Article: Investigation of benefit fraud Article Body Benefit fraud is often thought of as a 'victimless crime', but this is not true. Benefit fraud cost the country around £900million in 2008-2009. Barnsley Council is determined to stamp out fraud and has a dedicated benefit fraud team to prevent housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud. It is a criminal offence to commit benefit fraud and if we think that someone is fraudulently claiming benefit, or helping someone else to do so, we will investigate their circumstances with a view to prosecution. What is benefit fraud? Benefit fraud is where people claim housing and council tax benefit and/or social security benefits when they have no right to claim. Working and claiming This usually involves claimants who are receiving housing and council tax benefit on the basis that they are entitled to jobseekers allowance or income support but are in fact working. Non-disclosure of property, capital or income This is where the claimant does not tell us about all their income, savings, capital or property so that the amount of benefit that they get is higher than it should be. Non-disclosure of partner (living together as husband and wife) This usually involves a claimant receiving jobseekers allowance or income support and not telling us that they have a partner, knowing that this would mean that they would not be entitled to benefit. Non-declaration of non-dependants or sub-tenants This is where a claimant does not tell us about other adults living in the property so that they keep, or increase, their entitlement to benefit. False claims by homeowners Where the owner of a property falsely claims benefit, stating that they are paying rent for the property, inventing a fictitious landlord and using false rent books and tenancy agreements. False address or failing to declare a change of address This is where the claimant is claiming benefit for an address where they do not live. These types of offences can involve the landlord or other tenants, or occur when the claimant doesnt tell us that they have moved out of a property. Landlord fraud Where a landlord continues to receive benefit paid direct to him or herself when they know that the claimant has left the premises Fictitious tenancies Where a tenancy is created between friends or family where the property would not normally be rented in order to obtain benefit to which they are not entitled. How do I tell you about a benefit fraud? Email: benefitinvestigations@barnsley.gov.uk Fax: 01226 774653 Telephone our Benefit Fraud 24 hour hotline: 0800 1382940 This is a free telephone number. You do not need to give your name, just the details of the suspected fraud. The information you give will be treated confidentially and investigated fully. Please give as much detail as possible to help us investigate your allegations. Please note an answer phone will be in operation out-of-office hours. What action do we take? If we think someone is committing benefit fraud, we will carry out an investigation into their circumstances. If we have evidence that someone is committing benefit fraud, we may prosecute those involved, which could result in a possible prison sentence or a criminal record. Related documents Sanctions policy Anti-fraud policy Legislation Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 Council Tax Benefit Regulations 2006 Housing Benefit (persons that have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 Council Tax Benefit (persons that have attained the qualifying age for state pension credit) Regulations 2006 Data Protection Act 1998 How to contact the benefits service Enquiries and requests for application forms can be made as follows: E-mail: benefitassessments@barnsley.gov.uk Telphone the benefits helpline: 01226 774743 Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm and Friday 9am to 4.30pm Fax: 01226 774733 By writing or sending documents to: Benefits, Taxation and Welfare Rights Division, PO Box 634, Barnsley, S70 9GG By personal visit to any Barnsley Connects office Additional information To learn more about our compliments, comments and complaints process please see general complaints. Related Services Council Tax Welfare Rights Barnsley Connects Homelessness and Housing Advice Other useful websites Citizens Advice Bureau Department for Work and Pensions Frequently Asked Questions Why do you bother fighting benefit fraud? The council has a duty to safeguard public funds. We want to encourage honesty and ensure that persons whose claims are genuine get their full entitlements to benefit. If I report a benefit fraud will I get to know the results? No. The law says we have to keep information about people claiming benefits confidential so we cannot give any progress reports on the investigation or the final outcome. Some of our results may be printed in the local press. How do you punish benefit cheats? All benefit cheats have to pay the council back the money they have stolen. In the worst cases we will prosecute, however, we also have alternative punishments for the less serious cases. A Formal Caution or an Administrative Penalty may be offered as an alternative to prosecution. An Administrative Penalty, which is a fine, has to be paid along with the overpaid benefit. Both a Formal Caution and an Adminstrative Penalty are still a serious matter. What are reasonable grounds for suspecting a benefit cheat? You may know someone who claims benefit, but you can see them leaving home every morning at the same time and returning home in the evening. They even may be wearing a uniform. This may suggest they are working. You may hear someone bragging in the pub about how they are "cheating the system". You may know someone who is a lone parent and claims benefit, but you are aware of their partner living there who works full time. I have been told that if my partner stays no more than three nights per week, I can still claim benefit: Is this true? No. If the property is considered to be your partner's main residence, then benefit is affected regardless of the number of nights spent there. For example, a lorry driver may only stay two nights per week, but your benefit would still be affected because your property would be regarded as their home. If I report someone for benefit fraud, will they find out it was me who reported them? No. When you report a benefit fraud it is strictly confidential. There are certain laws that govern us for maintaining this confidentiality. You may choose not to tell us your name, and should you leave your name we do not record this on our files.