Benefit and Council Tax fraud is not a victimless crime. Such fraud is theft. Every pound lost through fraud increases national and local taxation levels, and also threatens essential services. The Department for Work and Pensions report that, in 2019/20, £2.8 billion worth of benefits were overpaid due to fraud.

Housing Benefit fraud is investigated by the Department for Work and Pensions and any Housing Benefit fraud can be reported directly to them. The details are provided on the 'How do I report?' tab. 

Telford & Wrekin Council investigate fraud relating to council tax, which includes Council Tax Reduction (formerly known as Council Tax Support), Single Person Discount and liability fraud matters.

Telford & Wrekin Council takes fraud very seriously and takes the appropriate action against people who fraudulently claim benefit and council tax discount/exemption. This may include prosecuting or administering a financial penalty/fine. In all cases, we expect the person to pay back any exemption or discount that they were not entitled to.

Examples of fraud include:

  • people who work but do not tell us while claiming Council Tax Reduction
  • people who claim as a single person and/or Council Tax Reduction but actually live with a partner
  • people who do not tell us about all the people that live in their household, for example, grown-up sons or daughters
  • people who do not declare all of their income and capital when they claim Council Tax Reduction, or when it increases during a claim
  • people who do not tell us about all of the properties they own
  • people who claim for an address where they do not live

If you are receiving Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit or any other exemption or discount, please remember that it is your responsibility to notify the Council of any change in your 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 : 22 July 2024

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