Council begins campaign to tackle benefit cheats
Telford & Wrekin Council has today launched a campaign that will put benefit cheats on edge as members of the public are being asked to report anyone they suspect of claiming benefits they are not entitled to.
Benefit fraud was thought to cost the UK an estimated £1.1 billion in 2013/14; money which could be better used to protect essential services at a time where funding cuts continue to impact heavily on local authorities, not least Telford & Wrekin.
And so, this new campaign aims to encourage residents to get reporting and help put a stop to fraudulent claims.
The Council wants to hear from people who suspect anyone of fraudulently claiming Council Tax Support and/or Single Person Discount.
Any of the following things could suggest a fraudulent claim:
- People who are working but haven’t told the Council
- People who are claiming as a single person but actually living with a partner
- People who do not tell the Council about all the people that live in their household, for example grown up sons or daughters
- People who do not declare all their income and capital when they claim or when it increases during a claim
- People who do not tell the Council about all the properties they own
- People who claim from an address where they do not live
Any of these people could be making a fraudulent claim and members of the public and neighbours of these people are at the front line and in the best position to provide information to the Council that can lead to putting an end to benefit fraud.
Reporting fraud within Telford and Wrekin has never been easier and everyone who makes a report can remain anonymous so the claimant will never know who has reported them.
The best way to provide a quality report to allow the Council to investigate is by using the new fraud reporting tools on the free Everyday Telford app or online at www.telford.gov.uk/fraud
For those without a smart phone or access to the internet, the hotline number 01952 383839 is also available.
Councillor Lee Carter, cabinet member for Finance and Service Delivery, said: “Cheating the benefits system is an unacceptable crime. The Council pays out thousands every year to people, who either intentionally or accidentally in some cases, are claiming money they are not entitled to.
“And with further funding cuts of over £30 million during the next three years, we can’t afford to sit back and let money be paid to people who shouldn’t have it.
“We are putting a clear message out there to anyone claiming benefits fraudulently that we are looking for them, and more importantly we are asking members of the public to look for them and report them.
“If you’re an honest person, these dishonest claimants are taking money from your pockets for their own use.
“Let’s get this money back into the system where it can be used to protect vital services which everyone, including the cheats themselves, rely on.”
The Everyday Telford App is available to download for iOS, Android and Windows devices.
