Benefit fraud

Benefit fraud is theft

It costs the country a lot of money – which could be spent on improving services.

We investigate many types of fraud, including:

• Working while claiming benefits
• Not telling us about money coming in
• Not declaring savings, property or investments
• Not telling us about a partner or other people living in your home
• Deliberately not reporting a change in circumstances
• Giving us false or misleading information to support a claim
• Getting benefit payments or help with your Council Tax that you know or suspect you shouldn’t be getting.

Avoid benefit fraud – your responsibilities

You must fully complete your claim form and give accurate information about yourself and anyone else on the form, even if someone else fills it in for you.

When we write to you about your claim, you must read and make sure you understand the letter, check all the details are correct and tell us straight away if anything is wrong.

Remember, you must report any change in your circumstances to us straight away - don't assume that someone else, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, will let us know for you.

Examples of changes are:

• Someone moves in or out of your home
• Your income or savings change
• There are changes to other benefits that you get.

Read more about changes in circumstances. 

If you’re not sure if you need to report something, please check with us.

If you don’t report a change, it can be an offence to continue to get payments or discounts that you’re not entitled to.

For more information, visit Gov.uk - Benefit fraud.