Bournemouth Borough Council has duty under law to administer a benefits service to those who qualify within its borough. At the same time there is a responsibility to ensure that payments are only made to those who are actually entitled to them. Unfortunately, it is a fact that a minority of people do attempt to claim benefits fraudulently which they are not entitled to.

To that end Bournemouth Borough Council has its own Fraud/Visiting Section whose duties include:

• Prevention of fraud occuring in the first place by visiting all new claims.
• Detection of fraudulent claims and stopping or reducing payment in these cases.
• Calculation of overpayments of benefit on the discovery of the true facts.
• Taking the appropriate action against those who commit fraud, including financial penalties, sanctions and prosecutions.

Types of Housing/Council Tax Benefit Fraud

Working and Claiming
Usually involves claimants who are in receipt of Housing/Council Tax benefit on the basis of entitlement to Job Seekers Allowance/Income Support and are in fact working.
Any cases that arise in these circumstances will usually involve a joint exercise between the Council and the Benefits Agency.

Non Disclosure of Property/Capital
Where the claimant fails to declare either savings/capital or the ownership of another property/land elsewhere (for which they may be receiving rent).

Non Disclosure of Income
Where the claimant fails to declare all of their income knowing the non-declaration will increase their benefit award.

Non Disclosure of Partner (Living Together as Husband and Wife)
Again usually involves a claimant on Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance failing to declare the presence of a partner who is working, knowing this would preclude their entitlement.

Non-Declaration of Non-dependents or sub-tenants
Where the claimant fails to declare the presence of other adults in the property in order to preserve or increase entitlement to benefit.

False claims by Home owners
Where the owner of a property falsely claims stating that they are in fact paying rent for the property and inventing a fictitious landlord. In these circumstances false rent books, Tenancy Agreements are provided.

Failing to declare change of address
Where the claimant fails to declare that he/she has moved but continues to accept payments of Housing Benefit for the address.

False Address Fraud
This may occur where the claimant is claiming for an address at which they are not in fact living. These types of offences may occur with the collusion of the landlord or other tenants.

Landlord Fraud
Where a landlord continues to receive benefit paid direct to him/herself for a period after which he/she is aware that the claimant has left the premises. Where the landlord has access to more than one property there is the potential to move tenants around without informing the Local Authority.

There are many ways other ways that Landlords and Managing Agents can defraud the benefit system, particularly in areas where there are a large proportion of Multiple Occupation houses and Seasonal Workers, looking for short-term lets.