Benefit Fraud
We have a duty under law to administer a
benefits service to people who qualify in our area. At the same
time we are responsible for ensuring that payments are only made to
those people who are actually entitled to receive them.
We constantly monitor benefit claims, looking
for any suspicious circumstances or information, but no matter how
much effort we put in to this, we cannot do it alone - we need your
help.
If you suspect that someone is claiming benefits who
shouldn't be, you can E-mail us at investigations@swrbss.org,
or call us on 01386 565280 to report your
suspicions. Your information will be treated in
confidence.
Please give us as much information as possible
about the person you suspect.
Fraud Hotline
By ringing 01386 565280 you
can pass on information about people who you think are defrauding
the benefits system.
During normal office hours someone will be
there to take your call, but there is also an answer phone service
available outside of office hours. Your information will be treated
in confidence. Please give us as much information as possible
about the person you suspect.
Alternatively, you can ring the National Fraud Hotline on
0800 854440, or visit the National Benefit Fraud
website on http://www.targetingfraud.gov.uk/
Types of Housing Benefit and Council
Tax Support Fraud include:
- Claimants who are in receipt of Housing Benefit/Council Tax
Support on the basis of entitlement to Job Seekers Allowance/Income
Support and are in fact working.
- Failure to declare either savings/capital or the ownership of
another property/land elsewhere (for which they may be receiving
rent).
- Failure to declare all of their income knowing the
non-declaration will increase their benefit award.
- Claimants on Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance failing to
declare the presence of a partner who is working, knowing this
would preclude their entitlement.
- Failure to declare the presence of other adults in the property
in order to preserve or increase entitlement to benefit.
- Owners of properties falsely claiming that they are in fact
paying rent for the property and inventing a fictitious landlord.
In these circumstances false rent books, Tenancy Agreements are
provided.
- Failure to declare that he/she has moved but continues to
accept payments of Housing Benefit for the address.
- Claimants who claim for an address at which they are not in
fact living. These types of offences may occur with the collusion
of the landlord or other tenants.
- Landlords who continue to receive benefit and are aware that
the claimant has left the premises. Where the landlord has access
to more than one property there is the potential to move tenants
around without informing the Local Authority.
Joint Working with the Benefits Agency
We work closely with the Benefits Agency as a
lot of allegations involve both Housing Benefit/Council Tax Support
and Social Security benefits.