Benefit fraud (report it)

If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, you can report it to us or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Benefit fraud affects the most vulnerable in our society and is not a victimless crime. It costs the people of Norfolk thousands of pounds each year and takes money away from providing other essential public sector services.

What is benefit fraud?

Benefit fraud is when people:

• knowingly withhold information
• give false information
• deliberately fail to report a change in circumstances

Examples of fraud include:

• failing to declare income or changes in income
• not declaring that you have other people residing with you
• non-disclosure of property or capital that you have
• not declaring a change of address

Reporting benefit fraud

North Norfolk District Council is committed to identifying and tackling benefit fraud. You can help us by reporting fraud to us. This includes Council Tax Support fraud.

To report fraud, please contact us:

Email: fraud@north-norfolk.gov.uk 

Call: 01263 516349

It is important to provide as much information as possible, such as:

• name and address of people concerned
• the nature of suspected fraud
• descriptions of people involved, particularly when telling us about undeclared partners and adults

Find further details of useful information to provide when reporting fraud.

You can report benefit fraud anonymously.

Other reports of fraud

To report Housing Benefit fraud or any other welfare benefit fraud, you can contact the Department for Work and Pensions by using the online form.

Report benefit fraud

You can also call the National Benefit Hotline on 0800 854 440. Your call is confidential and you do not have to give your name and address. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

If you have speech or hearing problems, you can use a text phone service on 0800 328 0512.

You can also write to National Benefit Hotline at:

National Benefit Fraud Hotline
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2BP

Make sure you provide as much information as you can. View information that is useful when reporting fraud.

What happens after you report someone?

We will look at the information that you have provided and report it to the DWP for further investigation. We will not be able to tell you the outcome of any investigation.

Action will only be taken if a person has committed benefit fraud. Action can include removing someone's benefits and taking them to court. Sometimes no action is taken. The person may have already declared their change in circumstances, or their benefit may not be affected by what you report.