Fraud

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Fraudulent claims take public money away from the people who really need it. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates that each year benefit fraudsters cheat the rest of us out of £2 billion in stolen benefits. That’s the equivalent of £80 from each family in the country.

Our aim is to pay out every penny of housing benefit and council tax benefit that people in Renfrewshire are entitled to – but not a penny more.

Please help us to fight fraud by telling us if you think someone has made a dishonest claim for housing benefit or council tax benefit.

What sort of things count as benefit fraud?

People who may be guilty of benefit fraud include those who:

• fail to declare their job when they claim benefits
• claim to be single but live with a partner
• claim from an address they do not live at
• do not tell us their full income, savings or capital
• claim housing benefit or council tax benefit, even though they are not entitled to

The more information you can give us, the more successful our investigations will be. Any information you give will be treated in the strictest confidence – you don’t even need to tell us your name.

How you can contact us:

email at benefitinvestigations@renfrewshire.gov.uk
phone free on 0800 195 9845
post: Benefit Investigation Team at Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley, PA1 1AD

Call the national fraud hotline on 0800 854 440 between 7am and 11pm, seven days a week.

Text phone users can call 0800 328 0512.

You can find out more by visiting the DWP’s Targeting Fraud website

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