Benefit Fraud

If you suspect Benefit Fraud, tell us – 24 hours a day.

Help Thanet District Council save money for YOU, the taxpayer.

Benefit Fraud costs the country about £2 billion a year, which is money that could be spent on public services. This costs each household in Great Britain around £80 a year. Fraud has an impact on the amount of Council Tax and Income Tax you pay and the amount of resources available to the community.

Thanet District Council's Fraud Investigation Team looks into Benefit Fraud allegations received from the public, officers and Members of the Council, Government departments, and from the results of National and Local Data Matching.

Thanet District Council is committed to protecting public money by taking action against Benefit Fraud. We will take legal action against benefit cheats and recover any overpaid benefit. Anyone who cheats the benefit system will not be allowed to get away with it.

What is Benefit Fraud?

Benefit Fraud is when people claim any benefit, including Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, that they are not entitled to by giving false information or not telling us when their circumstances change.

People who deliberately claim benefit when they are not entitled to it are committing a criminal offence.

Any person who makes a false statement or produces a false document in order to obtain benefit is committing a criminal offence that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Any person who fails to notify the Council of a change of circumstances in order to continue to receive benefit is committing a criminal offence that is punishable by up to 7 years in prison.

Some examples of Benefit Fraud are when people:

• work, but do not declare this when they claim benefit
• claim as a single person, but actually live with a partner
• claim from an address, but do not actually live there
• do not tell us the full amount of income, savings or capital when they claim benefit
• do not report a change of circumstances while getting benefit

How do I report a Benefit Fraud in confidence?

If you suspect someone is committing benefit fraud, please let us know. We look at every allegation we receive and then decide whether to investigate, based on the information received.

The more information that you can give us, the more likely the investigation is to be successful. Information could include:

• name and address
• age
• description of persons
• description and/or registration number of any vehicles
• employer's name and address
• start/finish times of employment
• type of fraud you suspect is taking place
• any indication of how long you suspect the fraud has been going on

If you wish to give your name and address it may help us, but this is entirely voluntary and is held in confidence. This means that the source of information is never disclosed.

You can report a suspected fraud - in confidence, in the following ways:

• Use our on-line form
• E-mail:mailto:Fraudbusters@thanet.gov.uk
• Phone our Benefit Fraud Hotline on 01843 577369
• Fax: 01843 577532

or

• Write to our Investigations Team at:

Benefit Fraud Investigation Unit
Thanet District Council
P.O. Box 9
Margate
Kent CT9 1XZ

You can make a difference - TELL US NOW!