Benefit fraud takes many forms. Here is a list of the most common types. (The following are links to paragraphs down the page)
- Working while claiming benefit,
- Living together
- Cashing benefit payment when not entitled to do so
- Multiple-identity fraud
- Housing Benefit fraud
- Falsely claiming benefit
- Failing to report a source of income
- Failing to report savings above the benefit level
- Failing to report a change of circumstances
This list is not complete, but it gives examples of the types of fraud that our investigators see regularly.
This is better known 'doing the double' which is exactly what it is. This covers everything from a person working one or two hours a week for a little extra money, to the more common example of the organised fraudster who works full-time and still claims benefit.
This is when someone claims benefit as a single person but fails to tell us that they have a partner living with them.
This can include:
- cashing a cheque belonging to someone else without their permission
- cashing a cheque and then reporting it lost or stolen to try to get a replacement payment
- cashing a cheque when no longer entitled to benefit.
This is where one person is claiming benefits in more than one office, using more than one National Insurance number and different identities.
This is when a customer claims housing costs they are not entitled to, or does not declare that there are other people living in the household.
This is normally when a customer is claiming a benefit they are not entitled to.
This is when a customer does not declare they have other money coming in, such as a works pension or private pension
This is when a customer does not declare all their savings and they have more savings than they are allowed for the benefit they are receiving
These circumstances can include:
- dependants leaving the family home,
- dependants claiming other benefits,
- an increase or decrease in savings or income,
- going into hospital
- going abroad.
All of these circumstances and many more can have a big effect on the rate of benefit you are entitled to, so it is essential that you report all changes.
We consider all these frauds are equally serious. They are all wrong and those involved in any of them must be stopped.
If you know of a benefit cheat use the Fraud hotline 0800 975 6050.
Remember - beating fraud is everyone’s business.