Tackling Housing Benefit, Council Tax and other benefit fraud in Craven

Craven District Council has a specially trained and qualified team dedicated to pursuing fraudsters. We are committed to protecting public funds by deterring, detecting and preventing fraudulent claims and applying penalties when appropriate with a view towards prosecution of offenders if necessary.

What is Benefit Fraud?

Claims for benefit are based on people declaring their circumstances, including household composition and finances. This includes savings and investments.

Benefit fraud is committed if the details given are deliberately false or untrue with a view to obtaining benefit they are not entitled to receive.

Benefit fraud is also committed if the relevant person deliberately fails to notify any changes in circumstances that might affect their claim.

If people’s circumstances change, for instance, they start work, it is their responsibility to ensure the Council is notified. This should be done in writing within one calendar month.

The person who is claiming the benefit, or in some cases, is receiving the benefit, for instance a landlord, is the person who should notify the Council.

Examples of benefit fraud include:
           

• Undeclared working and claiming benefits 
• Not declaring the full amount of income, other benefits, savings, capital, property or inheritance
• Failing to declare they have a partner, non-dependant adults or lodgers living with them
• Failing to declare the ownership of another property
• Claiming despite not being resident at a property, claiming under a false address or failing to tell us of a change of address
• Landlords receiving benefit despite the claimant having left the premises or claiming under fictitious tenancies
• Claiming under a false name/ identity 
• An employer colluding with an employee regarding earnings.

False statements and failing to notify changes in circumstances are criminal offences and can lead to imprisonment for periods up to 10 years.

How to report Benefit Fraud in Craven

If you suspect someone of committing benefit fraud in Craven please contact the Control Team. You can report individuals anonymously or if you give us your name we will keep this confidential. 

You can:

Ring our Local Fraud Hotline on 01756 706297, 01756 706388 or fax on 01756 706403

   or

Email the team on controlteam@cravendc.gov.uk

  or

Write to us at:

Craven District Council
Control Team
Town Hall
Skipton
BD23 1AH    

Or use our online benefit fraud referral form.

• The alleged offenders name and address
• The type of benefit fraud suspected and how long it has been going on for
• Information relating to employment (employer, place of work, hours of work, whether they are paid cash in hand etc)
• The source and amount of undeclared income/ capital
• The names of the residents at the claimant's address (including details of any alleged partner)
• Details of any other addresses linked to the person
• Any other names used
• Their vehicle details (registration number etc)
• Any other information known

Any information provided will be welcomed and preliminary investigations will be conducted.  If benefit fraud is suspected, the Council will conduct further investigations with a view to administering a sanction if benefit fraud is proved. Sanctions can include issuing a formal caution, administering a financial penalty or prosecution through the courts. If an investigation has identified an overpayment, this must be repaid.

Benefit Fraud is a crime - report it and help save your taxes!
 
You may also wish to test your knowledge of benefit fraud by using our on-line fraud awareness package. Please click the link on the right hand side and type in the required fields: 

Your Local Authority Name: Craven District Council

Your Name: (e.g. Sherlock Holmes)

Department / Landlord / CAB: Public  

Password: BENFRAUD1

                        Guidance Leaflets

Please find links to guidance leaflets on the right hand side which provide information and advice for suspects throughout the investigative and sanctioning process.