The Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for investigating all reports of benefit fraud. This includes Income Support, Job Seeker's Allowance, disability benefits and Housing Benefit.
The Council is not able to investigate suspected Housing Benefit fraud but will report any suspicions of fraud to the DWP.
How to report benefit fraud
You can report suspected benefit fraud online to the DWP here:
Report suspected benefit fraud
By telephone:
Contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440. Your call is free and confidential you do not have to give your name or address. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
By post:
NBFH
PO Box 224
Preston
PR1 1GP
Examples of benefit fraud
There are many different kinds of benefit fraud including:
- not declaring work whilst claiming
- not declaring ownership of a property
- not declaring savings or income
- living with a partner who is not declared on the claim
- not living at the address where the benefits are claimed for
- falsely claiming that rent is being paid for a property
Other types of fraud
The Council investigates other types of fraud such as;
