Benefit fraud investigation and prevention
Tower Hamlets Benefits Service is committed to
protecting public money and has a team dedicated to tackling
housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud.
While most benefit claimants are honest, we
are aware some people will try to obtain a benefit when they may
not be entitled, try to claim more than they are due or continue
receiving payments when they are no longer eligible.
The investigations team works closely with
other agencies to stamp down on benefit fraud. We receive referrals
and investigate allegations of fraud from a number of different
sources, including other departments within our council, other
councils, the Department for Work and Pensions, the police and
members of the public.
If our investigation finds fraud has been
committed, we will consider taking out a prosecution or sanction
against the person or persons involved, depending on the
circumstances and seriousness of the case.
Sanctions include administrative penalties for
example:
- a fine amounting to 30 per cent of the fraudulently paid
overpaid benefit amount
- a formal caution which is registered nationally and can be
cited in court if there is a conviction against a further benefit
offence
We determine whether to take proceedings on
cases further than administrative penalties, for example, to get a
court conviction, in line with the council’s benefit fraud
prosecutions and sanctions policy.
The policy ensures we are applying a fair and
consistent approach to investigated cases and ensures we determine
the severity of cases against the following type of factors:
- sufficiency of evidence collected
- whether it is considered in the public interest to pursue the
case
- any other relevant influencing factors, such as evidence of a
previous fraud
How to contact us
Anyone wanting to report a suspected benefit
fraud can contact us in person, by telephone, fax or email. Or you
can complete and submit our online form. All information you give
us will be in confidence.
Benefit Fraud Investigations Team
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London
E14 2BG
Tel: 020 7364 7427 (fraud related
enquiries)
Tel: 020 7364 7443 (24 hour answerphone for reporting suspected
fraud)
Tel: 020 7364 5001 (all other benefit enquiries)
Fax: 020 7364 7048
Email: benefits@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Personal callers can visit their nearest
One Stop Shop to hand in letters
and make general enquiries.
Further information
Complete an online benefits fraud referral form
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