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