The cost of benefit fraud
We estimate that £18 million was lost in 2006 through Social Security Agency benefit fraud.
This figure is made up of:
- £4m - Income Support
- £2.6m - Jobseekers Allowance
- £11.5m - across Incapacity Benefit, Carer's Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, Pension Credit, and Instrument of Payment fraud
A further £3 million was lost through Housing Benefit fraud.
This is a huge amount of money that could be put to much better use in such areas as health, education, and for the general good of the community.
We take benefit fraud very seriously, as our current advertising campaign shows.
The people who commit benefit fraud are stealing money from people, like you and I, who pay income tax and National Insurance contributions.
We cannot tackle this issue on our own. We need your help.
If you know someone who is committing benefit fraud, it is important that you let us know about it and report the benefit cheat.
You can do so by calling the Fraud hotline 0800 975 6050