Benefit fraud

You commit benefit fraud by claiming benefits you바카라 사이트™re not entitled to on purpose. For example by:

  • not reporting a change in your circumstances
  • providing false information

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

What happens if you바카라 사이트™re suspected of benefit fraud

You바카라 사이트™ll be contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Defence Business Services or your local authority if you바카라 사이트™re suspected of fraud.

Your benefit may be stopped while you바카라 사이트™re investigated. You바카라 사이트™ll get a letter telling you about this if it happens.

You may be visited by Fraud Investigation Officers (FIOs) or asked to attend an interview to talk about your claim - this is called an 바카라 사이트˜interview under caution바카라 사이트™.

FIOs will gather facts about your case and decide whether to take further action.

If you바카라 사이트™re asked to attend an interview

An 바카라 사이트˜interview under caution바카라 사이트™ is a formal interview that is often recorded. It could become part of a criminal investigation against you.

Get advice on your case (for example from a legal adviser or solicitor).

You can also get help and information about 바카라 사이트˜interviews under caution바카라 사이트™ from .

What happens after a benefit fraud investigation

If you바카라 사이트™ve committed or attempted fraud, one or more of the following may also happen:

  • you바카라 사이트™ll be told to pay back the overpaid money
  • you may be taken to court or asked to pay a penalty (between £350 and £5,000)
  • your benefits may be reduced or stopped

Losing benefits if you바카라 사이트™re convicted of benefit fraud

Your benefits can be reduced or stopped for up to 3 years if you바카라 사이트™re convicted of benefit fraud. The amount of time they바카라 사이트™re stopped for depends on how many times you바카라 사이트™ve committed fraud.

Only certain benefits can be reduced or stopped. These are called 바카라 사이트˜sanctionable benefits바카라 사이트™. But if you commit fraud on a benefit that cannot be reduced or stopped, your other benefits can be reduced instead.

Sanctionable benefits

The following benefits can be reduced or stopped if you commit benefit fraud:

  • Carer바카라 사이트™s Allowance
  • Employment and Support Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Industrial Death Benefit
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Industrial Injuries Reduced Earnings Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Retirement Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Unemployability Supplement
  • Jobseeker바카라 사이트™s Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • War Disablement Pension
  • War Widow바카라 사이트™s Pension
  • War Pension Unemployability Supplement
  • War Pension Allowance for Lower Standard of Occupation
  • Widowed Mother바카라 사이트™s/Parent바카라 사이트™s Allowance

Benefits that cannot be reduced or stopped

The following benefits cannot be reduced or stopped if you commit benefit fraud:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Bereavement Support Payment
  • Child Benefit
  • Christmas Bonus
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Graduated Retirement Benefit
  • Guardian바카라 사이트™s Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Constant Attendance Allowance (where a Disablement Pension is payable)
  • Industrial Injuries Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance (where a Disablement Pension is payable)
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • State Pension
  • Social Fund Payments
  • War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance
  • War Pension Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance
  • War Pension Mobility Supplement

Exceptions

If you commit benefit fraud and you get any of the following, none of your payments can be stopped or reduced:

  • Maternity Allowance
  • Statutory Adoption Pay
  • Statutory Maternity Pay
  • Statutory Paternity Pay
  • Statutory Sick Pay

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