Benefit fraud

We are committed to preventing and detecting fraud. The council has a responsibility to ensure that payments of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are only made to those who are entitled to receive them.  We want to stamp out benefit fraud for these reasons:

• It is stealing millions of pounds from the public
• It takes money which could otherwise be spent on those genuinely in need
• It strikes at the roots of public support of our welfare system

Examples of benefit fraud:

• Failure to declare savings, investments, inheritance, trusts or property owned
• Not living at the property that has been claimed for
• Failure to inform us that you have income from employment
• Failure to declare an occupational pension or a partner's occupational pension
• Living with an undeclared partner who has income

To contact us or to report suspected fraud

• Call the Fraud Hotline on 0800 328 6340. Your call will be treated in confidence and is free
• Or you can call the investigation team directly on 020 8871 7067
• Or email us at hbctbfraud@wandsworth.gov.uk

We have a dedicated team of investigation officers experienced in the prevention and detection of benefit fraud.

All investigation officers are Authorised Officers in accordance with section110A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. This means that we can enter premises where a trade or business is being conducted. We are allowed to question any person on the premises and remove any necessary documentation. 

We also have an Authorised Officer to obtain information from organisations such as banks, building societies, utility companies, pension and insurance providers. All investigation officers are accredited counter fraud officers through the University of Portsmouth.

We are fully committed to the government's national campaign of targeting benefit thieves. In the past financial year we have so far prosecuted 14 people. As well as this, we have imposed over 70 administration penalties and cautions as an alternative to prosecution. In all, the investigation team have identified one million pounds in benefit overpayments, all of which is recoverable.