Benefit fraud
Benefit fraud is where someone has made a false statement on a claim form or has failed to report any changes in their circumstances in order to claim benefit they are not entitled to.
You can report a suspected fraud online by using our online benefit fraud report form
If your information relates to non-benefit fraud then use our non-benefit fraud report form
If you suspect that someone has done any of the things listed below, then please contact us:
- given false information on a benefit claim form
- not reported a change of circumstance whilst claiming benefit
- moved out of the property they claim benefit for
- not declared all members of their household.
- not told us that their partner lives with them
- continues to claim after starting work
- not told us about all of their income (eg private pensions, self employed earnings etc)
- not declared their savings, capital or ownership of a property
- not been truthful
We want everyone who is entitled to benefits to apply for them. However stealing valuable public funds through benefit fraud costs taxpayers millions of pounds every year. This means less money for public services, and more taxes that the general public have to pay.
If you know of anyone stealing benefits you can contact the national fraud hotline in confidence.
Information that will assist an investigation
Below is some information which would be useful when reporting suspected fraud:
- Claimant's name and address
- Details of the type of fraud
- Description of claimant
- Description of their vehicle
- Name of employer
- Address of employer
- Hours worked
- Times they leave for and return from work
- Date the alleged fraud started
- Name of alleged partner
- Description of alleged partner
- Description of their vehicle
- Type of work they do
Contact information
- Department for Work and Pensions fraud information
- Cheshire West and Chester Council Fraud Hotline: 0300 123 7030
- Email fraud@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
- National Local Authority Fraud Hotline: 0800 328 6340
- If you have speech or hearing problems you can use the Text Phone service: 0800 328 6341