Benefit Fraud

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 3 fully qualified investigation officers, together with a support officer. The team has proved to be extremely successful and has consistently beaten the Government targets in the last 20 years. In 2008/9 the team completed 8 successful Prosecutions, issued 40 Cautions and 20 Administrative Penalties (Fines).

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.

Detection

The Investigation team look at approximately 200 cases of alleged fraud each year. In the year 2008/09 the Investigation team identified overpayments of £167k. The majority of fraud referrals now originate from data matching with other agencies such as The Department for Work & Pensions, The Audit Commission and HM Revenues and Customs (HMRC). All successful prosecutions are publicised in the local press and on this website to add to the deterrent value.

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 (39KB) (link opens in new window)