Benefit, council tax, and single person discount
Benefit fraud through false claims, hidden income, misreported households, and property deception
Most benefits are administered by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) who investigate fraud in relation to those benefits (e.g. ESA, Child benefits, Universal credit, Housing benefit).
All households have to pay Council Tax. All Council Tax reduction benefit is administered by the Council. The Council also helps those on Universal credit to pay their rent.
Intentionally deceiving the council to obtain benefits not entitled to or failing to disclose information to get benefits, is fraud.
For the period of 2019/20 The Department for Work and Pensions report £2.8 billion worth of benefits were overpaid due to fraud. It is the Council who will investigate fraud into Council issued benefits.
Examples of Council Benefit fraud:
- Claiming to be the only adult at an address to obtain single person discount for council tax but actually live with a partner
- Supplying false information or details to claim council tax reduction
- Not updating the council about a change in circumstances which would affect any council tax reduction, such as a child becoming an adult and is now 18 years old, or that partner is now in full time employment
- Not declaring all other benefits such as tax credits, or benefits and income from other members of the household such as partner or lodger
- Claiming for exemptions when not entitled, such as declaring being a student when this is not true
- Not declaring full income, assets, savings, or investments, or that income amount has increased
- Claiming for benefit for an address but live elsewhere
- Claiming to have an adult that is exempt from paying council tax, but this is untrue
- Living in a house but declaring it is empty or vacant
- Not declaring all properties that are owned
To update the Council of a change of circumstances for any council benefits received:
Call: 01189746000
Email: benefits@wokingham.gov.uk
Or, complete the online form
