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Money, tax and benefits
Reporting benefit theft
Benefit theft cost the country around £800 million in 2005-06. If you think someone is committing benefit theft, you can report them and stop them taking money from the people who need it most.
What is benefit fraud?
Benefit theft is when someone lies to get benefit. This includes people who are:
- not reporting they are now living with a partner
- not reporting they are receiving other benefits
- not reporting any savings or not reporting the right amount
- claiming for children who have left home
- not reporting they have started work, or started to earn money
- not reporting they have inherited money
- not reporting they are going abroad, living abroad, or have changed address
Ways you can report benefit theft
There are three ways you can report benefit theft:
Online
Complete an online form on the Department for Work and Pensions website.
By Telephone
Call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440. Lines are open between 7.00 am and 11.00 pm, 7 days a week. It is free and confidential.
If you have speech or hearing problems you can use a text phone service on 0800 328 0512.
By Post
If you would prefer to make your report in writing, you can send information to:
NBFH, PO Box 224, Preston, PR1 1GP
What information to provide
The law says that there has to be a good reason for investigating someone for benefit theft - so you will need to give as much of the following information as possible:
- the name and address of the person you are reporting and their partner, if they have one
- a description of the person
- the type of benefit theft you think they are committing and why you suspect them
- information about their employer, if you think they are working
- information about their vehicle, if they have one
You can make an anonymous report
Whether you use the online reporting form, call the hotline, or write a letter, you can choose not to give your contact details if you prefer.
But please bear in mind that it helps if you do so, because the investigation service can get back to you with any questions.
What happens after you report someone?
Benefit theft staff will look at the information you give. If you have given enough information, they will check the person's benefit claim.
The investigation might take some time, and staff aren't allowed to tell you the outcome.
Sometimes no action is taken. It might be that the person has declared the work when claiming and their benefit is not affected by it.
Benefit theft staff will only take action if they find the person has been committing benefit theft. Action can include removing a person's benefits and taking them to court.
How the government is tackling benefit theft
Other things the government is doing to stamp out benefit theft include:
- setting standards for checking Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claims and giving Local Authorities access to government information
- requiring more evidence when people apply for a National Insurance number or claim benefits
- cross checking benefit and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) records to find benefit cheats
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