Fraud
Benefit fraud costs the country about £2 billion a year which is money that could be spent on public services. Thats around £80 a year for each and every family in Great Britain.
Benefit fraud is often thought of as a 'victimless crime', but this is not true. It costs Walsall an estimated £1 million each year which could instead be spent on improving public services to the citizens of Walsall
Benefit fraud has an impact on the amount of council tax and income tax you pay and the amount of resources available to the community.
The prevention, detection and investigation of benefit fraud in Walsall Council is dealt with by the Revenues and Benefits Service Investigation Team. They are a dedicated team of professionally trained investigators who undertake investigations into allegations of benefit fraud received by the Council. These allegations may be from members of the public, officers and members of the council, other government departments and from the results of national and local data matching.
What to do if you suspect someone is committing benefit fraud
You can call:
- The local Benefit fraud 24 hour telephone lines in confidence
- Telephone 01922 652632 or 01922 652671
- The national Benefit fraud hotline in confidence (8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday)
- Telephone 0800 328 6340 (freephone)
- Telephone 0800 328 6341 (textphone for hard ofhearing)