Anybody claiming Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit has to tell us about their personal and financial circumstances. This is so we can work out the correct amount of benefit that is due.

Benefit fraud is a criminal offence

Anyone who knowingly fails to declare their true circumstances when receiving benefit is committing fraud.

Common types of fraud include failing to tell us about: 

• Bank or Building Society accounts
• Working part time or full time
• Other people living with you
• Other income including private pensions
• Other benefits, such as tax credits
• Moving home
• Marriage
• A partner moving in with you - even if it is only temporary
• Renting a room to a lodger or tenant
• Properties you own or have an interest in

 
Benefit fraud steals from our community

Benefit fraud costs Wokingham money that could be used to fund other vital services and so is not a victimless crime. We pay approximately £12.3 million in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit every year. 

Nationally, it is estimated that about 10% of benefit paid has been claimed fraudulently. You can help us reduce this by reporting a fraud.

Benefit Fraud Policy

We are committed to protecting public funds, including those used in the payment of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Council staff will, at all times, seek to ensure that benefit payments are made to those persons who are genuinely entitled to receive them.

If payments in excess of entitlements are shown to have been made, we will take action to stop further payments and, where appropriate, recover overpayments.

Where suspected cases of benefit fraud have been investigated by us and sufficient evidence appears to have been obtained to sustain a prosecution, we will consider taking action against the person(s) concerned.

Forms of action may include:

• Recovery of the overpayment
• Civil recovery through the Court
• The imposition of an Administrative Penalty of 30% in addition to the recovery of any fraudulent overpayment
• The imposition of a Formal Caution in addition to the recovery of any fraudulent overpayment
• Prosecution by the Council’s Investigation Section, Legal Section or appointed Agents, which will include an application for compensation
• Referral to the Police with a view to criminal investigation and prosecution, which will include an application for compensation

Where a successful prosecution is undertaken, the Council will also look to publicise the case as widely as possible to act as a deterrent to other potential fraudsters.

All cases that are referred to the Revenues and Benefits Investigation Unit will be investigated to the highest standards and will comply with all relevant legislation including:

• Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1994
• Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996
• Human Rights Act 2000
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
• Various Social Security Acts

Where the Council has investigated suspected cases of fraud and sufficient evidence has been obtained to sustain a prosecution, the Council will seek to impose a sanction against the offender in line with this policy.

Contact us

If you are in any doubt about what you should be telling us, please contact our Benefits section using the contact details on the right.