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.
Types of Housing/Council Tax Benefit Fraud
- Claimants who are in receipt of Housing/Council Tax benefit 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/Council Tax Benefit and Social Security
benefits.
