Benefit Fraud
Benefit Fraud
Benefit fraud is a crime that costs the tax payer a total of £800 million a year, which is equivalent to £32 for every household. That’s money that could be put to better use to fund 13,000 doctors or 20,000 police officers or 23,000 teachers.
What is Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit fraud?
Fraud occurs when a claim for benefit is made based on information that is known to be false or inaccurate. A claim could also become fraudulent if there has been a change in your circumstances that would reduce the amount of your benefit entitlement, which has not been declared.
The following are some common types of fraud committed in Haringey.
- Failure to declare that a partner, relative, friend, or lodger is living with you in the property.
- Failure to declare that you are working or not being truthful about the full extent of your hours of work or level of earnings.
- Failure to declare that you own property, either in the UK or abroad.
- Failure to declare that there is more than £6,000 in your bank accounts.
- Failure to declare that you, a relative, or the father of your children owns the property for which you are claiming Housing Benefit.
- Benefit fraudsters may also be investigated for money laundering offences.
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit fraud in Haringey
Haringey Council is committed to tackling benefit fraud and actively works in partnership with the Police, the Department for Work and Pensions and other Local Authorities to ensure that the full extent of fraud is investigated.
Money that has been obtained as a result of fraud will be recovered. Where fraud has been established further sanctions will be considered in the form of a written warning, a fine, or in more serious cases prosecution. Anyone found guilty of committing benefit fraud may also be subject to an investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act and run the risk of having property and financial assets confiscated.
In 2007/08, the Council paid over £200 million in Housing and Council Tax benefit. Investigations by Haringey’s Fraud Team identified over £1 million of benefits that had been claimed fraudulently.
Benefit fraud is a criminal offence that could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
|Back to topReport suspected benefit fraud
If you suspect that somebody is committing benefit fraud and want to report it you can:
- report suspected benefit fraud online
- email us at benefit.fraud@haringey.gov.uk
- call us in confidence on 020 8489 2868 (9.00am – 5.00pm Mon-Fri)
- call the Fraudwatch Telephone Hotline on 0500 500 777 (24 hours / 7 days a week)
Referrals can be made anonymously. If you do wish to give your name and contact details, your information will remain confidential.
|Back to topFraud Strategy
Haringey Council has an anti-fraud and corruption strategy that is approved by the members of the council. This strategy is used for managing the risk of benefit fraud. The strategy outlines our statement of intent and our approach to tackling and deterring benefit fraud in Haringey.
Please see our attached files section at the bottom of this page for a copy of the strategy.
|Back to topSanction Policy
Haringey Council has a Sanction Policy that is based on the Code for Crown Prosecutors This policy is approved by the members of the council. This policy provides clear guidance on what sanctions are available against those who commit benefit fraud and when the use of a sanction is appropriate.
Please see our attached files section at the bottom of this page for a copy of the policy.
|Back to topReferral Guidance
The Benefit Fraud Team assesses all fraud referrals to determine whether or not they are appropriate to investigate. The Referral Guidance document has been designed to provide assistance with referring fraud to the team and includes examples of the type information we require.
Please see our attached files section at the bottom of this page for a copy of this guidance.
|Back to top| Filename | Filetype | Size |
|---|---|---|
fraud strategy.pdf  | 27K | |
| fraud sanctions policy.pdf | 29K | |
| fraud referral guidance.pdf | 24K | |
| PDF documents require Adobe Acrobat reader. Please click here to download. | ||
Update MePage Last Updated: 28 November 2008
This page belongs to the following categories :
- Policing and public safety > Crime and law enforcement
