Fraud Investigation

Epping Forest District Council is totally committed to tackling the issue of Benefit Fraud and our approach to this problem is to deal with it in a highly trained and professional manner.

We work within the guidelines and legal legislation laid down by the government and have a team of professionally trained and accredited investigators who are able to investigate all types of benefit fraud that is either reported to the council or is found by proactive means.

To report suspected benefit fraud you can call our fraud hotline on 01992 564 444 or report online here. In all cases reports will be treated in the strictest confidence.

What is benefit fraud?

Housing Benefit / Council Tax Benefit are “means tested” benefits which means that somebody’s entitlement to them is assessed on their personal and financial circumstances. In order for someone’s benefit claim to be assessed accurately and fairly, the council must be in full receipt of the facts when deciding if benefit can be paid and at what rate.

Fraud takes place when a claimant is either not truthful about their circumstances when they make a claim or does not inform the council of a change in their circumstances during an ongoing claim.

Despite popular belief, benefit fraud is not a “victimless” crime. On a national level it is estimated that over £2 Billion per year is lost through fraudulent benefit claims which means that every taxpayer in the country pays £70 towards benefit someone is not entitled to receive. Subsequently, money is taken from where it is most needed (hospitals, schools etc.

On a local level, benefit fraud committed against the council means that the amount of money available for the council to spend on the local community is reduced and can significantly contribute to increases in Council Tax.

Benefit Fraud takes many different forms

Examples of the most common are:

1. Undeclared Work / Income

   This is where the claimant fails to declare that they are working, have started work or receives money from any other source knowing that concealing this information may affect their entitlement to benefit.

2. Non Disclosure of Property / Capital

   This fraud occurs when a claimant fails to declare that they have capital, savings, investments, shares etc or that they own or have an interest in property or land either in the UK or abroad. It may also be the case that they receive an income in the form of rent (see above).

3. Non Disclosure of Partner

   Sometimes people claim benefit and state that they are the only adult person living in the household when in fact, they are living with a partner. The partner may be working or there may be some other reason why the partner is not declared, however usually a partner is not declared on a benefit claim, as the claimant knows that this may affect their benefit entitlement.

4. Non Declaration of Sub Tenants, Lodgers / Boarders or Non Dependants

   Sometimes people who live in a property (either council or privately rented) receive Housing Benefit but do not live there. Instead they rent the property out themselves and receive rent payments from the sub-tenant.
   
   Another situation that can occur is when a claimant rents out part of their home to a lodger or boarder and receives rent or does not declare the presence of another adult living in their property.
   
   All of these situations will usually affect someone’s entitlement to benefit and must always be declared. (Also see Undeclared Income).

5. False Claims by people not entitled to Housing Benefit

   There are certain people who do not qualify for Housing Benefit, such as students, homeowners, people with no liability (or genuine liability) to pay rent etc. Sometimes these people attempt to conceal or distort their true circumstances in order to claim Housing Benefit to which they would not otherwise be entitled to receive.

6. Failure to declare a change of address

   This fraud occurs when a person moves from the address they are claiming benefit for, does not inform the council of this and continues to accept payments of Housing Benefit.

7. False Address Fraud

   This occurs when someone makes a Housing Benefit claim for an address, which they do not live at.

8. Fraud by Landlords

   If Housing Benefit is being paid directly to a landlord, they have an obligation to inform the council if the tenant who is claiming moves out. If they know the person has vacated the property yet do not declare this fact and continue to accept the benefit payments, they are being fraudulent.

This list is not exhaustive but merely gives examples of the most common types of benefit fraud committed against the authority.