Reporting benefit fraud
Benefit Fraud is a crime. Perth and Kinross Council is
determined to ensure that only those people who are entitled to
benefit actually receive it.
It may considered as fraud if a customer continues to receive
Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit when they are aware that their
entitlement may have changed.
We have a legal responsibility to protect public money from
misuse. The single largest abuse of public funds is Benefit
Fraud.
The consequences of benefit fraud
- Full recovery of overpaid benefit
- Local Authority Caution
- Administrative Penalty
- Prosecution
- Publicity
- Criminal record
- and many more.
What should you report
Benefit Fraud can occur in a number of different ways
including:
- Undeclared partners
- Non-Occupancy of property
- Contrived tenancies
- Undeclared earnings
- Undeclared savings and capital
- Undeclared income
- and many more.
How to report benefit fraud
If you know, suspect or have information about someone
apparently committing fraud, you can report your suspicions in
several ways.
All reports are treated confidentially. Appropriate
action will be taken. Your name will not be used.
To report:
- Call us free on the 24-hour Fraud Hotline 0800 085
8805. Your name is not needed.
- Speak to us in person. If you prefer, you can call into
any of our offices and ask to speak to a member of staff.
Confidentiality will be respected at all
times.
- Write to us anonymously. You can write anonymously, to a
Fraud Officer, or to your local office.
If you require any more information, please do not
hesitate to contact us on 01738 476083. You can also download
our leaflet from the right hand side of this page.
Joint investigation activity
In addition to acting upon information from members of the
public, Perth and Kinross Council Benefit Enquiry Section also
carry out joint agency investigations with:
- The Department for Work and Pensions;
- Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;
- The Immigration Service;
- Other Local Authorities;
- Local and national employers;
- And many other agencies where Benefit Fraud may be an
issue.
Other sources
Computer matching exercises with other Government agencies
regularly take place in an effort to identify Benefit Fraud.
Statistics
During the financial year 2011-2012, Perth and Kinross Council
has had 42 successful sanctions with the following
consequences:
| Sanction Imposed |
Cases (no) |
|
Cautions |
29 |
| Administrative Penalties |
3 |
| Prosecutions |
10 |
During the financial year 2010-2011, Perth and Kinross Council
had 38 successful sanctions with the following
consequences:
| Sanction Imposed |
Cases (no) |
|
Cautions |
21 |
| Administrative Penalties |
3 |
| Prosecutions |
14 |
