skip through navigation (Access Key = S ) Jump to Accessibility Information (Access Key = 0 ) Jump to Home Page (Access Key = 1 ) Jump to News (Access Key = 2 ) Jump to Site Map (Access Key = 3 ) Jump to Search Box (Access Key = 4 ) Jump to Frequently Asked Questions (Access Key = 5 ) Jump to Help Page (Access Key = 6 ) Jump to Complaints (Access Key = 7 ) Jump to Terms and Conditions (Access Key = 8 ) Jump to Feedback Form (Access Key = 9 ) Jump to content (Access Key = N ) Jump to Business and Advice  (Access Key = B ) Jump to Leisure and Culture  (Access Key = C ) Jump to Council and Community Diary (Access Key = M ) Jump to Environment and Planning (Access Key = V ) Jump to Community and Learning (Access Key = G ) Jump to Do It Online (Access Key = O ) Jump to Children and Young  People (Access Key = P ) Jump to A to Z Services (Access Key = T ) Jump to Your Council (Access Key = Y ) Jump to A too Z site Index (Access Key = Z ) jump to Read Speaker functionality (Access Key = L) Jump to Printer Friendly Version (Access Key = F) Jump to Text Only (Access Key = J) Jump to Change Contrast (Access Key = K)
Benefit fraud
We aim to maximise the take up of Housing and Council Tax benefits to those people who genuinely need and qualify for the benefit. We are here to help and guide claimants and encourage people to apply.

We also aim to detect fraudulent claims and protect public money from those who are intent on defrauding the benefit system.

Some examples of benefit fraud are:
  • failing to declare changes of circumstances e.g resident partner,
  • savings (capital) or
  • owning another property
If a claimant has knowingly misled the authority to obtain benefit then it will be cancelled back to the beginning of the incorrect claim (which could be over a long period of time).
  • an overpayment sum will be created of all benefits wrongly paid in respect of that claim. This overpayment must be repaid to the authority (reduced by any underlying entitlement).
The Council will either prosecute under the Theft Act or Social Security Act.

or
Add a further 30% penalty onto the overpayment which already exists, sometimes a caution is issued.

The Benefits Team has a fraud hotline if anyone wants to report a suspected fraud. There is a voicemail service for when the office is unmanned.

Fraud hotline  -  01784 446224

Report a suspected fraud (online form)