The Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for investigating all reports of benefit fraud including Housing Benefit. The Council no longer investigates Housing Benefit fraud but will report any suspicions to the DWP. The Council have a dedicated team who investigate all fraudulent Council Tax claims.
A person committing fraud will give false information in order to claim certain benefits, discounts or exemptions. Please report suspected fraud so we can make sure only the right people are getting the right benefits.
We are keen to award benefits, discounts and exemptions to genuine claimants, but we are equally keen to stop fraud.
If you make false claims or don’t tell us straight away about changes to your circumstances, you’ll have to repay any overpaid benefit or council tax reduction and you may also be prosecuted. In less serious cases, benefit claimants who make false claims will be offered a formal caution or a fine instead of prosecution. The fine must be paid along with any overpaid benefit.
The kinds of fraud to report are:
If you suspect someone is committing council tax or housing benefit fraud against Wyre Forest District Council, please complete our online report form.
Or, you can ring our Fraud Hotline on 01562 732658. All calls are treated in absolute confidence. We need as much information as possible. Examples of information we will need to investigate fraud include:
If the suspected fraud relates to Housing Benefit only, we will pass the information provided to the DWP for them to investigate. Alternatively, you can contact them direct www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud or call the National Benefit Hotline on 0800 854 440.
Internal Audit - Protecting The Public Purse - Report to Audit Committee & Fighting Fraud Checklist