Slough Borough Council: Benefit Fraud

Benefit Fraud

The council is committed to preventing fraud and error entering the benefit system.

We have adopted the Verification Framework to deter people who make fraudulent claims. This is a good practice guide introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions. The scheme was introduced to reduce the amount of fraud and error coming in and to allow any which does to be discovered more easily.

The council also regularly checks its own benefit data against information held by other organisations to help identify fraud and error.

Where fraud is identified we will conduct a thorough investigation and seek to apply the appropriate sanction. Wherever possible, we will work with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that the full scale of the fraud is determined.

We are determined to recover overpaid benefit in every case where the overpayment was caused by fraudulent activity.

Information regarding successful prosecutions will be supplied to councillors' reports and where appropriate may appear in local publications.

View the Benefit Fraud Prosecution Policy [ PDF ]

The policy is based on the criteria established by the Crown Prosecution Service. This is the standard to which all investigating authorities are required to work.

Know someone committing fraud?

If you know anyone who is claiming benefit and working, has undeclared savings or property, lives with an undeclared partner or a has a false tenancy, you can:

Call the benefit fraud hotline on 01753 787876 (24 hours)
Complete our simple online form

You do not have to give your name. Any information that you give will be dealt with in strict confidentiality and all allegations will be investigated.