Benefits Fraud

We have a duty under benefit regulations to ensure that benefit is only paid to bona fide persons.

Investigations are carried out where it is felt that claimants are receiving benefit to which they are not entitled. Benefit fraud is a crime and is dealt with in the appropriate way. Anyone found committing benefit fraud will have to pay back any money to which they had no entitlement and some may have additional action taken against them.

This action could be prosecution in Court, which can lead to a criminal record or imprisonment, a formal caution which is held on record by the Department for Work and Pensions, or, an additional financial penalty known as an Administrative Penalty. Each case is looked at on its own merits and the seriousness of the offence.

Do you know, or suspect, that a person is claiming Housing/Council Tax Benefit that they are not entitled to? For example they:

• Claim benefit for a property and live somewhere else;
• Have other people living in the property but they have not told us about them;
• Are working and claiming Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance;
• Have failed to declare to us ALL of their income; or
• Have failed to inform us about their savings or investments (including property that they own).

If you believe someone to be claiming benefits fraudulently, you can email the Investigation Officer in complete confidence to report your suspicions at fraud@bolsover.gov.uk or you can telephone 01246 242444.

Last Updated on Monday, 07 June 2010 17:23

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