Tax Benefit, please complete the Benefit Fraud online reporting form or telephone the Confidential Hotline on 0115 901 3996.

How does Benefit Fraud affect me?

Benefit fraud costs the country billions of pounds a year and increases the amount of Income Tax and Council Tax you pay. It also affects the amount of money we spend on providing public services.

Anyone deliberately claiming benefit they are not entitled to is committing a criminal offence punishable by:

• Up to ten years imprisonment for making false statements or producing false documents to obtain benefit
• Up to seven years imprisonment for continuing to claim benefit after deliberately failing to notify us of a change of circumstances

What kinds of Benefit Fraud are there?

There a number of ways Benefit Fraud may be committed, including where someone:

• Works but does not declare this when making a benefit claim
• Claims as a single person but actually lives with a partner
• Claims from an address but does not actually live there
• Does not tell us their full income, savings or capital when making a benefit claim
• Does not report a change of circumstances whilst receiving benefit

Our Prosecution Policy

We are committed to protecting public funds and combating Benefit Fraud by prosecuting anyone attempting to cheat the benefit system. We will take every step to recover overpaid benefit, as outlined in our Prosecution Policy. (Below)

• Our Prosecution Policy PDF (58KB)

How do I report Benefit Fraud?

Whether you are a member of the public or an officer/member of the Council or other Government department, we urge you to report anyone you suspect of committing Benefit Fraud through the following options:

• Use our online reporting form
• Call our confidential Benefit Fraud Hotline on (0115) 901 3996
• Write to our Benefit Investigations Team at the Civic Centre

To report all other benefit fraud, please contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 or use the Department for Work and Pensions online reporting form. (External site)

We will consider all allegations and decide whether to investigate based on the information you provide. Please remember the more information you provide from below, the more likely the investigation will result in a positive outcome:

• Their name, age and address
• A description of the person and their vehicles, including registration numbers
• Their employer's name and address, as well as start and finish times of employment
• The type of fraud you suspect is taking place
• An indication of how long the suspected fraud has taken place

You may wish to give your name and address to assist an investigator, although this is entirely voluntary.

Change of Circumstances

Anyone receiving benefit must notify us of any change in circumstances that could affect the amount of benefit they receive. For more details, please visit our Change of Circumstances page.

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