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.
Is Benefit Fraud a Crime?
Yes, Benefit fraud is a criminal offence and may result in prosecution.
Benefit fraud is theft and increases the amount of tax everyone has to pay. The Government estimates that benefit fraud amounts to £1.1 billion every year, meaning less money for those who really need it. West Dunbartonshire Council have a Housing & Council Tax Benefit Fraud Strategy (44KB .pdf document) which sets out what the council's aims and responsibilities for the prevention, detection and investigation of housing and council tax benefit fraud.
Benefit fraud is knowingly obtaining benefit to which there is no entitlement. It is the deliberate withholding or providing of false information in order to obtain benefits. It covers all benefits, such as:
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Housing Benefit
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Council Tax Benefit
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Income Support
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Pension Credits
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Jobseekers Allowance
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Disability Living Allowance
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Plus many others - for confidential advice, please contact the Council's Benefit Investigation Team on (01389) 738630
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.
To find out how to report benefit fraud, please click on this link - reporting benefit fraud.
For more information, please click the relevant link below.
What is Benefit Fraud?
Who Investigates Fraud & What Actions Can They Take?
Team's Performance
