Benefit fraud
If you suspect that somebody is committing benefit fraud we want to hear from you.
Stevenage Borough Council is seriously committed to tackling Benefit Fraud.
On a national level, it is estimated that £2 billion is lost every year through benefit fraud. This equates to £70 a year for every taxpayer.
Reporting benefit fraud
We need your help to identify the individuals committing benefit fraud. If you suspect that somebody is committing benefit fraud you can report it to us:
- by email - antifraud@stevenage.gov.uk
- using the freephone Fraud hotline on 0800 052 0263 between 8.30am and 5.00pm, or leave a message on our answerphone after hours.
- by downloading a Suspected Fraud Reporting Form and posting it to the address at the bottom of this page.
- by filling out an online reporting form.
Information required
In order to thoroughly investigate allegations of fraud we need as much information as possible, for example:
- The nature of the fraud
- Name and address of the person(s) concerned
- Details of employment including the type of work, name and address of the employer, hours of work, approximate earnings
- Details of any undeclared partner including their name, description, employment, departure times from the property
- Description of vehicles, including number plate.
Types of fraud
The types of fraud, which we are currently investigating, include:
- Undeclared partners (living together)Undeclared non-dependantsUndeclared work
- Undeclared bank/building society accounts
- Undeclared savings and capital
- Undeclared income
- Undeclared occupational/private pensions
- Subletting
- Non-occupation
- Contrived tenancies.
All allegations will be investigated by highly trained and professional Fraud Investigators working to guidelines and legislation laid down by the Government.
Any information you supply will remain private and confidential.
Why report benefit fraud to the Council?
Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime and has an impact both nationally and locally.
- Local
- The amount of money available for the Council to spend on the local community is reduced and contributes to increases in Council Tax
- National
- It diverts money from where it is needed, such as schools and hospitals, which in turn leads to additional tax increases
What is the Council doing to prevent benefit fraud?
The Council’s Fraud Investigation Team works closely with other agencies in its bid to combat benefit fraud.
Joint investigations are carried out with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and neighbouring Councils and can often involve the Police, Immigration Service, Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue.
The Council also participates in Data Matching Exercises, which are conducted by the Housing Benefit Matching Service (HBMS) and the Audit Commission’s National Fraud Initiative (NFI), who cross-reference information held by public authorities and a number of private companies. Any conflicting data is then referred to the relevant authority to investigate.
For more information contact:
Fraud Investigation Team
Stevenage Borough Council
Daneshill House
Danestrete
Stevenage
SG1 1HN