Report a fraud - Benefit fraud

Benefit fraud is when someone makes a claim for benefit based on information that they know to be false or inaccurate. It can also be where the original claim is correct but the person does not tell the Council about a change in their circumstances. Benefit fraud can be committed by a person claiming the benefit, someone helping the person claiming the benefit or on some occasions a landlord or an employer.

Some examples of the type of benefit fraud that can be committed is when a benefit claimant :- 

• is working but they have not told the Council about their work
• has not told the Council about property they own or all their savings and investments
• has a partner, relative, friend or lodger living with them and has not told the Council
• is not claiming in their true identity
• is not living at the property they are receiving benefit for or is subletting their property
• has not told the Council about all their income

You can download more information about benefit fraud here:

•  A guide to fraud and how we can prevent it