What is Benefit Fraud?
Benefit fraud is where people claim Housing/Council Tax benefit, or other Social Security benefits, but have no entitlement to claim. There are many types of benefit fraud; these are a few examples of the most common cases,
- People who are employed but do not declare this work when they claim benefit
- People who claim as a single person but actually live with an undeclared partner
- People who claim from an address but do not live there
- People who claim Housing Benefit on a property where they have no liability to pay rent, for example, the property is owned by the claimant or their partner
- People who do not declare their full income, savings or capital when they claim benefit
- People who knowingly provide false information on their claim for benefit
Why should I be concerned about Benefit Fraud?
Each year benefit fraud takes billions of pounds of public money. Even if you do not pay income tax we all pay some sort of indirect taxation, so the theft of public money is theft from you!
What are we doing to stop this abuse of the benefits system?
Wrexham County Borough Council has a dedicated team of fully trained fraud investigators, who use the latest technology and data collection systems to prevent and detect fraudulent benefit claims. Every investigator has full professional qualifications, can interview alleged fraudsters in accordance with the Police And Criminal Evidence Act and prepare cases for presentation in court.
 View a list of recent successful prosecutions
Do the Fraud Investigators work with other organisations?
 Many cases are conducted as joint investigations with officers from the Department for Work and Pensions and cases are often brought before the courts as joint prosecutions. Council investigators have the powers to access information held by the Inland Revenue, the DWP, Land Registry, employers' wage records, banks and credit companies, private and company pension providers, other local authorities and many other records held various data systems.
What happens to people who commit fraud?
Anyone convicted in either the Magistrates or Crown courts will have a criminal record. Not all cases are referred to the courts for prosecution and less serious cases may be dealt with administratively, either by way of a Formal Caution or an Administrative Penalty.
Formal Caution
When a person admits to committing an offence and the loss to public funds is not too excessive a Formal Caution may be offered. A Formal Caution is a written warning similar to a police caution but is held on record only by the Local Authority and the Department for Work and Pensions. If a person re-offends the Caution will be taken into account if the case is considered for prosecution.
Administrative Penalty
If a Formal Caution cannot be offered another alternative to prosecution is an Administrative Penalty. This is a financial penalty, similar to a fine, and is set by legislation at 30% of any overpayment of benefit. When a person accepts an Administrative Penalty they are required to repay the overpayment and the Administrative Penalty. This penalty is also taken into account if the person re-offends.
View the Council's Sanctions Policy
View the results of the Council's Sanctions
| |
Cautions |
Administrative Penalty |
Summons |
Convictions |
| March 07 |
0 |
21 |
2 |
4 |
| April 07 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
| May 07 |
2 |
17 |
4 |
1 |
| June 07 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
Other Fraud links
How can I report a person I suspect is committing fraud?
Contact the fraud team in confidence on 01978 292728.
Send us an email to stampoutfraud@wrexham.gov.uk
Filling in the Online Fraud Reporting Form
Or by post to STAMP OUT FRAUD, P.O. BOX 2069, WREXHAM.
Verification Framework
Find out more information about verification framework.
Insurance Fraud
Fraudulent insurance claims against Local Authorities can cost the Council Taxpayer thousands of pounds each year. Councils regularly receive false claims from a minority of people who fraudulently claim to have been injured or had their property damaged.
If you suspect someone of making a fraudulent insurance claim then please contact the confidential freephone hotline number.
Tel: 0800 3289270
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