Benefit Fraud
West Somerset Council is committed to preventing and detecting Benefit Fraud and takes a proactive approach to combating this problem.
Nationally, millions of pounds are stolen this way every year and this directly affects the amount of Council Tax paid by West Somerset’s residents, as well as reducing the amount available to those who genuinely need the assistance.
The dedicated Fraud Team investigates all allegations of fraud whether received from anonymous calls, The Department for Work and Pensions, and other outside agencies. Where a fraud is detected the amount of benefit overpaid will be recovered and where appropriate the Authority will prosecute the fraudster or impose financial penalties.
During the last financial year our dedicated fraud team issued numerous cautions and prosecutions,as well as stopping £30,785 of benefit being fraudulently claimed, and indentifying £22,783 of fraudulent overpayments.
Report Fraud:
You can help your Council by reporting anyone you suspect of committing Benefit Fraud. All information will be treated with the strictest of confidence and can be given anonymously.
Telephone the 24 hour FRAUD HOTLINE: 01984 635236
By letter to: Benefits Fraud Team, West Somerset House, Killick Way, Williton, Taunton, Somerset TA4 4QA
or email the Fraud Team: fraud@westsomerset.gov.uk
or complete the online form.
What information do we need?
To enable us to investigate all allegations successfully we need as much information as possible.
For example:
- Name, Address and description of the person you believe are committing the fraud, or anyone who is connected with it, including their relationship.
- Name, description, place of work, hours for any undeclared work by claimant, partners, or other persons living in a property.
- Details of vehicles used, including licence plate number if possible.
- Details of undeclared income, savings, banks, building society accounts, property etc.
- Address of any undeclared property.
- Where a person is suspected of not living at the property – Where do they live?
- Does anyone else live there?