Housing Benefit fraud is a criminal offence.
If you claim benefits that you are not entitled to, you may be committing fraud.
For example, if you claim benefit but do not tell us that you:
- are working
- have property, capital or income
- have a partner who lives with you (including civil partners and same sex couples)
- have other adults living in the property which may affect your entitlement to benefit.
If you are in receipt of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, it is your responsibility to notify us immediately of any change in your circumstances that may affect your entitlement. You cannot assume that other organisations, like the Department for Work and Pensions or Jobcentre Plus, will notify us on your behalf
Reporting benefit fraud
Report suspected benefit fraud by ringing the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 , (textphone 0800 328 0512 )
Following the formation of the single fraud investigation service, all allegations of housing benefit fraud are investigated by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Change in circumstances
People who claim benefits have a duty to tell the council of any changes in circumstances which might affect their entitlement. You must inform us straight away if you have a change.