What Is Benefit Fraud?

Benefit fraud is where people claim housing and council tax benefit and/or social security benefits they have no right to claim.

Chester City Council has a dedicated team of Counter Fraud Specialists who are committed to protecting public funds from fraud and abuse.

The fraud team will undertake investigations into allegations of benefit fraud and will prosecute offenders in line with the Council's Prosecution Policy.

All investigations are carried out with integrity and in a professional manner by trained staff.

What Types Of Fraud Are There?

These are just some examples of the type of benefit fraud being committed:

• People who work and do not declare this when they claim benefit.
• People who claim as a single person but actually live with a partner.
• People who claim from an address they do not live at.
• People who do not tell us the full amount of income, savings and capital when they claim benefit.
• Pretending to pay rent, setting up a fictitious tenancy to give the appearance of a rented property when in fact no such arrangement exists.

 

Should you need further information about anything on this page please contact us at:

Fraud & Corporate Debt - Fraud Investigation Team
Chester City Council
The Forum
Chester
CH1 2HS
Telephone 01244 402160
Email fraud@chester.gov.uk.