Council Tax and Housing Benefit Fraud
Details
The Benefit Investigation Team are responsible for the prevention and detection of Housing and Council Tax benefit fraud and are based in St. Nicholas House.
The team of professionally trained investigators are empowered to obtain information from financial institutions such as credit card companies and banks as well as Government Departments and other Local Authorities. Information can also be sourced from employers, utility companies and Internet providers to name a few. It is an offence if a data holder refuses to supply information or if they obstruct an authorised investigator in the course of their duties.
Other investigative tools used to obtain information include surveillance, computer data matches (including National Fraud Initiative), joint working with the Department for Work and Pensions and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
Investigations can take months to complete depending on their complexity. In each case where fraud has been established the overpaid benefit will be recovered and a sanction can be imposed on the claimant.
The range of sanctions available:
- Administrative Caution
- Administrative Penalty
- Refer case to Procurator Fiscal
The Proceeds of Crime Act will be used to recover assets in suitable cases.
Aberdeen City Council is committed to preventing and detecting fraud but your help is also needed. If you have a suspicion that someone is committing benefit fraud against the Council please contact the investigation team on 01224 523526
How to refer cases to the Benefit Investigation Team
Referrals will be accepted by e-mail, letter, telephone call or by accessing the link on the right.
Please be assured that any information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and at no time will it be divulged to the benefit recipient. There are provisions contained in the Data Protection Act 1998 that allow us to restrict the information we supply if the benefit claimant submits a subject access request.
Back to the Council Tax and Benefits home page.
Contact(s)
- Council Tax and Benefits
Fraud Investigation
Phone: 01224 523526
Email: benefitfraud@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Customer Relation Management (CRM)
Continuous Improvement
St. Nicholas House
Aberdeen
Frequently Asked Question(s)
- How do I report benefit fraud?
- What are some examples of benefit fraud?
- What are the penalties for someone caught committing Council Tax and or Housing Benefit Fraud?
- What happens if I report someone I suspect of committing Fraud?
- What is benefit fraud?
- What powers have the Council to investigate Fraud?
