Benefit fraud costs you money

We deal with approximately 20,000 claims for Housing Benefit  and Council Tax Benefit. These claims are paid for by money from Council Tax and Income Tax via government funding. So every tax payer is paying extra for those people who are claiming Housing Benefit when they shouldn't.

We aim to make sure that those people entitled to benefit receive their true entitlement, but we also have an obligation to prevent abuse of the system by those who claim benefit falsely.

During 2006/07, the fraud team investigated over 800 cases of suspected fraud. Nearly half of these resulted in people paying back benefits they were not entitled to. 23 of the most serious cases were successfully prosecuted and 61 incurred financial sanctions.

We need your help

Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime every tax payer pays for abuse of the system.
If you know that somebody is abusing the Housing Benefit system, please tell us. Any information you give us will be treated in confidence, and you do not have to tell us who you are. The more detail you can give us the better.

Contact the Housing Benefit Investigation Team or visit our offices.