Benefit fraud

Tackling benefit fraud

Tackling benefit fraud is a key issue for the government in Northern Ireland. The Department pays almost £8.4bn. Fraud is deliberate theft and is estimated to cost about £163.2 million or 2 percent of expenditure.

The Department is committed to ensuring people in Northern Ireland get the support they need from the benefit system and has a robust strategy for tackling benefit fraud.

The Department is determined to continue in its efforts to root out fraudsters and take back the money they have stolen from our benefit system and, where it is appropriate, will continue to prosecute benefit thieves through the courts.

In addition, the Department will pursue vigorously the recovery of any money stolen. When recovered such money goes back to Treasury for re-allocation as part of the normal Treasury allocation process.

What is benefit fraud?

Benefit fraud takes many forms. Below are examples of the most common types of fraud our investigators see regularly. This list is not exhaustive.

• working while claiming benefit
• living together
• identity fraud
• Housing Benefit fraud
• falsely claiming benefit
• failing to report a source of income
• failing to report savings above the benefit level
• failing to report a change in circumstances

All of these examples and many more can have a big effect on the rate of benefit entitlement, so it is essential all changes are reported.
All of these frauds are serious. Those involved in any of these frauds must be stopped.

Remember - 'beating fraud is everyone’s business'

Preventing customer error

Preventing customer error is a key issue for the government in Northern Ireland and the Department is committed to ensuring that people in Northern Ireland get the support they need from the benefit system and that it has a strategy to empower our customers to report correct information promptly.

What is customer error

Customer error occurs where there has been a failure by the customer to notify a reportable change, or has provided incorrect or incomplete information that affects the benefit in payment but there is no suspicion of fraud /fraudulent intent.

Customer Error takes many forms. Below are examples of the most common types of error our officers see regularly. This list is not exhaustive

• failing to report a source of income
• failing to report savings
• failing to report a change in circumstances

All of these examples and many more can have a big effect on the rate of benefit entitlement so it is essential all changes are reported.

Help us to protect your money

If you have any information:

• Call the Northern Ireland Fraud Hotline on 0800 975 6050
• Textphone 028 9055 6991 (not a free call)
• Report Benefit Fraud online

Further information

• Benefit Fraud - The cost and results

Fraud publications

• Fraud Policy Statement
• Code of Practice for Data Matching
• Code of Practice on Obtaining Information
• Code of Practice on Obtaining Information from employers, contractors, the self-employed, pension schemes and licensing authorities
• Fraud Reponse Plan
• Social Security Benefit Fraud Penalties Policy
• Money laundering Policy