Benefit Fraud Costs You Money
West Dunbartonshire Council aim to make sure that people entitled to benefit receive their true entitlement, but we also have an obligation to prevent abuse of the system by those who claim benefit falsely.
We have a dedicated Benefit Investigation Team based in Rosebery Place, Clydebank who undertake investigations from referrals made by the public, officers and members of the Council and other Government departments and from the results of national and local data matching.
What is Benefit Fraud?
Fraud is Theft!
Benefit fraud is theft and increases the amount of tax everyone has to pay.The Government estimates that benefit fraud amounts to £0.9 billion every year, meaning less money for those who really need it. West Dunbartonshire Council have a Housing & Council Tax Benefit Fraud Strategy which sets out what the council's aims and responsibilities for the prevention, detection and investigation of housing and council tax benefit fraud.
Types of Benefit Fraud
- People who are working but do not declare this when they claim benefit
- People who claim as a single person but actually live with a partner
- People who claim from an address but do not live there
- People who do not tell us the full amount of income, savings or capital when they claim benefit
We Need Your Help
If you know that somebody is abusing the Housing and Council Tax Benefit system, please tell us. Any information you give us will be treated in confidence, and you do not have to tell us who you are. The more detail you can give us the better.
Contact the Benefit Investigation Team on 01389 738686 or call the National Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 all information received is treated with total confidence.
Alternatively, you can complete an online form Fraud Referral Form (F1P) and submit it electronically via email to benefits@west-dunbarton.gov.uk or print it off and post it to: Benefit Investigation Team, Rosebery Place, Clydebank, G81 1TG.
