Millions of people in the UK claim benefits which include Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, State Pension and Employment and Support Allowance.
Brits rely on these benefits to help them financially, and for many people, they're a real lifeline.
But what people may not realise is that, if they are claiming benefits, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could be looking into their personal lives without their consent.
Last month, the UK Government announced new plans to give a £510 million cash injection to the DWP to help it crack down on Universal Credit fraudsters lying about their benefit claims. Funds were released after figures show the DWP prevented at least £1.9 billion of fraud during the first year of the pandemic.
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Under the plans, the UK Government will use the money to improve the Department's capability and capacity to detect and prevent benefit fraud and catch fraudsters across the country.
Around 2,000 trained specialists will review claims by carrying out property checks, following up on the earning declarations of self-employed claimants and cross-checking bank details. Ministers hope the crackdown will recover more taxpayers' money, says the Daily Record.
The DWP’s definition of benefit fraud is when “someone obtains state benefit they are not entitled to or deliberately fails to report a change in their personal circumstances.”
The most common form of benefit fraud is when a person receives unemployment benefits while working. Another is when claimants state that they live alone, but are financially supported by a partner or spouse.
Failing to inform the state about a "change of circumstances", for example, that your partner is now living with you, or that you have moved house, or that a relative has died leaving you some money may also be seen as 'fraud by omission'.
Being accused of fraud by the DWP can be stressful enough, but the thought of being investigated by officials without really knowing why can lead to excessive worry.
Many investigators wear plain clothes and can show up at your home or work at any time, which could be frightening.
But having some knowledge about DWP investigations can make all the difference, enabling you to live your life as normally as possible while an investigation is underway.
Usually, benefits-related fraud occurs where someone has claimed benefits to which they were not entitled on purpose, such as by not reporting a change in circumstances or by providing false information.
Common examples of benefit fraud
faking an illness or injury to get unemployment or disability benefits
failing to report income from a business or employment to make income seem lower than it actually is
living with someone who contributes to the household income without declaring that income to the authorities
falsifying accounts to make it seem like a person has less money than they say they do
In each circumstance, the DWP will need evidence that shows that someone is receiving a benefit (a Tax Credit or benefits payment, for example) that they would not ordinarily be entitled to.
Fraud investigators have a wide range of powers which enable them to gather evidence in a number of ways, including surveillance, interviews, and document tracing.
Unfortunately, you won’t know the exact details of an investigation against you until you are told about it afterwards - which may be in court if you are charged with an offence.
There is a common misconception that the only people who get investigated for benefits fraud and other offences that involve the DWP are those who are openly scamming the system.
While the DWP does act on reports from the public, it also has its own sophisticated means of detecting when fraudulent activity might be taking place - which means anyone receiving benefits from the DWP could be investigated at any time.
What happens during a DWP investigation?
If the DWP is going to start a formal investigation against you, they will notify you either in writing, by telephone, or email - this is typically done through the post.
When you are notified, you will also be told whether you are to receive a visit from a Fraud Investigation Officer (FIO), or whether they require you to attend an interview.
In the early stages of an investigation, you may not be told that one is underway until the DWP has assessed whether there is good reason to formally investigate a potential case of fraud.
Many tip-offs and reports turn out to be false, so the DWP wants to make sure that they do not waste their time on a pointless investigation.
As soon as there is enough evidence of potential fraud, the DWP will launch an official investigation and notify you.
DWP investigators are allowed to gather many types of evidence against a potentially fraudulent claimant.
Most common types of evidence
inspector reports from surveillance activities
photographs or videos
audio recordings
correspondence
financial data, including bank statements
interviews with you or people you know
any evidence submitted by those who reported you
One common form of benefit fraud is falsely reporting income, or failure to report it altogether.
If you are claiming unemployment benefits but are seen to attend a workplace, the DWP may talk to the owner or manager of that business to find out exactly why you are there, what work you are doing and how much you are being paid.
Investigators may also check your social media accounts and search your online profiles for pictures, location check-ins, and other evidence which may or may not be useful to them.
Those who use social media a lot will leave a trail of their life and habits, often allowing investigators to piece together a picture of what that person’s life actually looks like.
If this is not consistent with the details of that person’s claim for benefits, that evidence may end up being used against them.
What if I am falsely reported to the DWP?
False reports of benefit fraud are common in the UK, with some studies indicating there are around 140,000 made each year.
Until the DWP determines that there is no case against you, there is little you can do. Co-operate as best as you can and remember that those found to have reported falsely through malicious reasons may end up being prosecuted.
If you are concerned about a current or future DWP investigation against you or someone you care about, seeking advice from a legal expert could help.
