Fraud - What are we doing at East Hants to stop the abuse of the benefit system?

At East Hampshire District Council we take a lot of care trying to ensure that Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit claims are right from the start. All claims that are made are thoroughly checked and all the information that is provided as part of the claim is verified in line with the standards set, as part of the Governments Welfare Reform Programme. This seeks to reduce waste and fraud by setting out minimum standards of evidence and checks required for claims for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

When fraud or abuse is suspected East Hampshire District Council has a dedicated team of fully trained fraud investigators, who use all legal means to actively investigate allegations of benefit fraud and to take action against fraudsters. Every investigator is qualified to investigate, interview alleged fraudsters in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and prepare cases for presentation in court. Council Investigators have the powers under legislation to access information held by the Inland Revenue, the DWP, land registry, employers wage records, banks, credit companies, private and company pension providers, other local authorities and many other records held within data systems.

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 brought before the courts as joint prosecutions. This means that the whole range of benefits being claimed are investigated as one case and fraudsters who land up in court have the whole extent of their dishonesty heard and sentenced by the court.