Reporting Benefit Fraud
The information you provide will be taken in the
strictest of confidence. You do not have to give your name. Neither
your details, nor the call will be recorded.
Please give as much information and detail as you possibly can
when making the report. We look at every report you send to us and
will judge it based on it’s merits.
Ensuring a high quality referral will give our Investigation
Officers the information they need, to pursue those persons who
choose to abuse the benefits system.
In all of the following scenarios the information requested is
to provide you with guidance. If you are unable to provide all
the information and only have some detail please provide
us with as much as you can from the lists below.
What information do I need to provide?
- Full name(s) and address(es) of person(s) alleged to be
committing benefit fraud.
- Type of alleged benefit fraud being committed - e.g. working
& claiming, not declaring resident partner or other adult, not
living at address or sub-letting, other monies coming in or bank
accounts held, or property owned.
- Full description(s) of persons involved - e.g. height, build,
hair colour - length and style, eye colour, distinguishing marks -
e.g. tattoos, birthmarks, or scars, clothing - eg: suit.
If someone is working and claiming:
- Full name and address of employer.
- How long person has worked there?
- Type of work done - number of hours - level of earnings?
- Times person works.
- Are any work clothes worn - description.
- Is company vehicle used?
If someone is not declaring a resident partner:
- Full name and description of alleged partner.
- Date of birth or National Insurance number known?
- How long has alleged partner been resident?
- If alleged partner works, full name and address of their
employer, plus times they work. Any work clothes worn, do they have
company vehicle?
- If alleged partner is known to be on benefits, do they know
from what address they claim benefits from and what benefits are
claimed?
If someone is not living at an address:
- How long the person has not been resident?
- What address the person is actually living at?
- Name of householder there.
- Have all belongings been removed from address?
- Does anyone visit to pick up post at address - when and how
often?
If someone is not declaring other capital owned:
- Type of capital - bank accounts/property/unit
trusts/stocks/shares/premium bonds etc.
- Which bank(s)?
- Where the capital has come from.
- Full address of property(s) owned - is there any mortgage on
address - how much is outstanding - whose name is mortgage in -
which lender is it with?
- If other property owned, is it rented out - to who - how long
has it been rented out - any other tenants names - amount of rent
charged?
- How long these have been held/owned by person?
If someone is not declaring other income:
- What type of income is it - private pension/other
benefits/rental income?
- How much - how long have they been receiving it - from
who?
If someone is not declaring other adults (not their partner)
living with them:
- Full name(s), date(s) of birth, and National Insurance numbers
of person(s) resident.
- How long resident - address moved there from?
- Working or claiming benefits - full employer details.
- If working, the times they work?
- How known to benefit customer - friend, relative?
- Do they pay rent to stay there - what is arrangement?
Landlords
We must be aware that landlords could be involved in the report
of possible fraud. If you know or suspect a landlord to be involved
in the alleged fraud, please provide as many details as you can to
substantiate this.
Employers
Employers can sometimes collude with employees, so that the
employee can abuse the benefits system. Please provide us with as
much evidence as possible, if you are aware this is happening.
Employer's name, address, premises used, vehicles used, as many
employee names as you can, suppliers or customers that employees
may deal with regularly.
Vehicles
Please provide the make (e.g. Ford) model, (e.g. Mondeo), colour
and registration of vehicle or vehicles being used. If a vehicle
has signs, markings or business details on it, please ensure these
are also given.
Potentially Violent
Please confirm if any person involved in the allegation is known
to be potentially violent.
If yes, how do you know this?
How do I report suspected Benefit Fraud?
You can report a benefit cheat by phoning our Fraudline on 0800
0262456 and leave a message on our 24-hour answer phone.
If you wish to talk to a member of staff please call 01233
330456 between 8.30 am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
The service is strictly confidential and you do not have to give
your name.
If you wish to contact the Benefits Fraud Section for further
information or advice you can write to us at:
The Benefits Investigation Team
Civic Centre
Tannery Lane
Ashford, Kent
TN23 1PL
Fax 01233 330651
Or email fraud@ashford.gov.uk
You can also visit
Our Offices in person.
This webpage was updated on
2/21/2012