What is Benefit Fraud?

Benefit fraud is where people claim Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit but have no right to make a claim. The Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit scheme is for people on low incomes who genuinely need help with their housing costs.  Housing and Council Tax Benefits are means tested so each claim is assessed on each individual's circumstances and different levels of benefit are awarded accordingly.

Click to see further information about claiming for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Some unscrupulous individuals make a claim for benefit without telling the Council their true circumstances or deliberately fail to tell the Council if their circumstances change.

Change of Circumstances Form

Benefit fraud is costing taxpayers an estimated £2 billion per year.  This equates to over £70 for every taxpayer, or the cost of building 49,000 new three bed houses.  This is money that could be invested in essential services.

Every year billions of pounds are lost through Benefit Fraud; money that could be invested in essential services.

Here at North Wiltshire District Council we are committed to combating Benefit Fraud and stopping the cheats.  The Government has a national policy to reduce Housing Benefit fraud by 25% by 2006 as well as fraud in other Government benefits, and more information can be found at the Department of Work and Pensions website at www.targetingbenefitfraud.gov.uk  In 2004/05 NWDC's dedicated fraud investigation team identified over £61,600 in successful investigations and successfully sanctioned 18 Benefit cheats.

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Benefit fraud is not a victimless crime.  Everyone who pays Income Tax or Council Tax is a victim and is being cheated out of other essential services by the greed of those who are not in genuine need.