Benefit Fraud Recovery

Slough Borough Council has recovered £2,492,616 of overpaid and fraudulently claimed housing benefits in the financial year of 2008/09.

The benefits team, along with the investigation and overpayment unit, recovered the money from claimants and landlords who had received payments they were not entitled to.

Since it was formed 13 years ago, the overpayments and investigations unit has increased its performance year-on-year. It received 725 referrals during 2008/09 for alleged benefit fraud, and 406 investigations took place.

Over the year 2008/09:

• 31 housing and council tax benefit claimants were given a formal caution as a result of offences identified. Formal cautions are similar to a police caution and are recorded by the Department for Work and Pensions on a national database.

• 18 people were given administrative penalties as an alternative to prosecution. This type of penalty is a fixed sum of 30 percent of the amount of benefit which has been overpaid to the claimant.

• 21 benefit cheats were successfully prosecuted in criminal court.

Scott Warner, investigation team leader, for Slough Borough Council, said: “We take a firm stance on benefit fraud and strive to catch offenders who steal from tax payer’s pockets and take money away from those who genuinely need it. The unit is charged with a duty to seek out benefit criminals and take appropriate action, which includes recovery of any overpaid housing benefit.”

Commissioner for opportunity and skills, Cllr Fiza Matloob, added: “We’re committed to making sure tax payer’s money is not being fraudulently taken by others.

“Well done to the investigations team for all their hard work and the recovery of such a large sum of money.”