Benefit Fraud

Benefit fraud is knowingly obtaining benefit to which there is no entitlement. It is the deliberate withholding or providing of false information, or intentionally not reporting a change of circumstances in order to obtain benefits. It covers all benefits, such as Housing Benefit, Income Support, Pension Credits, Jobseekers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Council Tax Reduction, etc. Benefit fraud is a criminal offence and may result in prosecution.

Common types of benefit fraud

The most common types of benefit fraud are:

Failure to declare earnings or income.
Failure to declare a change in circumstances.
Failure to declare savings.
Failure to declare ownership of property.
Failure to declare a partner.
Failure to declare other household members.
Claiming Housing Benefit whilst not living in the property.

Reporting Benefit Fraud

You can report suspected benefit fraud by contacting the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on: 0800854440 or for the hard of hearing 08003280512 available 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday. They can also be contacted by post at National Benefit Fraud Hotline, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 2BP

Benefit Fraud can also be reported online at www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud.