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Benefit Fraud
Introduction
North Herts District Council's Fraud Investigation Unit exists to actively discourage, prevent and detect benefit fraud.
The Council is committed to paying Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit promptly and accurately to genuine claimants, ensuring they receive the full benefit they are entitled to.
Background
The Investigation Section was formed in 1989 to monitor, record and investigate levels of alleged fraud or abuse of the benefit system.
The Team consists of 4 fully qualified investigation officers, together with a support officer. The team has proved to be extremely sucessful and has consistently beaten the Government targets in the last 10 years. In 2005/6 the team completed 31 successful prosecutions, issued 20 Cautions and 8 Administrative Penalties.
Prevention
During 1998/99 the Government introduced on a voluntary basis initially, a scheme called the "Verification Framework", the basis of which is to shift the emphasis with regard to benefit fraud away from detection toward prevention.
The prime objective of the Verification Framework is to prevent and deter fraud by a pattern of regular visits and examination or original documents only for verification purposes.
Reporting Benefit Fraud
If you think you know someone who is committing Benefit Fraud we would like to hear from you.
Benefit Anti-Fraud Strategy Statement, 