Benefit and Council Tax fraud is theft, not a victimless crime. Every pound lost increases pressure on national and local taxes and puts essential services at risk.

The Department for Work and Pensions investigates Housing Benefit fraud. Suspected cases can be reported directly to the department using the details in the ‘How do I report?’ tab.

Telford & Wrekin Council investigates Council Tax fraud, including fraud involving Council Tax Reduction, formerly Council Tax Support, Single Person Discount and Council Tax liability.

The Council takes fraud seriously and may prosecute offenders or issue a financial penalty. Anyone who fraudulently claims a benefit, discount or exemption must repay any amount they were not entitled to receive.

Examples include:

  • working while claiming Council Tax Reduction without reporting the employment

  • claiming Single Person Discount or Council Tax Reduction while living with a partner

  • failing to report everyone living in the household, including adult children

  • failing to declare all income or capital when claiming Council Tax Reduction, or failing to report an increase during the claim

  • failing to declare all properties owned

  • claiming for an address where the claimant does not live

If you receive Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit or any other exemption or discount, you must notify the Council of any change in circumstances that may affect your entitlement.

View information on how to report a change in your circumstances

View information on how to report changes that affect your Council Tax liability, discounts and exemptions

If I report fraud, will I remain anonymous?

All information we receive reporting suspected benefit fraud is treated with the utmost confidence. If you are reporting someone for suspected fraud, you do not have to give your name. If you do want to give your name, an Investigation Officer may contact you for further information.

We are prevented from giving feedback to members of the public on the outcome on individual fraud investigations due to the Data Protection Act. However, we promise that we will look at every case referred to us. If someone is prosecuted for benefit fraud by the council, we will send a press release to the local media and our Newsroom.

Visit the Newsroom website to read the latest council news and press releases

Last updated : 23 September 2026

Any allegations of Housing Benefit fraud alone must be reported to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as they have the jurisdiction to investigate this benefit.

Telford & Wrekin Council can investigate fraud relating to Council Tax Reduction (formerly known as Council Tax Support), Council Tax discounts and emptions (such as single person discount) and Council Tax liability.

If you wish to report fraud relating to any of these areas then please tell us as much information as possible. We need to know the person being reported and their address. You also need to tell us what fraud you think they are committing and the details. For example:

  • if the person hasn't reported that they are working, please tell us where they are working and how they get there
  • if they haven't declared a person that is living with them, please tell us who the person is, their relationship to the claimant, where they work, what they look like, if they have a car, etc.

Please also tell us how long you think they have been committing fraud. You cannot assume that others will notify us on your behalf.

Report suspected housing benefit fraud

Visit the GOV.UK website to report suspected housing benefit fraud

Alternatively, call the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440. Phone lines are open between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Report suspected council tax reduction or council tax fraud

Complete our online form to report suspected council tax reduction or council tax fraud

You can also report fraud to us using the following alternative methods:

Telephone: 01952 383839 (there is an answering machine outside of office hours)
Email: investigations@telford.gov.uk
By letter: if you choose this method, please address your letter to:

Investigations team
Telford & Wrekin Council
Darby House
Lawn Central
Telford
TF3 4JA.

Last updated : 1 October 2024