Every year it is estimated that benefit cheats cost around £2 billion in stolen benefits. They are taking public money from people who really need it. The total cost of this fraud is equivalent to £80 a year from each family in Great Britain.
We are taking positive action to:
- emphasise that benefit fraud is a serious problem and will not be tolerated
- make it harder to commit benefit fraud
- detect more benefit fraud
- stop those who might be thinking of committing benefit fraud, and
- encourage people to report those who are committing benefit fraud.
Report benefit fraud online If you think someone is committing benefit fraud it is important that you let us know.
Benefit fraud hotline
The benefit fraud hotline is a confidential way for you to pass factual information to us about suspected fraudulent benefit claimants. Telephone the hotline in confidence on 01768 212238.
What we need from you
Please provide as much information as you can about the person and why you think they are committing benefit fraud. The more information you provide, the better. The law says that we must have good reason to investigate a person. For example:
-
Example 1
Joe Blogs is working and claiming.
-
Example 2
Joe Blogs is working and claiming benefit, he leaves the house everyday at about 8.30am in a boiler suit and returns at approx 6pm. He drives an old blue Vauxhall Nova.
We would not be able to investigate the first example, as it does not give enough grounds for an investigation. It does not tell us why you think that the person is committing fraud. We would probably be able to investigate the second example, as it does say why you think the person is committing fraud.
We look at every report that we receive. Investigations can take some time and it should not be obvious that the person is under investigation.
We cannot tell you about individual cases as we have a duty of confidentiality.
If you suspect someone of committing benefit fraud, bear in mind that they may be legitimately working and receiving benefit. There are times when people can get benefit and work.
When we receive a report of benefit fraud, we check the person's benefit claim. We may discover that the person has already declared the work to us, that the work is unpaid or that they are getting a benefit that is not affected by work.
For further information:
-
Contact: Benefits Investigation Team
-
Address: Eden District Council, Town Hall, Penrith CA11 7QF
-
Telephone: Confidential Hotline 01768 212238
-
Email: Ben.Inv@eden.gov.uk
-
Fax: 01768 212140
